Politics  |  West Virginia 2026

'Ready for Better': Inside the Uphill Fight for West Virginia's 52nd District

Joyce Brown is running in West Virginia's House District 52 Democratic primary, armed with a lifelong connection to a community that data says has been left behind.

By Danny Cardwell  |  April 2026  |  West Virginia House of Delegates, District 52

With just weeks until the May 12th primary, three Democrats — Seth Adkins, Michelle Harper, and Joyce Brown — are competing for the nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Tresa Howell in November for West Virginia's 52nd House District, a seat spanning parts of Fayette and Kanawha counties. For Brown, the race isn't abstract. It's the river town where she was born.

Brown grew up in Montgomery, a small city along the Kanawha River in Fayette County. The city was once a thriving coal hub — at its early 20th century peak, it served as a shipping center for more than 20 nearby coal operations. But that era is long gone. Montgomery's population now sits at around 1,167, declining at roughly 1.27% per year, with a poverty rate of 28.28% and a median household income of just $27,679 — less than half the national median.

The departure of West Virginia University Institute of Technology — which had anchored Montgomery since 1895 before relocating to Beckley in 2017 — deepened the wound. The school's closure left a campus that once enrolled nearly 2,500 students sitting empty, a symbol of the broader economic retreat that has hollowed out much of the Upper Kanawha Valley. Brown is a WV Tech graduate herself.

"We all could pack up a bag and move to Charlotte, Atlanta, wherever. When you have those deep rooted family ties, there's an intrinsic reward that you feel just to take care of your loved ones, who took care of you."— Joyce Brown, Candidate, WV House District 52

That decision to stay has shaped her candidacy. Her campaign slogan — I'm ready for better — is a direct indictment of what she describes as years of neglect. "We're ready for better roads, better neighborhoods, better job opportunities. We're tired of not even getting the crumbs."

Jobs are, by her account, the defining issue — and the numbers bear it out. Employment in Montgomery dropped 11.1% in a single year, falling from 504 workers to 448 between 2023 and 2024, with health care and social assistance now the city's largest employment sector. Meanwhile, Kanawha County, which covers part of District 52, has recorded the largest net population loss of any county in West Virginia since the 2020 census.

The trend reflects what Brown sees every day — a steady exodus of young people who don't see a future worth staying for. "They don't know what the struggle is," she said. "They think there's nothing here because it's not right at their fingertips."

● ● ●

The political landscape Brown is stepping into is steep. Republicans currently hold 91 of 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates. The nine House Democrats hold so little institutional power that they fell below the 10% threshold required to force recorded roll-call votes in the chamber.

District 52 itself was among the casualties of 2024, when Tresa Howell flipped the seat vacated by retiring Democratic incumbent Larry Rowe. Howell, a registered nurse and former chairwoman of the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee, assumed office in December 2024 and is running for re-election.

Brown's path to November runs through a three-way Democratic primary first. But her case to voters is less about party mechanics than about presence — about what it means to have someone in the statehouse who has lived the valley's decline and refuses to write it off.

"When you can sit at a board of directors meeting with your social studies teacher — how can you make that up?"— Joyce Brown

📅 Election Day: The West Virginia House of Delegates District 52 Democratic primary is May 12, 2026. The winner will face incumbent Republican Tresa Howell in the November 3rd general election.

🎧 Full Interview

Listen: Joyce Brown Talks Jobs, Family, and Fighting for the Upper Kanawha Valley

Click play to hear our full conversation with Joyce Brown, candidate for WV House District 52.

Can't see the player? Click here to listen to the full interview ↗

Black Lives Matter Richmond, VA

Confession Time

Warm Springs, Virginia 

1. I deal with imposter syndrome every time I write: over a decade in I still feel woefully unqualified to comment publicly about important issues. 

2. I allow past mistakes to hold too much power over me: I know the train of history pulls in one direction, but I struggle with letting go. 

3. I often allow negative moments to overshadow positive feelings: it sucks because I'm always telling other people to avoid negativity.

4. There are times when finding peace of mind seems impossible: this isn't too often, but when it happens it happens.

5. I'm not a broken person: but sometimes my insecurities take over and make me believe I am.

6. I never want to be sad again: I know it takes saddness to enjoy and appreciate the good times, but I still don't want to hurt more than necessary. 

7. I don't spend enough time with the people I care about: I know this and still haven't made a better commitment to resolving this problem. 

What Surviving "Tha Rona" Can Teach Us!

Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.    ~Simon Sinek

That “Rona” is wrecking lives across the globe. All of us know people who have endured economic hardships due to the virus. This adversity presents us with an opportunity to challenge some of our previously held beliefs about money and wealth accumulation. There are people learning the hard way that income and wealth are different.

Wealth is an abundance of assets, property and money. We work for income, but wealth works for those who have it. A lot of responsible and well educated people have found themselves on the outside looking in. Many of them were already drowning in a pool of debt tied to their education and lifestyle choices. Having a steady income allowed them to avoid the economic reality of their situation. There are people coming to grips with the fact that they weren’t rich or even securely middle class.

The ideological trappings that lead to "economic Darwinism" are steeped in superiority complex. There are people for whom having a comfortable life isn't enough; they need to chase the Joneses or become them. 

There's nothing wrong with wanting more, but when this mentality becomes pathological and causes people to see economic hardships or poverty as moral failings it becomes toxic. 

My hope is that once Covid-19 is behind us we won't lose sight of the shared economic anxiety we felt. I know this is myopic, but maybe we can end the selfish “I got mine so forget everyone else” mentality. Maybe we can become more sympathetic to the plight of others.

We all know people who are working to the bone, yet barely getting by. Inflation and stagnant wages have doomed a majority of our country to a perpetual race against the bills due on the 1st and 15th. Yes, there are people who make bad decisions that add to their financial struggles, but that subset doesn't represent the larger group of working class people. 

If the Corona virus forced you to restructure your life to survive an emergency, why can't you use that same energy to pursue work, a career or goals that fulfill you? 

There are people who will lose everything and have to start over; there are people who will be forced to change careers; some will spend years trying to recover, but there will be people who thrive because of what they've learned about themselves. All of the death and pain caused by this virus will be in vain if we don't challenge ourselves to look critically at the way we were before and during this crisis. 

Real Talk: Some Things to Ponder.

The last time I knew it all I lost it all!

Be appreciative of your struggles. It's funny: when God delivers you he doesn't ask who your parents are? What schools you went to? What social class you belong to? All of those things come from us. We use these elementary classification systems to "place value" on each other's life.

In every religious text wisdom is the measure of maturity. You can measure smartness, but you can't measure wisdom. Smart makes someone born on third base think they hit a triple while wisdom humbles them into their blessing. 

As a society we have collectively turned a willful eye towards the spectacles of our culture: me included. There was a time when the circus was a place we went to, then one day we woke up and decided to put the clowns in charge of everything. 

We need a 21st century Renaissance more than a revival or revolution. There's a chance all of the spiritual musings we see are in vain and what we really need is a new era of critical thinking. 

What if we are so empty that our worship of money and unfettered and unregulated markets are all that truly unite us? What if our consumption is all we have? 

When I hear people wantonly push for markets to reopen and life to get back to normal all I hear is desperation. There are people whose desire to have more is worth more to them than the life or lives of those around them. 

This season of quarantine will pass and some of us will be in better positions because we had to slow down and reevaluate what is important to us. 

In the end we survive everything we encounter until one day our time here is done. All we can safely control is how much time and energy we focus on ourselves, our loved ones and our goals.

Don't Wait! Start Now!

When was the last time you told yourself you would do "it" later? How many Mondays have you designated as the beginning of a new chapter? I bet you have a history of incomplete New Year's resolutions. Congratulations! You are a procrastinator. There are a lot of us.

I use to chalk my procrastination up to a lack of time and energy, but the truth is: I was afraid of failure. I was terrified of failing in a public way. I was, and to a certain extent still am, a prisoner to public perception. This reality caused me to waste a lot of time.

Failure sucks! The fear of failure is so powerful that after a while we convince ourselves it's easier not to try. Here's another hard truth for those of you waiting for some mythical cheering section: No one has to support you or your dreams! Coming to grips with this is liberating. Life is too short to allow fear to steal what time we have. 

We are solely responsible for setting and accomplishing our goals. Along the way there will be opportunities presented and opportunities denied, but no one can do make us take the leap. I truly believe it's better to fail miserably than to look back and wonder what if? What do you have to lose?

My advice is cliche, but keep pushing! Fail trying! Die living! Don't waste today because of what someone may say tomorrow. Don't live the "bad faith" Sartre wrote so eloquently about. 

There's nothing wrong with prioritizing your aspirations. You can't fail if you love and respect yourself. Try to keep the promises you make: especially the ones you make to yourself. Keep Grinding! Don't wait till Monday!

Kobe Bryant: He Touched Every Line

I sat down to write about Kobe's life and contributions to the game, but a blank piece of paper kept staring back at me. I struggled to find the words to express the shock I felt. Watching the crowd in New Orleans pay respect to Kobe was emotional. Seeing the tears in the eyes of Celtics players was tough. I felt a sense of pride after seeing teams take 24 second shot clock violations. Trae Young's inspired 45-point performance while wearing the number 8 made me a fan of his for life. Those images are worth more than any words I could ever write.

Sports fans are hurting. We share a love for the game that non-sports fans may never understand. Sports are a huge part of our lives. I love all sports, but basketball was my first love. I learned to respect and admire the grace, strength, hard work, and passion it took to excel at the highest levels. Kobe did the work. His tenacity was legendary. In a league full of Alphas, he was a boss.

The game is better because he played it. The game is better because he had the courage to openly chase Jordan. There’s a generation of players who are better because of Kobe’s work ethic and sheer will to win.

I came of age during the Renaissance of Basketball. I saw Magic, Bird and Jordan in their primes. I saw Kareem and Dr. J at the end of their careers. I remember Olajuwon, Ewing and Shaq dominating games in their own way. I watched Iverson cross up Jordan. I enjoyed seeing Kobe and Michael go after each other. These battles will live on forever.

Every generation has its stars. Every generation debates the greatness of their era. This cycle makes the game we love better. Kobe cemented his place among the pantheon of basketball Gods. What he left us is on film.

The debate over who's the greatest is as disrespectful as it is futile. Every great dared to be great. Every legend spent thousands of hours chasing the legend(s) that came before them. They all touched every line. They might have employed a number of “veteran tactics”, but they never cheated the game. They all started out as kids with a dream. Sports fans care so much because we watched him for the better part of 25 years. We remember hearing about this high school phenom. We watched him grow up.

Sports are more than little kids pretending to be their heroes and old men vicariously living through young men. Almost 40 years after going to my first basketball game with my dad we still watch and attend games together. We are shareholders in a tradition worth passing down. A.I., Kobe, D. Wade and Lebron begat K.D. Steph, Kawhi and Giannis. Debating who is the “G.O.A.T.” kills time, but it doesn’t matter. They are all great. All of them are mourning the loss of someone who earned their respect.

You Might Have An Incurable Disease!

Let me ask you a few questions. Have you ever considered yourself a writer? Have you ever stayed up later than you planned because you wanted/needed to write? Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night with words slamming against your skull trying to escape your head? Have you ever felt anxious or depressed because you didn't have time to write? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions I have some good news and bad news for you. The good news: you are a writer. The bad news: without proper care this chronic condition can destroy the other parts of your life that seem to be working. Don't worry there is a cure and because I care about you I will share it. 

Queue the drum roll..........the solution to (y)our problem is to WRITE. Write lists. Write jokes. Write love letters. Write your plans for the upcoming week. Just write. If you've ever felt tortured by writing, WRITE!

There are a ton of legitimate reasons not to write. There are instances when our creative time belongs to other people. There are times when it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day, but there are. Writing is self care for those of us who can't escape the power words hold over us. We need to prioritize our happiness and mental health. This isn't selfish. This is therapeutic. We are allowed to pursue our happiness. 

If any of this resonated with you, spend 10 minutes alone with your thoughts and some instrument capable of transmitting those thoughts into shareable words. Get into the habit of writing in small bursts. If you are rusty, your first few drafts may be "trash", but don't throw them away. If you commit to doing this in a few weeks it will be a part of your daily routine. In a few more weeks you will notice that your 10 minutes turned into 15. In a few months your first short drafts will be a good metric to use to judge your progress.

Thoughts to remember: 

1. Writing isn't a sugar high. If you are a writer, you will never cure the itch. 

2. The highs are amazing. You won't need any recreational substances to accommodate you. 

3. Take care of yourself. If you feel the strong urge to write: write!

They Can't Hurt Your Character!

Hey, hey you! I want to remind you of a simple fact: your character isn't affected by what people say about you. Your character is far more valuable than your reputation. How you feel about you is more important than any validation you can get from society. 

There will always be people who don't understand you. That's life! All of us are vulnerable to the pit falls that make clear speaking and plain understanding impossible. The Rorschach test is a great example of this. Every time you see a butterfly someone else could be seeing a bat. This is an honest mischaracterization, but we know there are people who willfully attempt to destroy our character. 

We have to come to grips with the fact that there are times when we will be misunderstood, falsely accused and/or unfairly judged. This hurts! There's no easy way to deal with this, but we can overcome it. Your reputation is a derivative of your character. What people say doesn't matter nearly as much as what you do.

Here's a few things to always remember:

1. Be consistent: your daily actions are a truer reflection of who you are than gossip or innuendo.

2. Be real: authenticity isn't always appreciated, but it's so rare people notice it.

3. Be fair: leave as much room for the humanity of others as you expect.

4. Be nice: avoid insulting people who misunderstand you; it's​ a form of confirmation bias.

5. Be forgiving: life is hard enough without adding revenge, restitution or retribution to your daily to-do list. 

When you close your eyes at night the only validation you need is in between your ears. Once you have done your best the rest is out of your hands.

America is Devolving and Civility is Dying

Photo: Rebecca Florence Miller 

Over the last decade I've become just as troubled by the way our country handles controversy as the controversies themselves. I don't know if this means I'm maturing or getting "soft". The pleas we hear for unity are drown out by the noise of hostility.

People are looking at each other with malice in their hearts and distrust in their eyes. It saddens me to see us devolving. I read social media posts everyday from people who are actively rooting for the further unraveling of our social fabric. There are people preparing for an actual war. Ironically, many of the people pushing for a new "Civil War" are the same ones who found themselves on the losing end of the cultural and ideological wars. 

America changed. America is changing. America will continue to change. The train of history doesn't have a pause button. The future doesn't care if we are prepared for it or afraid of it. We are never going back. This reality is triggering for some.

Much of the pushback against diversity and social justice movements I've studied is rooted in fear and anger, but more fear than anger. 

Fear and anger, from a neurological perspective, are very similar. Someone afraid of you will hurt you just as quickly as someone who hates you. A lot of people spreading hatred do so out of a lack of understanding. It's easier to hate someone than address the preconceived notions and prejudices inside ourselves. Hatred in the heart and mind has a way of manifesting itself in the real world. 

We have regressed as a society and the causes are many. Truth has become our enemy and comfort is too often found in narratives that fit our world view. We use to have utopian dreams of everyone loving each other, now we should push for just tolerating each other. 

Impeachment Means Nothing!

For the better part of four years rational conversations about politics have been almost impossible. Part of the problem is the deep distrust and dislike large swaths of America have for each other. The other big problem is our collective inability to agree on a set of facts. We can't agree on anything.

I've written over fifty articles about Donald Trump. They've been published in newspapers, magazines and a variety of online publications. With that said, I've read and written more about him than I've ever wanted to. This has been exhausting. There was a period of three months where I stopped writing about politics.

I admit that I find him to be loathsome. I despise him. He's a habitual liar. He's one of the most disrespectful and arrogant people I've ever covered. I dislike him. I can't believe someone so disloyal and vindictive continues to be the recipient of all the forgiveness and protection bestowed on him.

Donald Trump has been forgiven for saying and doing things no person of color could ever get away with. Many of the same white Evangelicals who never forgave Barack Obama for wearing a tan suit or having black skin have forgiven Donald Trump for blatant racism, sexism and xenophobia. 

Donald Trump has been credibly accused of sexual harrassment and assault by almost two dozen women: forgiven. He has admitted to grabbing women by the pu$$y: forgiven. Donald Trump admitted to paying off an adult actress he was having an affair with while his wife was pregnant: forgiven. He was recently held culpable by a court for defrauding charitable donations for kids with cancer: forgiven. Donald Trump has trashed John McCain and John Dingell: forgiven. 

He was right when he said he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. There are people who could watch him put a baby in a microwave and ask what did the baby do first? 

Impeachment won't move the needle. There isn't anything Donald Trump could say or do that will turn his base against him. Half the country is celebrating while the other half is plotting revenge. The Senate will acquit him. This had to be done, but it does nothing.

A Practical Response To Sanctuary Counties

In the last few weeks I’ve seen numerous social media posts soliciting online support for the creation of 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties. Many of these posts are shared out of sincere concern over potential restrictions to the right to bear arms. Some are purely partisan vitriol. Either way, this is another issue in which well intentioned people end up screaming past each other.

For the record, I support the right to bear arms; as Malcolm X once said, “A man with a rifle or a club can only be stopped by a person who defends himself with a rifle or a club. That's equality.”

However, I part ways with the idea of creating 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties. This isn’t personal and I don’t think people who support these petitions are bad. I have practical reasons for my opposition.

First, the Second Amendment already has limitations that have been codified into law. Fully automatic weapons haven’t been available in this country for over 30 years. We should move forward with this fact squarely in our minds. Any debate about future limitations should be rooted in the fact that the door to limitations has been open since the 1934 National Fire Arms Act.

Second, the creation of 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties does not protect businesses or citizens. This is a feel-good form of activism. There is nothing in any of these petitions that grants immunity to any of the signers. In essence, this is protest without action. You showed up said you were upset, but didn’t do anything to affect real change.

Lastly, the consequences for not following any legislation passed in Richmond would fall squarely on the shoulders of local elected officials. None of the signers of these petitions would be forced to make the decisions or face the consequences elected officials, Commonwealth Attorneys and/or Sheriffs would face.

Hypothetically speaking, imagine a piece of legislation is passed in Richmond calling for the ban of semiautomatic weapons in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Who honestly believes our political class would risk their livelihoods, pensions and/or freedom to oppose any law deemed Constitutional?

The next time you see your elected representative, sheriff or commonwealth attorney ask yourself: would this person risk their mortgage or go to jail for my right to bear arms?

The majority of candidates in local races run for office without declaring their political affiliations. We’re supposed to believe politicians too politically calculating (or afraid) to tell us their political beliefs would stand in the gap for us with something more important than their next election on the line?

I’m glad to see so many people engaging in the public square. I believe in protest. Successful protests have broken the back of some of the most egregious evils in our country’s history. However, every protest that’s ever bore fruit required sacrifice. Signing a petition without any practical or actionable plan isn’t sacrifice.   

I wish more of you were concerned about Constitutional Rights when the 4th Amendment Rights of your fellow citizens were being trampled by stop-and-frisk policies. I empathize with the distrust many of you now feel towards government and law enforcement. I stand in solidarity with you, but this isn’t the way.

How Should We Think About Impeachment?

Impeachment hearings are here whether we want them or not. The next few weeks, like all of the weeks before them, will be full of misinformation and half truths. 

There will be concerted efforts made by politicians and members of the media/entertainment complex to smear and attack people: most of whom none of us have ever heard of.

Some of you will feel a knee jerk reaction to defend politicians and/or public figures you identify with. This is a natural instinct; I'm not asking anyone to transcend their humanity. I'm asking each and everyone to use their commonsense. Think about all of this in a clear and simplified way.

Ask yourself: 

1. Who has more motivation to tell the truth: someone under oath- who potentially faces perjury or someone outside of the legal scope of this investigation- who doesn't face any consequences for their words?

2. Why would so many career civil servants risk their pensions and their family's economic future to come forward?

3. Would you feel differently about any of the sworn statements or testimony if it were given about a politician you didn't identify with?

4. What do all of the investigations, guilty pleas, and convictions say about this White House?

5. Who benefits from the way you feel?

There will be people trying to convince you not to believe what you are hearing and seeing. There will be people ascribing the most insidious motives to their fellow citizens. There will be people, with a history of lying, trying to convince you they are telling the truth. There will be people trying to convince you that loyalty to ideology and political affiliation are more important than loyalty to the principles of truth and justice.

Donald Trump's innocence and guilt has already been decided by a majority of the country. There are people on both sides of the aisle who won't be swayed by any evidence that challenges their beliefs. We know this, but it shouldn't stop us from thinking critically about this process.

The next few weeks will be a test of our collective integrity. We will either call a thing by its name or we will twist ourselves into knots to avoid speaking the truth. We will invest our intellectual horsepower into substantive dialogue or we will chase every distraction waved in front of us. We make this choice as individuals and collectively.

Our judgement won't come from our peers in this moment, but from the progeny we bequeath this country to. This thought should dictate how we move forward. 

I Apologize For My Role In Ruining Social Media

Facebook was my gateway drug into the world of social media. I opened my account on November 16, 2011. I was surrounded by family and friends who worked as Sherpas guiding me through the nuisances of Facebook etiquette.

1) Don't post about politics. 

2) Don't post about religion: unless you are posting about how awesome Jesus is. 

3) Don't post about racism. 

I was advised to avoid posting about anything other than cats, babies, and food. I was so eager to get reacquainted with my old friends that I indiscriminately started sending and accepting friend requests. Within a few days I had over 500 "friends". This was awesome! What I didn't account for was how much some of us had changed over the years. After a while it was obvious some of our lives were in completely different places. Life happened and we had different priorities. 

The overwhelming majority of my “friends” wanted Facebook to be a place where they could escape from the day to day grind of life. I didn’t know social media was supposed to be fun, and when I found out I didn’t care. All of this was happening so fast. 

I turned Facebook into my public diary and started journaling. It was cathartic! I wrote what I thought and didn’t care about the consequences. There were days I felt incredibly blessed to have a second chance at life; on those days, I wrote about my feelings. 

There were days when the world seemed like a flaming bag of crapsicles; on those days I wrote. I didn’t shy away from controversial issues. I was indifferent to the agreed upon rules that governed social media. This was seen, by some, as aggressive behavior. I lost a lot of those early "friends" as quickly as I found them.

We are encouraged to avoid “controversy”. Because of this we often ignore bigotry, hatred, and incivility. Too many of us believe society's ills can be fixed by ignoring them. There are people who believe their right to bliss shouldn’t be impeded by the raw nature of our world. They are wrong! They have every right to ingest or avoid any information they choose, but they don’t have a right to another’s silence. 

I don’t apologize for the (small) role I’ve played in ruining social media. I don’t apologize for writing about race, religion, class, culture, or politics. I don't apologize for my truth being abrasive against the skin of those who choose to avoid the issues I write about. 

However, I do apologize for not giving people the benefit of the doubt. I apologize for not allowing people the time and space to process ideas they maybe haven't thought about. I apologize for not showing Grace. I apologize for automatically assuming the worst. If we hadn’t avoided talking about these issues for so long we might understand each other and how they affect us better.

You Deserve More

Hey you! Yes you. Give me a minute of your time. Are you still here? Listen: you deserve happiness. 

No one has the right to mistreat you. You don't have accept scorn or ridicule. You are not a doormat. You don't have to tolerate abusive behavior. Thanks for attending my Tedtalk!

Too often comfort causes us to accept treatment we know we shouldn't tolerate. We are convinced that our current situation is better than venturing into the unknown. This happens all the time in personal and professional relationships. All of us have stayed somewhere or with someone too long. Change is scary, but we don't have to let fear have the last word.

It takes courage to step into a new season. They call it a leap of faith for a reason. We are allowed to change the way we think about the future. Instead of finding reasons to fail, why not embrace change and chase destiny? 

You might fail. But in the words of Sameul Beckett, "Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

You Don't Owe Them Anything!

I don't know who needs to hear this, but: you don't have to spend your time and energy dealing with people who think ill of you. You don't have enough time or energy to change their mind.

It's okay not to be liked by everyone. Too many of us are so infatuated with the idea of being liked that we change who we are. This is a tragic mistake. It's better to be respected than liked. Cutting against the grain and standing on your principles is enough to make people hate you.

Face it: there are people who don't like you. There are people who don't want to see you grow or succeed. There are people who need you to struggle in order to feel good about themselves. There are people waiting for you to fail. Get. Over. It. Those problems belong to them.

You don't have to inherit anyone's mania. You don't have to engage. You ARE NOT responsible for their feelings; however, you ARE responsible for your happiness. Do yourself a favor and quit trying to be liked by everyone. Focus on you and risk failing while trying to reach your potential. You may surprise yourself!

When Will America Practice Forgiveness?

There are a lot of people celebrating Brandt Jean’s forgiveness of Amber Guyger. I don’t know Brandt Jean, so I won’t comment on his  faith or motivation. That’s his heart, his conscious and his brother. I wish him and the family all the best moving forward; however, this is a moment we can reflect on.

While some are basking in the glow of this amazing sign of grace and forgiveness ask yourself: how many innocent men, women and children would be alive if our “Christian” nation practiced this kind of forgiveness?

We execute Americans every year for the crime of murder. We dropped two atomic bombs because we couldn’t forgive. There are hundreds of thousands dead Iraqis and Afghans because we couldn’t forgive. When innocent Americans are killed we call for revenge. We have bombed countries for less than what Amber Guyger did. 

What if America responded to 9/11 like Brandt Jean responded to the murder of his brother? Think about all of the American and Allied Forces soldiers who lost limbs. Think about all of the soldiers who lost their lives. 18 years later we are still sending troops into those countries. Why don’t we practice more forgiveness when it comes to jurisprudence and international affairs?

How much PTSD could we have prevented? How many suicides could we have prevented? When was the last time our Christian nation showed such forgiveness? 

The tradition of forgiveness cultivated and nurtured inside the Black church has been a strength and a weakness. Grace shouldn’t be reduced to a quid pro quo, but what has all of this turning the other cheek gotten our communities? Black folks have been forgiving America for things she won’t even apologize for. This was a senseless tragedy. I hope we don’t allow this sign of undeserved love to be used as a form of absolution.

What Unplugging Did For Me!

https://thoughtwrestler.tumblr.com/post/188014893861/what-unplugging-did-for-me

If Protesting Racism is "Un-American" What is Not Supporting 911 First Responders?

(Official House  of Representatives photo)

Rand Paul spent his day (July 17th) blocking an attempt by House Democrats to pass an extension of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. He cited concerns over the Trump administration's massive deficits as reason to stifle the bipartisan bill which had already passed the Senate.

This is the same Rand Paul who voted for a trillion dollar tax cut and hasn't said a mumbling word about the 100+ million dollars spent on golfing and personal family trips by the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Funding for first responders is where his "fiscally conservative" principles showed up.

This brings me to my larger point: Never Forget is, and has always been, an empty signifier. It's like saying America was founded on Christian values while ignoring all of the hatred, bigotry, violence and death wedded to her.

The fact that Jon Stewart has been a bigger advocate for 911 first responders than a majority of our elected officials is an indictment on those myths some of our fellow citizens believe about the purity of our nation.

If Americans stopped listening to what politicians said and actually looked at their voting records, half the country wouldn't believe the Republican party is the party of God or the rightful heirs to the American empire.

Here's a question for folks sensitive to any critique of America: is opposition to funding healthcare for 911 first responders more disrespectful than protesting racism?

When we protest racism, police brutality and discrimination in our country all we are saying is enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate second class citizenship in a country that is as much ours as it is yours. What is Rand Paul saying when he doesn't support New York City Police Officers and Firefighters?

Five Questions For People "Offended" By Protest Movements

There are people committed to avoiding honest discussions about any topic that challenges their worldview. This fact intersects the Venn Diagram of "socially unacceptable" conversations. 

Some of this reluctance is steeped in a sincere desire to avoid controversy, but some of this is more malevolent. There are people committed to hijacking any conversation that makes them feel uncomfortable. 

Too often people understand their defense of an untenable status quo as patriotism, while simultaneously condemning people who are actually fighting for equality. This is the exact same pushback abolitionist faced. I have five sincere questions for people caught in this paradox.

Are you willfully confusing protest movements against police brutality and discrimination with being anti military?

What is it about the legacy of racism in America that makes you uncomfortable?

What does your refusal and/or inability to get outside of yourself and view this country through the eyes of someone who hasn't had the traditional "American experience" say about you?

What are you actively doing to change the ways race and racism affect your fellow Americans?

Do you really believe that if marginalized communities stopped telling their stories  about discrimination and bigotry racism would disappear?