Betrayal at the Gate

The objective of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has been an effort by many people especially Black Americans and minorities for centuries in America .

Frequently in this endeavor there are many adversaries and even collaborators that were once allies in these pursuits but are now manipulated by those who are the enemies and obstructists to these pursuits  .

Recently UM fired the Executive Director of Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives  which is under scrutiny by many across the spectrum of students, administrators and professors at UM.

Academic Freedom is under assault in our academic institutions because of criticism by many of Israel’s inhumane war of vengeance and revenge against innocent Palestinians in GAZA.

UM has now become one of those reluctant allies with many of its policies of late towards Academic Freedom with regards to the War in Gaza by Israel. It is painful to observe and witness UM’s retreat in these pursuits.

UM no longer requires Diversity statements for promotions and tenure, unfortunately UM even now it has adopted a neutrality posture in providing declarations and statements about critical issues and challenges that confronts students and citizens in Michigan and across its spectrum.

Part of this strategy to disengage includes hiring people of color to orchestrate these regressive policies and practices which of course is also a strategic  deceitful maneuver and to terminate administrators that champion Academic Freedom and the like.

Once again in America so many are in peril because of the hue of their skin, gender and politics to observe this posture at UM is outrageous .

The Trouble With Friends

 The 2nd Trump Regime is going to require extremely strategic posturing for many Americans especially Americans that are not Trump supporters and are vulnerable to his regressive policies 

It begins with an evaluation of our allies and alliances for me as a Black American this is extremely critical and difficult to do but required of me 

For example consider this: UM just fired its Black DEI Administrator because of her alleged comments which were used against her by a Jewish Organization in Michigan 

When our historical allies became our contemporary adversaries this becomes a major problem especially in a 2nd Trump Regime in the White House 

Black and Jewish Americans in the Trump Era II

I have been a frequent advocate of candid discourse and dialogue between Jews and Black Americans in America for decades, long before the inhumane war in Gaza by the Netanyahu government in Israel.

During the Civil Rights Era of America where it was critical and incumbent on both Black and Jewish our collective activism generated historic gains and progress for both our communities.

Of course as a result of my activism and support for a ceasefire in Gaza many of my associates, friends and others in the Jewish diaspora here in America have attacked me with hate, racism and contempt solely because of my criticism of the war in Gaza.

I have been subjected to hateful rhetoric including being a carrier of antisemitism in Black America, this is not the Jewish America tradition I grew up with in America.

Black Americans of course have always encountered such feedback for centuries in America because of our  rejection and activism against White Supremacy in America.

In America the overwhelming majority of Jews self identify as White and given this reality it is not a surprise to be unfortunately targeted and on the end of racist attacks of not  all but many in Jewish venues in America

The racist and bigoted claims that Antisemitism is a staple and supported overwhelmingly in Black America is a ‘LIE ‘and as I have counseled Black Americans everywhere in America to condemn and reject this hate wherever it surfaces in America including media platforms and  publications and even in some Jewish synagogues in America.

There is no parallel historical reality that can compare the hate and violence that Black Americans have encountered and sustained in America to the Jewish experiences of hate and violence in America, this is not only a historical fact but a truth that many Jews refuse to acknowledge.

Our communities cannot evolve and co-exist without candid and honest and integrity driven respect for each other.

As we enter another Trump Era of America both communities are in peril and it is critical that we embrace the narrative of ‘United We Stand’ especially for Black Americans who obviously don’t identify as ‘White’ in a Trump Era.

Greg Thrasher 

Director 

Plane Ideas 

Alternative Think Tank 

🇺🇸 

Immunity to Kill

 The acquittal of a vigilante killing an unarmed mentally ill homeless person in NYC is alarming and disturbing but also a reflection of a theme in America that some people aren’t as worthy as others in our legal system 

 Our legal system is giving license to vigilantes to engage in violence towards people in America that views the homeless, mentally ill and poor people as not being worthy of civil rights in our country 

 Who’s next on the list of ‘vulnerables’ in our country that are not provided equal protection under the ‘rule of law ‘ in America??

Justice?

 Frequently there is an assumption that a trial verdict is a demonstrable example of Justice which of course is a ludicrous assumption and narrative 

 The administration of a process in seeking Justice is not a tangible measure or outcome of Justice. Justice is an abstract construct that seeks fairness and impartiality for those seeking an outcome that is not subjected to prejudice, politics, discrimination and prejudice.

 Vigilantes don’t engage in Justice in fact just the opposite Vengeance, Revenge, Settling Scores are not examples of Justice anywhere in the world.

 When civilization and society become convinced that Vigilantes have a purpose and place in a civilization this is when there is no ‘rule of law’ and acts of violence perpetrated by Vigilantes must never be normalized, excused nor Justified 

Justification is not an act of Justice 

BE NICE(c)

 Be Nice(c)

So in the present time where so much anger and hate suffocates decency and kindness there must be a reaction that speaks to this negativity 

Therefore whenever you are in the presence of kindness , bliss and acts of civility and decency do acknowledge it 

Do this for all of us …….

Greg

Jazz to the rescue

 I can’t imagine a world without Jazz especially now during the holidays and when the country is so fragmented and unstable 

Jazz music with its creative and abstract harmonies , melodies captures  our swollen and delicate spaces with deep introspective moods and spiritual vibes that allows one to navigate these moments and our troubled waters with stability 

Vocalists from every corner of the world serenade us with soulful lyrics that save us the sirens of despair and depression 

Orchestras embrace the synergies of Jazz’s language with majestic auras and portraits of imaginative scenery in our heads and hearts 

Jazz has come to our rescue….

Greg