‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Raise Your Voice: Consuming the orange coronafruit
By PETER MOLENAAR Remembering: April 14”¦Most of the day was spent responding to text messages and calls of concern. Comrade Harry had entered Hennepin County”™s ICU (COVID-19). Blood oxygen was dangerously low, and failed to improve. January 8”¦The CDC issued a warning.January, February, March”¦Eight campaign rallies and five golf trips are interspersed with, “its a hoax”¦ the corona virus is very much under control”¦ stock market looking very good to me.” April 2”¦The economy is imploding and 35 million U.S.A. citizens are in line to loose their private health insurance. March 3”¦ After having passed through two sites of infection (Seward Co-op and May Day Cafe) I visited East Lake St. Allina Clinic, but was not tested (no tests available)”¦ I thought, as a senior with damaged lungs that I might die should the symptoms emerge”¦ was not even placed on a prioritized list! March 4”¦The East Lake [...]
Raise Your Voice
The Elders Have Spoken Peter Molenaar By PETER MOLENAAR Little Earth, Phillips Community Center, Ebenezer Towers on Portland and Park Avenues, and Anderson Community School ”“ for the Phillips Neighborhood, these were the Primary Vote polling places. Thanks to the volunteers who made it happen, those who had navigated the information overload were privileged to exercise their right. It can now be said with certainty: the elders have spoken. To his credit, Joe Biden shook many hands in South Carolina. African Americans, especially the elders, bore witness to his having played second fiddle to President Obama, and trust him not to play a treasonous game with mass bigotry. Moreover, many believe Biden to be the likely candidate to defeat Donald Trump. (We are not in a revolutionary situation at this time!) From the standpoint of our ”˜Popular Front”™, looking back, many were initially drawn to the candidacy of Elizabeth Warren. Elizabeth was [...]
Raise Your Voice – Sisters in Spirit
By PETER MOLENAAR Last month, on delivery of the usual 40 Alley papers to the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the young woman at the desk gave access to the Two Rivers Gallery where a marvelous birch bark canoe is on display. With a twinkle, I inquired: “Who built the first canoe?” As it happened, thousands of years ago”¦. It was to be an unusually warm day for late autumn, it seemed. The Aunties exited the sweat lodge, intent upon harvesting the edge of the marsh. Straddling lengths of logs the men had hewn, they would maneuver the water without getting stuck. In tow were the water-tight baskets they themselves had made. A celebratory fire was stoked near shore for their return. In the shallow, a newborn was placed in a basket for introductions. The gentle rocking induced a contented smile, which erupted in a squeal of delight when a careful spin was applied. Naturally, the toddlers and somewhat older children converged to demand their turn. This [...]
