Author’s Note: At the time of this writing, Al Franken was the most recent high-profile person accused of sexual assault. Since then there have been too many to keep up with, and I suspect that trend will only continue.
We are experiencing the death throes of a rigid, unforgiving culture—the hearkening back to “better days” and the lash back against any “new” ways of seeing or being. These are the death gasps of a generation who senses their time is ending. As the era of the Baby Boomer wanes, they desperately cling to all they've ever known.
On Labor Day, I celebrated by having a blissful day out of the office, sleeping in and then curling up with Kate Moore’s book The Radium Girls.
Nearly one year ago, Progress and Tea was born out of my own need to return to writing and a need to process the world around me. The day before its inception, I had not planned to start this blog.
Likely, I’m overthinking how many people are familiar with the song “America” from the musical West Side Story, but could this song’s lyrics be to blame for nearly 50% of United States’ citizens not realizing that Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are United States territories?
“What about fundraising?” I stammered.
Heads swiveled 365 degrees to look at me, straining to hear my words. This meek question barely made it out of my mouth—it certainly didn’t command the meeting room. My grandmother’s eyes urged me to repeat the question.
“What about fundraising?” I said a little louder, begging the tears welling in my eyes to stay put.
Unless you’ve been living in seclusion for the last year, you have heard the name Colin Kaepernick, probably paired with an image of him with a neatly groomed Afro kneeling during the national anthem. As I wondered what to write, I wrote (and re-wrote) this dozens of times, never quite satisfied with how it arrived.
Today’s world is truly amazing! Technology has progressed so rapidly that we now have handheld computers, self-parking cars, and kiosks for ordering food. More and more land is being developed for new businesses and houses or access to oil. People are constantly debating if the need for expansion is greater than the preservation of national lands.
I feel the need to weigh in on male strippers—well not actual strippers—more like male revue shows, a la the Chippendales or Hunks. Before I go any further, let me say that I have nothing against a shirtless, oiled-up Channing Tatum or Matthew McConaughey because DAMN!!
But I’m getting ahead of myself…
Teach me you how to protest because I've been told that the old, peaceful ways are no longer acceptable:
Don’t boycott a store—you’re hurting your neighbors’ jobs. Buy an unaffordable house and eat at chain restaurants, but never buy an avocado.
Don’t protest in large groups—if you block a road, you deserve to be hit by a car.
Note: This article is about suicide prevention. If you have been having thoughts about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 any time of day.
I am a Democrat. I am a liberal. I am a socialist. I am a feminist. I am a pacifist. I am pro-life.
Note: Progress and Tea's mission is to cover social justice movements, which means looking at today's world as well as past events. As a disclaimer, when we publish historical pieces, we are not drawing direct correlations between America today and the historical events described in our posts.
Note: Progress and Tea's mission is to cover social justice movements, which means looking at today's world as well as past events. As a disclaimer, when we publish historical pieces, we are not drawing direct correlations between America today and the historical events described in our posts.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I need a cup of coffee to become a functioning adult, so every morning I groggily turn on my Keurig. I’m certainly not alone. According to a 2015 Gallup poll, nearly two out of three adult Americans drink at least one cup a day.
Dear World,
In the aftermath of Charlottesville and Trump’s vile remarks, CEO’s and business leaders fled from Trump’s councils. It is a good sign that there are powerful people who reject his rhetoric and will not stand by the racism and white supremacy the president is endorsing.
Dear World,
Dear World,
In response to the escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea and the hate crimes and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, the contributing writers of Progress and Tea have written love letters to the world.
Letter # 1
Dear World,
One word that is often used to describe Jesus is compassion. Throughout the Gospels, several occurrences within scripture specifically state that Jesus had compassion for the people. Luke 7 is a prime example of his compassion.
I’m getting fake news fatigue. No, not because I’m sick of consuming narratives that are obviously false, or even that I’m tired of wading through a ton of bullshit media just to find the truth. I’m sick to death of the term “fake news” and anyone who uses that term to describe a point of view they don’t care for.
Thanks, 45.
I didn’t want to see her. She looked disheveled—beads of sweat pooling on her brow, eyes yellowed, autumn jacket agape in the direct July sun. Her insistence that she be seen contradicted the stillness of the moment as I walked next to my new spouse.
Dear Senator Ron Johnson,