The Democratic Convention is over. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have accepted their nominations. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a political convention where all the keynote and feature speakers were so consistently excellent. I didn’t hear any false notes or subliminal rancor (and I listen for such things). This covid related format was particularly well suited to speeches that revealed the humanity and sincerity of the speakers. Bernie, Michelle, Jill, Barack, Kamala and Joe all made notable speeches that highlighted our shared commitment to building a better America. It was a tour de force of what we can be when we work together. The secondary supporting cast of Andrew, John, Doug, Amy, Sally, Chuck, Jimmy & Rosylyn, Bill, Gabby, Hillary, Elizabeth, Nancy, Andrew, Cory, Keisha, Tammy, Tammy, Pete, Deb, Mike and the other candidate chorus all brought their A-games and well worn stompin’ on injustice shoes.
When Princeton Professor, Eddie Glaude, reviewed Kamala’s speech he described it in the terms of the 17th century Puritan form of the Jeremiad (typically, a prose list of lamentations delivered as a condemnation of the state of society). I think what all of our speakers provided was far more than that. Yes, they did mostly all follow the structure of the Jeremiad, but they added an important fourth step:
- Indictment — List the sins of the community (giving us a historical perspective)
- Lamentation — Enumerate the state of where we are at this moment (the horrors we are living through).
- Exhortation — Ask us to turn back to our fundamental ideals and principles.
- Inspiration — Dare to imagine a future with real liberty and justice for all.
I’m fired up. I hope your are, as well. Let’s get out there and continue building it back better (that’s what we’ve already been doing in the resistance for these last 4 years, isn’t it?)
Oh yeah. I did say this was a report card. I’m going to give it a solid A. I could have done with less Bloomberg and more Squad, but I’m overall very happy with the package.
Next week we’ll see how the republicans respond. Since their message is one of hate, division, entitlement, distraction and deceit, I suspect they won’t do a very good job of anything except telling their base it’s ok to be an ass. I wouldn’t be surprised if David Duke installed tRump as the Grand Imperial Wizard just before tRump gives an off-the-rails acceptance speech and list of personal grievances that runs on until the wee hours and all the networks have long since cut away to run infomercials.
Every article I’ve seen about next week has been busy lowering expectations. I think the consensus is that anything better than a dumpster fire mated with a backed up sewer will be a considered a success. I await with bated pen.
Up the Resistance!
Music for Resisting
Memaliciousness
Ad(s) of the Day (lots of new ads after the convention stuff)
Evening Shade appears every evening at 7:30PM Eastern (unless I get lazy).
Cut and Paste Department. This is the regularly scheduled plea for readers. I’ve still only had to make two memes. You have it within your power to make me work. If you spread the word about Evening Shade and your spreadee announces themselves in the comments, you will become eligible to receive your very, very special noprize of a meme of your very own. All you have to do is jump up and get out there and start carnival barking, cajoling, proselytizing (or pimping, if you are of an irreligious bent). You could even pester and push. Procrastination is not an option — it’s a way of life.
chloris creator always brightens my Fridays: Good News Roundup for Friday, August 21, 2020: Wipe Your Tears and Press On
