Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
America is pulled in so many culturally woke directions these days, it may seem a little bit old fashioned to take a moment to remember the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice that gave us our freedoms. Let me explain why it is not.
I am writing this on Memorial Day (May 29). In 48 hours it will be June 1, the first day of Pride month.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the rights and culture of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s important to note, however, that Pride Month is a freedom we’d never – and I mean ever – enjoy without the sacrifices of soldiers who died for a country as great (and tolerant) as ours.
It was only 80-some years ago that this country was locked in a life-and-death struggle with Germany and Japan. Had Germany and Japan prevailed, Hitler’s policy of extermination of the LGBTQIA+ community would now be world policy.
The idea of drag queens doing story hours at public libraries would not be up for discussion. Hell, public libraries would have been a thing of the past. A debate on personal pronouns or Target selling “tuckable” girl’s swimwear? Forget-about-it!
So, if you’re going to fly a Pride flag, I hope you also said a little prayer today for the soldiers who died in WWII. They absolutely, 100% made it possible.
RAMPANT RACISM?
Did you read about the lawyer with a case she thinks will be a big money-maker for her, representing a Black deputy sheriff claiming he was racially discriminated against by his white bosses at the Marin County Sheriff’s Department?
The case, the lawyer says, is a “wake-up call” for Marin because “racial discrimination is rampant throughout Marin institutions and culture.” That’s what the lawyer told the daily newspaper.
Allow me to push back, just a little.
First, this lawsuit can’t be Marin’s wake up call because as noted in this column many times over the years, Marin is already “double-secret probation” woke, to quote a line from “Animal House.” That’s why we’re not fixing racist roads anymore. We’re also blacking out exclusionary language in property deeds, even though those deeds were rendered moot long, long ago. We’re so woke I’m not sure I am allowed to use the term “blacking out” in Marin anymore. (I am going to risk it.)
Secondly, the idea that racism is rampant in Marin institutions jumps the shark, even for a lawyer touting a case.
Rotary? St. Vincent de Paul? Vivalon? Marin Theater Company? Community Food Bank. Marin Symphony? Marin Art & Garden Center? How about the Marin County Bar Association? Racist institutions all?
Look, the NAACP just issued a travel advisory for the state of Florida claiming it is unsafe for Blacks to be in Florida. If Marin is so racist, why hasn’t the California chapter of the NAACP issued a similar warning for Marin?
I’ll tell you why, because racism is not “rampant” in Marin County’s institutions or its culture. Marin ain’t perfect, of course. But, just because a lawyer has a case that might garner a “go-away” settlement, is no excuse for crazy talk.
Somebody ought to sue.
ONE MORE THING
Thanks for reading. Until next week, avoid sore heads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
Leave a Reply