by Jeanne Nelson “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” ~ Susan B. Anthony “Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” ~ Sharon Salzberg “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” ~ Abraham Lincoln "Our lives begin to end the day we become … Continue reading A DEADLINE YOU MUST NOT MISS
"This bill responds to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses." ~ Heroes' Act - H.R. 6800 Note: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Heroes' Act in May and an updated version in October, but it has yet to … Continue reading WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS…AND A RESCUE BILL IN OUR STOCKING!
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course...In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger...And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for … Continue reading RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
"This week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. And we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Yet so many of the black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting, long after its ratification...We're not often taught their stories. But as Americans, we all stand … Continue reading THE 19TH AMENDMENT AND WOMEN OF COLOR
` Senator Amy Klobuchar - Official Portrait “Women are held to a higher standard. Otherwise we could play a game called ‘Name Your Favorite Woman President,’ which we can’t do because it has all been men.” ~ Senator Amy Klobuchar “Bernie and I agree on a lot of things, but I think I would make … Continue reading A CENTURY AFTER GETTING THE VOTE, WOMEN WANT THE VOTES
Carl Van Vechten / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons “None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of the person underneath.” ~ Marian Anderson I would like to mark Black History Month by honoring the late and beyond great … Continue reading MARIAN ANDERSON – THE VOICE OF AMERICA
"In diversity there is beauty and there is strength." ~ Maya Angelou "Remember that you are capable of giving this time of year new meaning and new memories." ~ Kovie Biakolo “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”— Author Unknown For years we have heard from some quarters … Continue reading Holiday Diversity
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." ~ Abraham Lincoln With the voices of women echoing from the ranks of the entertainment industry and the chambers of Congress about the evils of sexual harassment, the jaw-dropping numbers of powerful men toppling from their pedestals and promises of severe consequences to perpetrators … Continue reading Will Corporate America Please Stand Up?
Some people find it impossible to accept
That all people are deserving of respect
Fairness and decorum they will reject
And scorn it as politically correct.
Two Decembers ago Fox News' Megyn Kelly declared on her show that, "...by the way for all you kids watching at home Santa just is white…” That statement caused quite a stir, but as the persona of Santa/Saint Nicholas/Father Christmas/Kris Kringle has progressed through several centuries and many countries, it's quite possible that this jolly man might have at some time been darker complexioned than the current version. There is even some historical indication that women might have taken turns during the progression of the Santa concept (although some children in the U.K. who were recently asked if Santa could be a woman had some interesting answers that proved we still have a way to go on the gender bias thing - hmmm).
“…you can prove that you’re a Christian.
You can’t prove it, then, you know, you err on the side of caution.”
“…calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States…”
“…I don’t think orphans under five…should be admitted into the United States at this point.”
The news is not good these days for those of us who teach etiquette to students and professionals. You can't pick up a newspaper, watch the news on TV or go online without reading or hearing the maelstrom of incivility aimed at certain ethnic and religious groups.
Jeanne Nelson 