Anslinger Being Tough?
Harry Anslinger was a United States government official who served as the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He was a supporter of prohibition and the criminalization of drugs, and played a pivotal role in cannabis prohibition. [1]
Excerpt from the book:
Many people assume what we call the War on Drugs began in 1971 during the Nixon Administration. Some believe “the War” began during Prohibition due to the relentless efforts of a racist and moralist federal agent named Harry Anslinger. [2]
Continuing later in the book:
Anslinger was a bureaucratic empire-builder and he saw marijuana as the leverage needed to expand the size and power of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He railed against the use of reefer, weed, or pot by blacks, particularly black entertainers. Anslinger hated jazz with its free-wheeling lack of rigid structure and he equated it with what he viewed as black depravity. Black bandleader Cab Calloway had a 1933 hit song called Reefer Man featured in the movie International House. Anslinger must have been furious. [2]
References:
- Wikipedia, Harry Jacob Anslinger
- Prisoner of War: The Story of White Boy Rick and The War on Drugs by Vince Wade – Page 20, 39
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- You Never Know The Impact of Performing a Kind Act – by Dr. Ross Reck
Pixabay A friend related this powerful moving story to my wife and me. On February 15, their 17-year-old granddaughter and two friends had some free time, so they went to the local market and bought a large number of half-price, unsold, Valentine flowers. They made many small bouquets, tied them with ribbons and attached a positive message to each. Next, they went to the nearest hospital and began offering them to people who walked by—visitors, patients, doctors, nurses, etc. Some people took them and thanked them while others kept walking by. As a very distraught looking twenty-something-year-old woman approached them, the two friends decided this woman was unhinged and suggested avoiding her. The granddaughter approached the woman who grasped the offered flowers and in a low soft voice said, “I was going to do something seriously very bad until you gave me this.” She began texting on her phone, a car pulled up, and she got in. The driver of the car rolled down the window and called the granddaughter over. She tearfully said, “You don’t know what you’ve done tonight.” The smallest acts of kindness can have consequences far beyond what was imagined or intended. You never know the potential impact of performing a kind act.
References:
- Adoption – Is It Easier for Gay Couples to Adopt?
Arizona Equality Home Section | When They Stopped Waiting Article | Press Kit
Same sex couples can legally tie the knot now in Arizona but there are still a lot of questions about death and birth rights. One of the big ones: Will gay couples have the same access to adoption as straight couples? [KPHO Reports]
References:
- CBS 5, October 30, 2014, Jonathan Lowe – Gay marriage now legal in AZ, ‘easier’ for gay couples to adopt? (PDF)
- West Wing Segment about Bible Bashing
Arizona Equality Home Section | When They Stopped Waiting Article | Press Kit
West Wing, “The Midterms”
President Bartlet delivered a knockout punch on an anti-gay practitioner highlighting the ridiculous practice of selecting quotes from the Bible to shore up irrational prejudices. [October 18, 2000]
References:
- Christian Research Institute – President Bartlet’s Fallacious Diatribe
- A Commentary Refuting this Video Cliip – James H. Boyd Gospel Ministries
- Getting Through Bad Days and Rough Times – by Dr. Ross Reck
Sarah Trimmer is an extremely courageous person and a hero to many. During a five-year period, Ms. Trimmer lost both parents, got divorced, had both breasts removed because of breast cancer, had the cancer return two years later which necessitated chemotherapy and radiation treatments and then had her ovaries removed in an effort to prevent the cancer from returning again. To help herself get through these very tough times, she created a system called #startandendhappy. The idea was to start and end her day focusing on elevating her level of happiness. As Ms. Trimmer put it in a TED talk, “When a person elevates their happiness, they build their mental strength and mental strength is what it takes to get you through the rough times.” To elevate her level of happiness, she starts and ends her days reciting and completing the following five phrases:
- Today I am grateful for…
- Today I helped someone by…
- Something that made me happy today was…
- Today I learned…
- Tomorrow I will…
A perfect way to start and end our days. Notice how these phrases are “other-focused” rather than “self-focused.”
References:
- Take Advantage of Opportunities to Make Other People’s Days – by Dr. Ross Reck
Pixabay My wife Marcia and I, along with several members of our family were having dinner at a restaurant. After we placed our order, I noticed a mother and her young daughter having dinner together in a booth not far from us. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then a birthday cake with lighted sparklers arrived at their table—it was the little girl’s birthday. Seeing that they were alone, I walked over to their booth and asked the little girl if she would like us to sing “Happy Birthday” to her. They looked at each other and both nodded their heads. When we started singing, several other tables joined in and when we had finished, the little girl was smiling and all aglow and the mother had tears in her eyes. It was obvious that our small gesture had made their day, and we all felt great about having done so. Opportunities like this come at us on a continual basis and it’s our job, as caring human beings, to recognize and do something about them.
References:
- First They Came
A German pastor’s poem during the Nazi reign of WWII
This poem seems to have more relevence today.
Pixabay First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Wkipedia Pastor Martin Niemöller
Martin Niemöller is best known for writing First They Came, but he is a complicated figure. Initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter, his views changed when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp for speaking out against Nazi control of churches.
References:
- Never Argue With Stupid People – by Dr. Ross Reck
Pixabay This is the beginning of a quote from Mark Twain. The full quote reads, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and the beat you with experience.” When you argue with a stupid person the problem is first, you can’t win and second, anyone watching may not be able to tell the difference, so it looks to them like two stupid people are going at it. You’ll be labelled as a stupid person as well. As Shannon L. Alder put it, “Arguing with idiots (stupid people) is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are, the bird is going to sh*# on the board and strut around like it won anyway.”
References:
- Shares Tumble – Tesla’s Downturn, Elon Musk’s Distain for America
What in the world is going on? Destroy Biden’s EV initiative only to make himself richer?
Things Are Bad At Tesla And They’re About To Get Much Worse
Investors Bail
“Shares of Tesla slid again Monday as confidence in Elon Musk’s electric car company continues to disintegrate following a post-election “Trump bump.” Tesla shares tumbled 15.4%, to $222.15. That’s the lowest Tesla shares have traded since late October, reflecting investors’ newfound pessimism as the automaker’s sales crater around the globe. Monday’s decline, Tesla’s steepest since September 2020, came with Wall Street in the midst of a sell-off caused by uncertainty over the Trump administration’s trade policies.” [APnews.com, March 10, 2025 – Tesla tumbles again as investors bail on Elon Musk’s suddenly struggling electric vehicle company]
The Protest Over Tesla Grow
Aerial photos of the anti-Musk protest outside the Tesla dealership in Tucson at Oracle and River@whatsuptucson @cnnbrk @KOLDNews @KVOA@kgun9 @MSDNCNews pic.twitter.com/mGmynY9z41
— BG Boyd Photo (@bgboydphoto) March 1, 2025
Pixbay Nationwide
“Demonstrators gathered at more than 50 Tesla showrooms across the United States on Saturday in protest of CEO Elon Musk’s role in slashing government agencies as part of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency established by President Donald Trump. The protests are part of “Tesla Takedown,” which, according to its website, hopes to encourage stakeholders to “sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines.”” [CNN Business, Auzinea Bacon, March 1, 2025 – ‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters gather outside showrooms to rally against Elon Musk’s role with DOGE]
Is it time to sell Tesla Stock?
OMG! It’s Falling Fast Than Previously Thought
Arizona Fights Back
“About 1,000 sign-waving, chant-cheering protesters lined the curbs along Tucson’s North Oracle and West River roads Saturday morning to protest the richest man in the world. The grassroots movement, which began online, drew residents from across the state and country to the area surrounding the Tucson Tesla dealership where they aired their grievances about Elon Musk and President Donald Trump to passersby.” [tucson.com, Erika Wurst, March 2, 2025 – About 1,000 in Tucson protest Musk, Trump]
Colorado Fights Back
“Hundreds of people turned out on Saturday morning to protest Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his actions at the Department of Government Efficiency outside the Tesla dealership in Superior. Protesters lined the streets outside the dealership, waving signs and flags and chanting as cars drove by the busy intersection.” [Denver7.com, Adria Iraheta, March 1, 2025 – Hundreds gather at Superior Tesla dealership to protest Elon Musk’s DOGE involvement – It’s part of #TeslaTakedown protests happening across the country in recent days, urging people to sell their vehicles and dump their stock.]
New York Fights Back
“A Tesla store in New York City has been taken over by people protesting Elon Musk – disrupting the operations. As we have reported over the last few weeks, there’s a growing movement called “Tesla Takedown,” under which grassroots protests are being organized at Tesla stores around the world.” [electrek.co, Fred Lambert, March 1, 2025 – Tesla store gets taken over by Musk protesters, 9 people arrested]
Maryland Fights Back
“Nearly 300 protesters gathered outside the Tesla dealership in Owings Mills on Saturday, waving homemade signs as drivers slowly passed by beeping their horns in a show of support. Demonstrators gathered outside Tesla stores across the U.S. on Saturday to protest the automaker’s billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, and his push to slash government spending on behalf of President Donald Trump.” [CBSnews.com, Staff, March 1, 2025 – Hundreds protest Elon Musk, Donald Trump outside Tesla dealership in Owings Mills]
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- Why is Andy Biggs No Good for Arizona?
Pixabay Holds Town Meetings ONLY for Republicans
Why not listen to ALL of his constituents? Very strange to ignore almost halve of his constituents. A Thorn in the Side of Progressives.
“Rep. Andy Biggs along with Senate President Warren Petersen and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan met with Republican voters in Chandler on Tuesday evening.” Come and hear from 3 of our elected officials on the HOT TOPICS in their respective office,” read a flyer on the town hall, hosted by the Maricopa County Republican Committee. There certainly are plenty of those. …
“Please be advised that tonight’s town hall is a private event,” Patty Castillo Porter, a member-at-large of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, wrote, in a message announcing the event. “I have been reminded that only members of the Republican Party will be admitted into the venue.”” [AZCentral.com, Laurie Roberts, March 19, 2025 – Sure, Rep. Andy Biggs wants to hear from you – if you’re a Republican | Opinion]
Hangs With Racists and Antisemites
“Last weekend Biggs participated in a Second Amendment rally at the Arizona Capitol that included as a sponsor the white nationalist, antisemitic College Republicans United and featured the misogynistic, Islamophobic, racist, right-wing extremist Proud Boys. …
In 2015, Biggs was at an event at which the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers, Steward Rhodes, said that then-Sen. John McCain “should be tried for treason before a jury of his peers … and then after we convict him, he should be hung by the neck until dead.”
Last year, Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and sentenced to 18 years in prison.” [AZCentral.com, EJ Montini, February 21, 2024 – No biggie anymore for Rep. Andy Biggs to hang with racists and antisemites – Opinion: Biggs participated in a Second Amendment rally that included antisemitic College Republicans United and the right-wing extremist Proud Boys.]
Lied About Elections
“Led efforts to fraudulently overturn the 2020 presidential election, leading up to the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. Reports say Biggs helped organize the rally that led to the siege, while he lied and accused, without evidence, that antifa were partly to blame for the riot.” [GLAAD.org, April 23, 2023 – Andy Biggs]
Anti-LGBTQ
“Tweeted support for the suspended Babylon Bee twitter account’s misgendering of four star admiral Rachel Levine who is United States assistant secretary for health. He misgendered Levine in his own tweet as well.
Was a policy advisor to United Families International, identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-LGBTQ hate group that opposes marriage equality.” [GLAAD.org, April 23, 2023 – Andy Biggs]
Debatable Voting Scorecard
[ACLU Legislative Scorecard – Andy Biggs]
Horrible Support for Ukraine
[GOP Congressional Report Card – Andy Biggs Profile]
Praises Racist Lawmakers
“Far right Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) issued a press release over the weekend celebrating the life of a racist former lawmaker who had been pushed to resign from politics after he suggested that women should only be granted public benefits if they were sterilized beforehand.
Biggs appeared on the House floor last week to speak about the life of former state Sen. Russell Pearce, whom Biggs had served with during his own time as a state lawmaker. Pearce, who sponsored vehemently anti-immigrant legislation, died earlier this month.” [Truthout.org, Chris Walker, January 31, 2023 – Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs Eulogizes Racist Former State Lawmaker – Former Arizona state lawmaker Russell Pearce suggested sterilizing women who sought out public assistance.]
Voted Against Anti-Bigotry Legislation
“The U.S. House overwhelmingly adopted an anti-bigotry resolution this week, with 23 Republicans voting against the measure, including two members of Arizona’s congressional delegation.
The resolution, whose lead author was Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), condemns anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities. It was approved late Thursday by a vote of 407-23, with only Republicans opposing it.
Arizona Congressmen Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar were among the small group of Republicans who cast the only votes against the resolution. Also voting no were: Mo Brooks of Alabama; Ken Buck of Colorado; Ted Budd and Mark Walker of North Carolina; Michael Burgess, Mike Conaway, Louie Gohmert and Chip Roy of Texas; Liz Cheney of Wyoming; Chris Collins, Pete King and Lee Zeldin of New York; Rick Crawford of Arkansas; Jeff Duncan of South Carolina; Tom Graves of Georgia; Doug LaMalfa of California; Thomas Massie of Kentucky; Steven Palazzo of Mississippi; Mike Rogers of Alabama; and Greg Steube and Ted Yoho of Florida.” [AZMirror.com, Robin Bravender, March 8, 2019 – Biggs, Gosar among 23 House Republicans to vote against anti-discrimination resolution]
- A “Glitch” or “Lock Them Up”?
When Hillary Clinton used a private email server, Donald Trump and his allies wanted her locked up.
Now? Senior Trump administration officials just used the Signal app — a publicly available messaging platform — to discuss sensitive U.S. military strike plans… and the best they can do is call it “a glitch.” [Common Defense, March 25, 2025 – They Mishandled Military Secrets. They Must Resign.]What is Signal?
Signal is an open-source, encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice calls, and video calls. The instant messaging function includes sending text, voice notes, images, videos, and other files. Communication may be one-to-one between users or may involve group messaging. [Wikipedia = Signal (software)]
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