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Thank you, Troy. OMG this forum is intelligent! Nearly all of the ones I find are just flame-war battlegrounds. I think it has always been true in the USA that African-Americans are in the forefront of the fight for justice which benefits all of us (I'm an Appalachian white). That was certainly true in the 60s (which I'm old enough to remember) and it's still true. So I'm happy to march with you, or engage in whatever form the struggle takes that I can manage at my age. We have a big battle impending, the possibility of that Orange Megalomaniac returning to power which in my opinion pushes us into full fascism. They'll be coming after black people, gays, progressives, immigrants, Muslims... oh hell and even women! This forum provides a very positive contribution to the struggle against that! Thanks!

Black women and men fight between ourselves over who has more of a right to freedom, instead of seeing each other's struggle as part of our own and vital to our common goals. Audre Lorde

@Delano, sometimes the comments that come out that guy's keyboard kill me 🤣 Most people who visit these forums lurk (read but, don't post). The forum is under constant attract by trolls they are not extended invitations as some might believe. Most of the accounts that are created here are banned after they are created. I'm sure I've banned legitimate posters, but I find it is better be overly cautious rather than too lax. I don't remember when I approved your account @Michel Montvert, but most of the accounts I do approve never post. This has been my observations as well, but that is not to say that there is not much more potential. These forums were superior 10 to 15 years ago, but again social media has sucked all the air out of the room. My competition is not from other forums, but from social media, when has tremendous advantages. Perhaps that will change. I believe it will people thought email was dead too, but today it is one of the most effective way to get your message out readers. No Microsoft and Google can decide to push my messages into the spam folder and make email less effective. This is the power of monopoly. This is why 90% of websites can't get traffic from google search and why 2/3 of searches on Google never led to a website. This is why most people who are looking to buy something on the web start with Amazon. All discussion forums have to content with these obstacles. So to everyone, if you find any value here YOU have to help spread the word. We are our best and, in many cases only, advocates 🙂 And I'm talking about any indie website you think is valuable.

White have been bitching about this since the days of affirmative action...this is a tired notion expressed by white men who feel they are not getting their due. The white man's ice has been colder for a long time and until it is not we will be in this predicament. The reality is in many cases the white mans ice is colder, so we have to be very intentional about investing in Black business, for example, and give them an opportunity to develop and be on par with white businesses. We will never be free to lead until we have economic freedom. No one will hand Black people this we have to do this for ourselves. The Willie Lynch Letter has been thoroughly debunked, but the "syndrome" may be real. Hey if I overlook the milestone, Have a Very happy Birthday Cynique. I remember correcting be for referring to you as an octogenarian, and now you are a year shy of being beyond that 😉 Hummm....Have you looked at where Black people choose to spend and invest their money? Or even where they spend their time online? I think you many arrive at a different conclusion. Now I'm not talking about us... Anyone posting here could be spending their time on facebook or instagram. I'm talking about the Black folks you don't even consider visiting and engaging with a Black site.

I have attended several of the debates hosted by Intelligence Squared in person and watched many more live. I have not listened to this one yet. Generally, they are quite informative. Attendees are asked to pick a side on the proposition, in this case, Should Trump Be Indicted? You can for, against, or undecdided. The winner of the debate is the team that has converted the most number of people to their side For or Against. Again, I think Trump should, like anyone else, be indicted. He has lived a charmed life free of adverse consequences of the consequences of his bad behavior -- indeed has been rewarded for it! It is not his fault; Trump is the beneficiary of white male privilege and a culture that is becoming increasingly base. The prospect of him actually going to jail seems slim to me. Fear of reprisals from the public, or making Trump a martyr, are poor excuses not to indict the man and jail him upon conviction. Sunday, August 14, 2022 Here’s what we have in store this week: A new debate about the effects of indicting Trump A closer look at the Jan 6. hearings effect on voter support Your Sunday reading list For ex-President Donald Trump, it's certainly been a week. Federal agents raided his Mar-a-Lago home. Then, the green light was given to a fraud and tax evasion case against his organization. Meanwhile, he's also staring down potential criminal charges as part of an investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. That is the focus of today's debate: Should Trump Be Indicted? Those in favor argue that no one is above the law. More than enough evidence has been unearthed, they say, to convict. Others warn that indicting a former president — and one who is still popular among his base and likely to campaign — will unleash a dangerous new era in American politics. It's an important debate. So we had it. Arguing "Yes," is Barbara Comstock, a former representative from Virginia's 10th congressional district. Arguing "No," is Tom Ginsburg, professor of political science at the University of Chicago. John Donvan moderates. As always, let us know what you think. ----- P.S. - Sign up here for insights on weekly debates. To spark a conversation with a friend, share this newsletter. You can always reach us at info@iq2us.org with ideas and feedback. Debating the Data Former President Donald Trump still has strong support amongst his base. Learn more here. POINT/COUNTERPOINT Should Trump Be Indicted? YES: “I don’t think he should be above the law. … It’s just pure legal accountability. And I think Merrick Garland is on the right path here, that he has to be legally accountable in the same way as any other citizen.” Learn More Barbara Comstock Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates NO: “Donald Trump still has, despite everything, a tremendous amount of political support … and that’s one reason I’m specifically worried about trying him in because I do think he’s a person who thrives on negative media attention, and, you know, might breathe new life into him.” Learn More Tom Ginsburg Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates IQ2 Alumni Point of View The real cruelty of Biden's open border policy – it hurts low-income Americans Batya Ungar-Sargon | August 10, 2022 The New York Post Watch Batya's debate on The New York Times A healthy economy needs risk, loss, and failure Allison Schrager | August 5, 2022 Advisor Perspectives Watch Allison's debate on distributing the wealth Time for NATO to take the lead in Ukraine Alina Polyakova (and Ilya Timtchenko) | August 4, 2022 Foreign Affairs Watch Alina's debate on automation and democracy Ep. 367 w/ Rep Peter Meijer 'The Almost Exit Interview' Kmele Foster (Matt Welch & Michael Moynihan) | August 4, 2022 The Fifth Column Watch Kmele's debate on cancel culture

In general, Black women and Black men work towards freedom together. Statistics (numbers) and Labels (reporting agencies like HHR, CDC, Census et al) have data to support our unified movement. However. our “feelings” tell a different story. Feelings make people behave contrary to the own well-being. Consider some men who “feel” inadequate and leave or hurt their families Just recently, a Black women, mother of six was murdered by her children’s father Raymond Thompson. He told Philadelphia authorities he believed she was cheating on him. He allowed his emotions to cloud his mind and stabbed her more than 18 times while she sat in the car with him. She had a restraining order against him but her family said she wanted to continue building a home with him and their six daughters. I just added the father’s name because she wasn’t the only mother of 6 in Philly murdered recently. Sadly, reporting agencies ( Justice Department / CDC), also state, per capita, Black women are more likely to be killed by their Black spouses/ partners than any other ethnic group. Whereas intimate partner murders rank 1 - 1.4 out of 100,000 for other groups, Black and First Nation women rank 4.4 - 4.3 per 100,000, respectively. Also noted. possibly by surviving family members, Black women rarely report domestic violence most likely to keep Black men out of the prison system. So, no matter how we “feel” about unity between Black women and men, the numbers show Black women are “ride and/or die” when it comes to Black men.

@Troy how come you didn't think of doing this?

One of my better qualities is my ability not to follow good advice. It has made for an interesting life.

This is another time I hate to be right. Watching all the nonsense propaganda regurgitated by the white right over "CRT" (which none of them know anything about), I was telling some friends here, watch, this is about removing Harriet Tubman and MLK from the schools. I know some teacher will teach about one of them and be accused of CRT. And here we are. Are the goals of this Trump MAGA movement clear to everyone yet? They are the White Citizens Councils. They are the KKK. They are what has happened in far too many countries---fascism. Overt open fascism, not the friendly fascism we've had so far. I was a teacher. I'm glad I taught the truth. I'm glad that in those days I could get away with it!

It is sad indeed to watch the govt including Democrats do nothing about the already obvious list of felonies committed by the Orange Narcissist. What happens now will be the indicator if the system as a whole has decided to allow the USA to slide into fascism or not. Trump clearly belongs in Club Fed. Is it all a colossal sham, a show? Or can we trust anyone, even the FBI, even the progressive Democrats, at this point? The entire world is ominously dysfunctional and worse by the day. At this point I have to say, Here's hoping we survive!

They have found classified and top secret documents from the White House in Trump's country club. Apparently some of those documents compromise national security. So like our previous bet unless he dies he is going to jail @Troy

A new forum could be referred to as the POW WOW, the stomping grounds for all Chiefs, - and no Indians. Same ol, same ol.

You all speak of the past in the present. Your explanations and suspicions and accusations about the black dilemma are familiar ones. Familiar because I have been hearing them for over 50 years. How ironic that I, in the course of counting down to my 89th birthday in 4 days, speak of the future. You don't have to be a seer to predict that change is going to come. The changes may not be what you expect or what you desire but that doesn't mean they won't be for the better. Society will transform itself through adjustments. Skin color requires no high tech science to change. Sexual fluidity is a natural form of population control. Survival is about evolving. That's not opinion, that's reality. But believe whatever makes you comfortable. Makes me no difference. Why should it???

The leaders of the confederacy were not shot for treason. If seems unlike that Trump will be punished for anything he has done. But the changes are not zer,o and I'd be willing to be that he will be imprisoned with the right odds.

Again, I'm thankful that you continue to support and provide this space for discussion. I haven't been around here as long as everyone else but I do enjoy reading you all and I'd hate to see this discussion forum shrivel up completely and/or go away. 😎

In his wisdom, a few years before he died, Dick Gregory talked about it. When the former POTUS was elected, Dick Gregory basically said white people in America would start losing their minds and doing dumb sh8t. When asked what AfroAmericans ahould do...Dick Gregory said "do nothing...this ain't about (you) Black folks". 😎

Old saying: It's not a matter of what you charge, it's what you can prove. I believe ProfD is right on this one. I don't even think Trump will be banned from holding office.

IMO, the chances are zero but I'll call it very slim to none that the former POTUS goes to prison. Time and again, he's proven to be Teflon in court. 😎

@Pioneer1, unfortunately, many Black folks have already been conditioned to look down on AfroAmericans. It would take a great deal of education to reprogram black folks into working together. 😎

Where I grew up we called it jonin'. We mostly laughed at the insults but sometimes it would lead to arguments and fights. Nobody got killed though. The mama jokes defnitely descended from the dozens. To this day the easiest way to offend most AfroAmericans is to talk about their mother. "Your momma hair so short she has to roll it up with rice." "Your momma so ugly she look like your great-grandaddy." It was juvenile and insensitive but some of it was funny as h8ll and we'd be in tears laughing back in those days. 😎

Yeah, when I was a kid we called it CAPPIN' If we went hard on somebody and just wouldn't let off them, it was called ROASTIN'....lol. The older generation before us called it the "dozens" and in some cases they use to stand in line and square off with eachother. We just sat around in circles doing it. It was done almost exclusively by boys. I didn't see a lot of girls participating in it either with eachother or with boys. It all had a purpose, although most of us didn't know what that purpose was at the time. It was designed to test you emotionally to see how much abuse you could take as well as how QUICK WITTED you were. Many boys who were good at the dozens/snappin'/cappin' went on to be Rappers and MC's or comedians. "Nigga yo mama is so Black...she rubbed some grease on her legs and it looked like she had on leather pants!"

Vitamins and supplements are fine for but eating nutrient rich foods is better for the human body. Proper diet and exercise are the real keys to weight loss and good health. Consider all of the places on the planet with the most physically fit people. They're not popping pills or pressing patches on themselves. Physically fit people live a healthy lifestyle from what they eat to how they work and play. 😎