DeSantis Emerges from Humiliation to Insult Civil Rights and Destroy Florida's Environment & Trump Says Biden Wanted to Assassinate Him
Polls: Majority of Americans Blame Biden for a Recession that Doesn't Exist, Alito Flies Another Flag--This One Supporting Christian Nationalism, The Animals Sing “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place"
What I’m Discussing Today:
Kareem’s Daily Quote: Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” makes me think—but not about what you might imagine.
DeSantis’s ‘Freedom Summer’ means no rainbow lights for Florida bridges: DeSantis dishonors the meaning of “Freedom Summer” by pushing law that restricts freedom.
TV meteorologist attacks Ron DeSantis over Florida’s ‘don’t say climate change’ law: Wrong place but right message.
Trump falsely claims U.S. Justice Department was ready to kill him: It’s not just that the accusation is stupid, it’s that the same brain that reached that ridiculous conclusion that wants to run the country.
Majority of Americans wrongly believe U.S. is in recession – and most blame Biden: It’s worrisome to democracy that the majority of people can believe something without substantial evidence. This is why Trump’s lying is so effective.
UPDATE: Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home: Alito should be removed from the Supreme Court, if not for his inability to weigh evidence to reach a conclusion, then for his arrogance in flaunting is bigotry.
Kareem’s Video Break: This video should be played every Mother’s Day for eternity.
The Animals Sing “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place”: This song from the bluesy band is rock-’n’-roll wrapped in barbed wire and set aflame.
Quick Personal Note:
My very close friend and former NBA rival Bill Walton died on Memorial Day and the world feels so much heavier now. Bill was a fierce player but what made him truly special was that he wasn’t happy unless he did everything he could to make everyone around him happy. He was the best of us.
I’m still in shock, having only found out about his death an hour ago. Because Bill was a close friend, I want to share more thoughts about him in an upcoming Substack, after I’ve had some time to do him justice.
Kareem’s Daily Quote
I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
I’m not going to write what you think I’m going to write. These lines have inspired many people to celebrate themselves as rebels for their courage in choosing a less popular path and how that reflects a life of rugged individualism. Yeah, that’s not at all what this poem means to me.
The title of the poem is “The Road Not Taken,” which means it’s not about congratulating yourself for your choices, but pondering what might have been. The narrator comes upon two roads and chooses one that is less worn. He then says he’ll save the other road for another day, though he doubts he’ll ever actually return. Finally, he projects into the future that “I shall be telling this with a sigh/Somewhere ages and ages hence.” The sigh indicates that he’ll be wondering about the road not taken. What if…?
I treat my life as I do history in general: Past events are road signs for future choices. “Sheer drop ahead.” “Bridge washed out.” “Scenic route.” I spend a lot of time thinking about things I did in the past—both good and bad. Suddenly a moment will pop into my head about a moment when I said something that hurt somebody and I had no clue at the time. Now I do know. Now I know not to take that road again.
I have often said that if I hadn’t become a professional basketball player, I would have become a history teacher. I realize today that had I taken that road, I would have been just as happy grading papers and lecturing about the Civil War as I was winning championship rings. Those who select a more conventional path are not necessarily less happy or less fulfilled. Being true to yourself when choosing is what makes the difference.
When I think of those lines, I see that it doesn’t matter which road you choose, only what you do on that road. The road is not Fate, it is merely a path through an unknown that you make your own by choosing at a thousand more forks in the road. NBA champion in front of millions or history teacher in front of a class of thirty. I am who I am because I learn from the journey.