Which Way America? — "Different Strokes for Different Folks" or "Troops Everywhere"?
R.I.P., Sly—and may your view of America prevail over that of the Trump Regime.
“Different strokes for different folks”
That should be the co-national motto of the United States of America along with E pluribus unum, which states the same goal.
It is not the worst news in a week when a hate-filled fascist is deep in an effort to destroy the American Republic and replace it with a dictatorship with “troops everywhere,” but the passing of Sly Stone is very sad.
Welcome back to “Musings & Amusings,” and greetings to those of you who are new.
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In a way, the juxtaposition seems serendipitous. Sly’s “Everyday People” captured the best of the spirit of the 1960s at least as well as LBJ’s Howard University commencement address 60 years ago last week. Both enunciated the best of the ideals of America as much as Trump does the worst of our history.
Here’s Sly’s message:
“Sometimes I'm right, I can be wrong.
My own beliefs are in my song.
A butcher, a banker, a drummer, and then
makes no difference what group I'm in.
I am everyday people! (yeah yeah)
There is a blue one who can't accept the green one
for living with the black one trying to be a skinny one
Different strokes, for different folks!
And so on, and so on, and scooby-dooby-doo. (oooh, sha sha!)
We’ve got to live together!
I am no better, and neither are you.
We are the same whatever we do.
You love me, you hate me, you know me and then,
you can't figure out the bag I'm in.
I am everyday people! (yeah yeah)
There is a long hair who doesn't like the short hair
for being such a rich one that will not help the poor one.
Different strokes, for different folks!
And so on, and so on, and scooby-dooby-doo. (oooh, sha sha!)
We got to live together!
ALL patriotic Americans should take to the streets to nonviolently protest the most dangerous move by an American president in our history.
In particular, we all have to get out and forcefully say. “NO!” on Saturday, when Trump tries to have a show of military might in a totalitarian-style parade to honor—not America, not the flag, and certainly not the people in our military, whom he calls “suckers” and “losers”—himself as the Führer.
We may be at the now-or-never moment for the American Experiment in self-government and freedom. Are those of us who are American patriots up to the challenge?
I believe that we are.
Let us honor Sly—and America—by saving it.