The actions of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson bring joy, and give me renewed hope about the future, for Tennessee and beyond, to our nation. A good future for our country requires working together, not in groups separated by fear, hatred, and deliberate isolation. Rather, it depends on working together, building confidence, acceptance, and respect in service to our collective good.
Thank you, Prof. Reich and Justin Jones, for helping build this future.
The times they are a changin' and the powerful stranglehold of the white male patriarchal past is coming to an end. The most dangerous time for an abused woman is when she tries to leave her abuser. The abuser is losing their power and control over her and many women must have a plan in place to be able to leave safely. Such is the case with our democracy. In order for it to survive and not be killed off we must stay strong, stay organized, and have a plan to shore up voting rights, women's rights, health care rights, the rights of the poor, the climate, LGBTQ rights, and the list goes on.
Justin Jones sums up the fear, loathing and rage of American extremism succinctly with this adage: "We have an old saying in Tennessee that a mule kicks hardest when it's dying."
Republicans and their extremist policies are not popular with the majority of Americans and demographically their base is declining.
My boomer generation has failed America, at times quite profoundly, so my hope lies with Mr. Jones and others public servants like him.
How wonderful that this deeply passionate, young and gifted political leader had the joy of hearing encouragement and support from such a giant of current social and political thought, Robert Reich.
Young men like Mr Jones represent the very best of what comes next for a more enlightened, tolerant and better educated America.
In secular prayers I can only ask for magic forces and powerful hands to protect both Justin Jones and Justin Pearson.
I saw discrimination as a Protestant kid growing up in Mormon Utah - did I ever! Couldn't date most LDS girls, was turned down going to mu first good job because I wasn't in the "church", friends kept trying to convert me. I wasn't Black, and I only ever met one kid who was, in the valley and realized he had a rougher time than I did, but I got a very bad taste of discrimination in general and try to avoid being a discriminator - it doesn't help anyone. Whatever the discrimination & separation factor it is, all it does is hurt society. That childhood soured me on all religions, which is why I don't give a damn about it anymore. The only line of thought I try to stick by is "do unto others" - nothing else is needed in my mind. Thank the stars for these two men - we need to support them all the way and work with everyone like them to clean up our messy society and keep democracy alive, which is why for the first time in my life I worked our local elections after seeing what Herr Delerium Tremens has done to the United States to destroy trust and threatens to do it again. We all must prevent that from happening to turn this country around.
Living in Tennessee puts me right in the center of all this. Watched every bit of what took place - it was dirty, full of lies about how it went down and a clear attempt to get rid of 3 of our best advocates. The white woman, Gloria Johnson, has been standing up to this majority of Republicans for as long as I can remember- 10 years at least. I can tell you they almost got her out, too. One vote kept her in and boy didn’t that guy catch it from this legislature! Gloria has been saying forever they do not let Democrats talk - that’s is why the so-called defiance. The speaker, Cameron Sexton (👿) tried comparing the protesters to January 6, another lie. Well, it all backfired and I’m so grateful. Grateful the truth came out, grateful Gloria Johnson now has 2 great advocates that are as brave as her…and the 2 Justin’s are well spoken and have the youth we need to really take America back to how it should be - Liberty and justice for all!
I just read the Washington Post article about the Tennessee GOP super majority and it really was depressing. Reading about the Justins gave me hope. Thank you.
This gives me so much hope. I’m 73 and remember being young in the ‘60s and full of hope for a bright and promising future. That future is here and the past few years have been especially stressful, scary and depressing. I sometimes fear for my grandchildren’s future.
Hearing this bright and promising young man has gone a long way towards restoring my hope in a new and better future, full of community, compassion and progress.
Being from Tennessee and about your age, I am so proud of what these two young men are doing. I support them completely but am so disappointed in the “good old white boy” attitude of the legislature. Each representative represents about the same number of Tennesseans and yet the legislators with more seniority have much more power and have the ability to silence anyone who disagrees with them. Hopefully times are a changing!
This made my morning. I grew up watching the Civil Rights movement unfold as a young boy. A few years later I found my voice and protested the war on my college campus, in Washington DC, and even from Vietnam where I served. Now, at 73, my wife and I often reflect on our youthful days of protesting with pride. And we still do. I’m hoping to see the youth in the streets once again. The youth are our future. Leaders are emerging. Put down your phones and pick up a sign! There is a groundswell awakening.
Justin Jones and Justin Pearson are a much needed breath of fresh air that is inspiring to see.
The actions of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson bring joy, and give me renewed hope about the future, for Tennessee and beyond, to our nation. A good future for our country requires working together, not in groups separated by fear, hatred, and deliberate isolation. Rather, it depends on working together, building confidence, acceptance, and respect in service to our collective good.
Thank you, Prof. Reich and Justin Jones, for helping build this future.
The times they are a changin' and the powerful stranglehold of the white male patriarchal past is coming to an end. The most dangerous time for an abused woman is when she tries to leave her abuser. The abuser is losing their power and control over her and many women must have a plan in place to be able to leave safely. Such is the case with our democracy. In order for it to survive and not be killed off we must stay strong, stay organized, and have a plan to shore up voting rights, women's rights, health care rights, the rights of the poor, the climate, LGBTQ rights, and the list goes on.
Justin Jones sums up the fear, loathing and rage of American extremism succinctly with this adage: "We have an old saying in Tennessee that a mule kicks hardest when it's dying."
Republicans and their extremist policies are not popular with the majority of Americans and demographically their base is declining.
My boomer generation has failed America, at times quite profoundly, so my hope lies with Mr. Jones and others public servants like him.
love this guy!
"The opposite of oppression is community."
How wonderful that this deeply passionate, young and gifted political leader had the joy of hearing encouragement and support from such a giant of current social and political thought, Robert Reich.
Young men like Mr Jones represent the very best of what comes next for a more enlightened, tolerant and better educated America.
In secular prayers I can only ask for magic forces and powerful hands to protect both Justin Jones and Justin Pearson.
I saw discrimination as a Protestant kid growing up in Mormon Utah - did I ever! Couldn't date most LDS girls, was turned down going to mu first good job because I wasn't in the "church", friends kept trying to convert me. I wasn't Black, and I only ever met one kid who was, in the valley and realized he had a rougher time than I did, but I got a very bad taste of discrimination in general and try to avoid being a discriminator - it doesn't help anyone. Whatever the discrimination & separation factor it is, all it does is hurt society. That childhood soured me on all religions, which is why I don't give a damn about it anymore. The only line of thought I try to stick by is "do unto others" - nothing else is needed in my mind. Thank the stars for these two men - we need to support them all the way and work with everyone like them to clean up our messy society and keep democracy alive, which is why for the first time in my life I worked our local elections after seeing what Herr Delerium Tremens has done to the United States to destroy trust and threatens to do it again. We all must prevent that from happening to turn this country around.
Living in Tennessee puts me right in the center of all this. Watched every bit of what took place - it was dirty, full of lies about how it went down and a clear attempt to get rid of 3 of our best advocates. The white woman, Gloria Johnson, has been standing up to this majority of Republicans for as long as I can remember- 10 years at least. I can tell you they almost got her out, too. One vote kept her in and boy didn’t that guy catch it from this legislature! Gloria has been saying forever they do not let Democrats talk - that’s is why the so-called defiance. The speaker, Cameron Sexton (👿) tried comparing the protesters to January 6, another lie. Well, it all backfired and I’m so grateful. Grateful the truth came out, grateful Gloria Johnson now has 2 great advocates that are as brave as her…and the 2 Justin’s are well spoken and have the youth we need to really take America back to how it should be - Liberty and justice for all!
I just read the Washington Post article about the Tennessee GOP super majority and it really was depressing. Reading about the Justins gave me hope. Thank you.
Good points, Robert. But being 77 myself, I don’t want to believe my fight is over.
Thank you so much Professor Reich for this piece full of optimism and hope, something all of us can use.
We need you and all the younger generation to get involved. You are the antidote to lunacy that is trump and his supporters. On to higher office. 👍👍👍
Good stuff! All the very best to Justin Jones (and you in helping him).
This gives me so much hope. I’m 73 and remember being young in the ‘60s and full of hope for a bright and promising future. That future is here and the past few years have been especially stressful, scary and depressing. I sometimes fear for my grandchildren’s future.
Hearing this bright and promising young man has gone a long way towards restoring my hope in a new and better future, full of community, compassion and progress.
Thank You.
Being from Tennessee and about your age, I am so proud of what these two young men are doing. I support them completely but am so disappointed in the “good old white boy” attitude of the legislature. Each representative represents about the same number of Tennesseans and yet the legislators with more seniority have much more power and have the ability to silence anyone who disagrees with them. Hopefully times are a changing!
This made my morning. I grew up watching the Civil Rights movement unfold as a young boy. A few years later I found my voice and protested the war on my college campus, in Washington DC, and even from Vietnam where I served. Now, at 73, my wife and I often reflect on our youthful days of protesting with pride. And we still do. I’m hoping to see the youth in the streets once again. The youth are our future. Leaders are emerging. Put down your phones and pick up a sign! There is a groundswell awakening.