PAUSE FOR SOME UPLIFT

In the midst of the struggle for social justice, in a world seemingly gone mad, we need to be reminded that there are uplifting stories taking place all around us all of the time.

To this end, may I recommend a must-see movie and a must-read book?

The movie is HIDDEN FIGURES, which relates the true 

story of a group of hitherto unsung African American women, brilliant mathematicians all, who worked for NASA and served as the brains behind one of the proudest moments in modern American history: the launching of astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1962.  

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There are plenty of harrowing books to read if you've a mind to pick one up but here's one that ought to give your spirits a rise and strengthen your resolve.  It's called REST IN POWER: THE ENDURING LIFE OF TRAYVON MARTIN. It was written by Trayvon's parents and serves not as a bitter accusation or a family tribute to a lost son but as an uplifting story of the importance of having us join together to continue to fight for social justice.  


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And, finally, for those who are concerned with supporting the LGBT community, two pieces of good news:

At least for now, President Donald Trump will continue to enforce a 2014 executive order by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, barring discrimination against LGBT people working for federal contractors, the White House said.


And The Boy Scouts of America announced that it will no longer ban transgender boys from membership and will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, paving the way for transgender boys to join the organization.

To quote Republican idol, President Ronald Reagan - who borrowed the phrase from a Russian proverb - we should trust, but verify.  But still, good news is good news.  We'll take it for now!


         SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A VERB!