On Aaliyah, Covid deaths, and the political candidacies of Herschel Walker and Larry Elder
The Hump Day Hot Topics
Aaliyah Dana Haughton: January 16, 1979-August 25, 2001
The Ancient Romans were fond of a Latin idiom, "Tempus Fugit," which translates into English as "time flies." As I arise this morning to realize that 20 years have passed since the talented singer "better known as Aaliyah," as her producer Timbaland rapped on their hit "Are You that Somebody," was killed following a plane crash in the Bahamas, I am taken back to the sadness that engrossed me on that long ago Saturday afternoon in 2001.
That week, Aaliyah had just wrapped filming a music video shoot for what would become her posthumous Grammy Award nominated single, "Rock the Boat," when she and several of her friends/colleagues boarded a twin engine Cessna that crashed shortly after take off; below is the last photo of Aaliyah and friends as they ferried to their fate in the Bahamas.
The music industry has always been accustomed to the tragic deaths of young stars, whether it was Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens dying in a plane crash in 1959, Otis Redding dying in a plane crash less than a decade later, or any number of talented artists, from Sam Cooke to Jimi Hendrix—from Janis Joplin to Jim Morrison, all who died way ahead of their times and upon their deaths, leaving only their art and memories of past performances for their fans in mourning. For me, having been born after Holly, Cooke, and Redding et al had passed, their tragic passings were historical lessons—not the real time pain and anguish that I and millions of Aaliyah's fans felt 20 years ago today. Indeed, I know that I am far from alone in feeling robbed of her talents way too soon, which is why I have had her hits like "One in A Million," "I Don't Wanna," "If Your Girl Only Knew," and "More than a Woman" on steady replay this past week.
But my sadness clearly pales in comparison to the loss that her family, close friends, and legendary colleagues like Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, and Jay-Z must still feel in knowing that their "Baby Girl" is but an ever distant memory.
Sigh...
May Aaliyah and the souls who transitioned with her that day rest in sweet eternal peace!
Tallahassee Covid Crisis
Tallahassee is home to two award winning public universities, Florida A&M and Florida State; an award winning community college, TCC, and some of the most educated and intelligent people in the nation who work in our state and local governments and private industries. And yet, Tallahassee is home to a vocal and committed gaggle of "mask-holes" who continue to support their governor, Ron Desantis, in his recklessly insouciant push to place his constituents at risk through his stance on mask wearing in public schools.
This past weekend, a third grade student at Canopy Oaks Elementary School...eight years old...died from Covid-19 only a week or so after the school year began. As of this morning, Logan Hurst, a 40-year-old P.E. coach at Canopy Oaks Elementary, is clinging to life support at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
As horrific as this scourge has been at Canopy Oaks, even more suffering is sure to come as Superintendent Rocky Hanna reported during last night's School Board meeting that two weeks into the school year, the District has experienced 41 percent of the total number of Covid infections for the ENTIRE 2020-21 school year!!!
Despite these facts, the aformentioned gaggle of "mask-holes" have appropriated the "my body, my choice" slogan of the very abortion rights proponents that they oppose to exclaim "their rights" to go maskless. The difference, and I mean major difference, is that a woman choosing to abort does not impact the health of women or men sitting next to her at school or work. Conversely, a maskless Covid positive person could sentence schoolmates, colleagues, and random people in public who happen upon the mist of their spittle or sneezing to serious illness—or death.
Such is why I reiterate my appreciation for Supt. Hanna, Chairman Joy Bowen, Vice-Chair Darryl Jones, and Member Rosanne Wood for having the courage to stand tall while continuing to defy Gov. Desantis and his proxies, Members Dee Rasmussen and Alva Striplin. Vice Chair Jones summed it best yesterday in his averment regarding the Desantis anti-mask order, "...As painful as it is and whatever risks that may lie before me, I must dissent. Because if I don't dissent, there are mortal implications."
Amen...
Herschel Walker to run against Sen. Raphael Warnock in Georgia
Last year, I worked through my writings, podcasts, and donations to help elect my Morehouse Brother and fellow Maroon Tiger Newspaper alum, Rev. Raphael Warnock, to the U.S. Senate. Yesterday, Sen. Warnock and the world writ large learned that former University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker has filed to run as a Republican against him next year.
So, ordinarily I would have something pithy to say about the political candidacy of a man who cannot string together a coherent complex sentence if his very life depended on it, but Herschel is, well, "special," or, as the elders used to say, "a little touched in the head." Actually, maybe not even a little touched, as he has admitted that being hit one too many times on the football field has left him with legitimate mental health concerns and fueled fits of violent rage in the past.
While there is nothing for Herschel to be ashamed about as far as having mental health issues, Republicans who have encouraged his candidacy—or are considering voting for a man who lacks the educational bona fides to sit in Congress—should be ashamed of themselves. I mean, it was painful enough to watch former Auburn University football Coach and current Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville struggle mightily to explain the three branches of government that most of us were taught in elementary school Civics or social studies, so to think that Herschel, one who makes Tuberville look and sound like a Rhodes Scholar, could join him in Washington is frightening.
The good thing is that Sen. Warnock is already way ahead in the fundraising game and most crucially, has acquitted himself very well during his first seven months in office. I still remind, however, that nothing can be taken for granted and the time is now for all who live in Georgia, or those of us with kin and friends in Georgia, to start mobilizing to ensure that Brother Warnock is elected to a full six-year term!
Gavin Newsome vs Larry Elder
Speaking of elections, some political prognosticators are sounding the alarm for California Gov. Gavin Newsome (D) as he faces a recall effort that could find one of the most liberal states in America led by the extreme right wing firebrand Larry Elder.
If you rarely watch Fox News or read right wing news sites, you may not be familiar with Elder, a Black lawyer and media figure who was one of former President Donald Trump's staunchest supporters. Elder also is a strong abortion opponent, opposes all affirmative action and measures to address systemic racial inequality; is a vocal supporter of police officers even when accused of beating and killing unarmed Black citizens and over the past year, has loudly denounced mask wearing, social distancing, and the push to mandate Covid vaccines.
Nevertheless, Elder very well could become governor due to California's recall laws that hold that if Gov. Newsome fails to have 50 percent of California voters choose to keep him in office, than the highest "second choice" candidate on the ballot becomes the next governor. With polls showing Elder ahead of Republican Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Olympian Bruce Jenner, for second place, it is important that Elder's political agenda gets revealed to kin and friends in California who may not see the recall election as a big deal.
It is also important to note that Elder has been accused by his former fiancee, Alexandra Datig, of holding a pistol to her head and beating her in the past, a fact that, at minimum, could mean that he is just as “touched in the head” as Georgia Senate Candidate Herschel Walker.
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So many topics that are extremely mind blowing and my thoughts are in a tailspin.
We're ready in Georgia ... Lawd. Thank you for always providing a litany of great subjects with superb opinions. As a grandmother of three children in the Leon County District Schools and one in the FAMU system, I've backed up my children (son and daughter-in-love) with childcare responsibilities as they have been impacted by others who bring the COVID germs to their schools. I simply do not understand others while appreciating the leadership of the Leon County Schools.