Greetings! Thank you for taking time to read this issue of The Taborian. Many thanks to Loralee Clark, Doug Dawson, Yuan Changming, T.R. Healy, Sam Krapels, Shontay Luna, Gale Acuff, and Susan Saracco for sharing their written works with the world! If this is your first visit, welcome to The Taborian. If you are a returning reader, thank you for your continued support. Please consider subscribing. Your subscription helps us continue to share fabulous works and cover server and other expenses. Also, please follow our Facebook page, subscribe to our email list, and share The Taborian with your family and friends.
Recently, I read about the President of Botswana conceding defeat to his opponent. The President’s party had been in power for nearly six decades. Despite the unexpected loss, he delivered the following concession speech:
“I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election. I am proud of our democratic processes, and I respect the will of the people,” Masisi said. “I wish to assure all of you, as I have already assured the president elect, Advocate Duma Boko, that although I wished to continue serving you as president for a second term, the final term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration.”
The Moment
There was a significant moment in our nation’s history when Black American citizens achieved a monumental victory in their long and arduous struggle for civil rights. This triumph was not just a legal or political milestone, but a profound transformation in the social fabric of the United States. It marked the culmination of years of relentless activism, courageous leadership, and unwavering determination in the face of systemic oppression and discrimination.
The Civil Rights Movement, which gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s, was characterized by landmark events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Selma to Montgomery marches. These events, along with countless acts of bravery and solidarity, led to significant legislative changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws dismantled legal segregation and ensured greater protection of voting rights, fundamentally altering the landscape of American society. The fight is far from over. Some people, longing for the past, are passing laws that restrict voting rights. They are reintroducing modern versions of poll taxes through voter identification laws, diluting voting power with gerrymandering, and discouraging voters by closing polling locations. However, all is not lost. We must continue the fight and remember the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson on the day he signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965:
“In our system, the first and most vital of all our rights is the right to vote. Jefferson described it as ‘the ark of our safety.’ It is from the exercise of this right that all our other rights flow.”
My Interpretation
Our cover art for this issue is The Magpie a painting created by Claude Monet. This piece evokes the approaching winter season, brimming with festive cheer and the cozy warmth we share in fellowship.
What’s your interpretation?
Jazz It Up
My jazz album recommendation for this issue is Cosmos by Sun Ra.
Random Fact
Octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body.
Thank you for supporting The Taborian!
DL
