Table of Contents
Election Year…………………Election year again. Get ready America.
Sunday Stories…………………Palestine, student protest, bike lanes in Mpls
Sunday Songs……………………..A Spanish reggae artist
Sunday Poll………………….PB&J?
Last Thoughts …………………………More Timberwolves talk.
P.S ……………………………………….Nicotine is named after the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, which in turn is named after the French ambassador in Portugal, Jean Nicot de Villemain, who sent tobacco and seeds to Paris in 1560, and who promoted their medicinal use.
Election Year
Protests have erupted across US universities in the last week. Students are rallying against the United States’ role in the Gaza genocide, and demanding that their universities divest from any spending to major arms companies, who are supporting Israel and the genocide with its weaponry and financing.
This has resulted in a major police response, and even snipers being deployed on school campuses. Videos have also emerged of professors and students alike being arrested and forcefully detained. Causing some to notice the similarities between the anti-genocide protest, and the BLM protest of 2020.
Only 4 years out from 2020, the social and cultural sweeping of that year seems to be one we continue to reference and remember in this country collectively. Yet, here we are again, in another election year. Has anything politically gotten better since 2020? The cultural change, the defunding of the police, the cleansing idea that I believe so many wanted during that era, if we’re being honest, never came to fruition.
It’s like the end of Wolf of Wall Street. A small group of people do something that harms millions of people, they get caught and called out. Maybe 1 goes to jail. Things settle down for a bit. Then they pop up again. In a new building, a new suit, and with a new name. And the “big cleanse” never happens.
It’s hard to get a system to change.
Imagine if, at the end of every year, each of your tax dollars was tracked, and as a tax-payer, you got a yearly report from the government on what exactly they spent your money on. As an American, we like to think that when we pay taxes, that money is used to fix roads, build highways, fund schools, protect parks, and generally use for the common good. We do not like to think that any of our tax money is being used to fund things like assault rifles, bullets, missiles, or killer drones.
It’s hard being a citizen. It’s harder to demand something from your government, knowing that you as an individual, probably will not be able to affect much change. And being on the right side of history isn’t always as easy as we’d think. What’s important is to continue to recognize the strength people have when they come together. To hold our government accountable when it acts in ways we disagree with, and to remember that doing something is always better than staying silent and doing nothing at all. When one person, or country, speaks against wrong-doing, it encourages others to do the same.
As always, never forget that the people are in a constant battle for power.
I stand with you, students!
SUNDAY SONGS
Last week, I went to Coachella. this will be the last time I talk about it (until next year??) but I have a couple more thoughts on the festival now that a week has gone by.
First, Coachella at night compared to Coachella during the day are two entirely different experiences. When the sun is out and high in the sky, the vibes are fun, in summer, everyone’s energy is high and the day is just getting started.
At night, Coachella feels like a trippy wasteland. Neon lights. People passed out in the fields, trying to be picked up by their friends. I walked through an EDM stage on the way to Ice Spice and felt like I was in a horror movie.
If you need to sit down, sit down. Stay hydrated. Take Coachella easy because your senses will be under assault. Take the next two days to lay in silence and recharge accordingly.
Second, on Sunday I saw Eddie Zuko live. Eddie only came onto my radar a couple of months ago (through Instagram reels), but I liked the vibe and the description of his music as “Spanish Reggae.” In-person, Eddie had one of the best crowds out of any crowd I saw for its size, and it’s clear people have a lot of real love for him. A couple of days after Coachella, I heard one of his songs in a commercial and it clicked that he’s an artist who is winning right now.
So here are some Eddie Zuko songs I like. And on by Tems, because she might’ve been my favorite live show of the entire weekend.
Sunday Stories
Israel-Palestine Human Rights Watch
What do student protesters at US universities want?
USC valedictorian grad speech cancelled
Pro-Palestinian protests continue at colleges across the US
St. Paul adopts updates to bike plan, will add over 160 miles in next 15 years
Net neutrality is back: U.S. promises fast, safe and reliable internet for all
Sunday Poll
Sunday Poll. Here’s the question of the week.
Voting is free and anonymous. All it takes is a subscription. (That’s free too).
You have one week to vote.
Results will be reviewed and discussed in next week’s edition.
Last Thoughts
As I write this, the Minnesota Timberwolves lead the Phoenix Suns deep into the 3rd quarter. If Minnesota wins, it will be their first sweep in franchise history.
I’ve watched every game of the playoffs and have watched this team for years. If we can beat Denver in the next round (7 games) we will be the NBA Champion. That’s my prediction.
Also, Anthony Edwards saved our franchise. Watching him play and this team play basketball this season, especially on the defensive end, has been such a pleasure as a basketball fan. I remember the days of Pek and being excited for D’Angelo Russell! This season is far and away the best I’ve experienced as a fan.
Let’s get the job done and sweep.
No one wants to root for Devin Booker anyway.
Go Wolves!
PS
It’s the end of Pen Sunday, edition #78. If you reached the end, thank you for reading. It means a lot.
Pen Sunday is a newsletter about a writer, a dream, and a studio. With headlines from around the world, music, and maybe a poem. Every Sunday and Sunday only.
Until Sunday,
Solomon Lovejoy