Laughter. New doc. Mini-movie starring a vibrator. George Clooney. Girl Godfather. Steinem & Smeal. Hedrick Smith. Wall of Moms.
LETTY COTTIN POGREBIN NEWSLETTER #84 AUGUST 5, 2020
Today's issue has something for everyone: quirky humor, a brilliant documentary, fun videos, mini-movies (see Orthodox Jews & vibrator), events for Dems, actions for activists, adorable kids, resistance to hate.
LAUGHTER
* Thanks to the ever clever New Yorker cartoonist Mort Gerberg for his gratis contributions.
FILM
* Emotional, suspenseful, beautifully-made, "The Fight" follows four ACLU lawyers seeking justice in four vitally important cases: Triump's separation of families; a minor's right to abortion; the citizenship question on the census; & trans people in the military. Watch trailer, share widely. This film reminds us why it's urgent to unseat Republicans, elect Democrats & support the ACLU.
* In "Wake Up!" a 6 min. LP mini-movie, a young Republican awakens after 4 years awakens to discover the shocking debasement of the party of Lincoln. "This guy was in a coma. What's your excuse?"
* "Shabbos Goy,"(starring the aforementioned vibrator) will upend your idea of Orthodox Jews' sex lives. Lots to like in this 7-minute short: a warm loving family, a wise mom, concise exposition of Sabbath prohibitions. My fave character is Davian, the Black man enlisted to serve as a shabbos goy. (Yiddish term for a nonJew who performs tasks forbidden to observant Jews on their day of rest.) Notice how he challenges Chana's automatic assumption that he's not Jewish simply because he's Black.
VIDEOS
* Though not new, George Clooney's PSA against Dumbfuckery is truer now than ever.
* Amazing little boy: Roman Dinkel's pure joy will make your day! Watch "I'm walking Maggie."
* Adorable little girl does a hilarious Marlon Brando in a 1999 Pepsi commercial but Italian-Americans may find the mafia stereotypes offensive. (Any idea why people keep sending me this in 2020?)
Another terrific anti-Trump commercial from the fabulous Lincoln Project: "We will vote!"
* Honest Government Ad : A message from the White House is no holds barred & funny.
ACTIVISM
* Charles Gorry's iconic 1971 photo (above) of my heroes shows the real Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm & Betty Friedan at a press conference about the ERA)
* Reject the "cat fight theory of feminist history," write Gloria Steinem & Ellie Smeal in their oped charging the "Mrs. America" series with misrepresenting the women's movement & the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. Don't be swayed by star power (Cate Blanchett & 10 Emmy nominations). Ask the producers & cast members to donate 10% of their earnings to the ERA Coalition. And contribute here.
* Join the "Swing State Issues Event" next Thurs, Aug 13 at 6 PM ET & support four US Senate & House candidates who really can WIN! Steve Bullock & Kathleen Williams of Montana & Al Gross & Alyse Galvin of Alaska (above) RSVP here.
* Veteran journalist Hedrick Smith has an uplifting new show, The Democracy Rebellion" featuring citizen reformers --ordinary extraordinary folks like "The Bad Ass Grandmas of N. Dakota" who are changing the political landscape & advocating for voters' rights. Watch here & subscribe.
* "Wall of Moms" started by Portland activists in yellow shirts has inspired branches all over the country. The (mostly white) moms mobilize "to protect and amplify protesters," Their “tool kit” asks groups to work with local Black Lives Matter and racial justice organizations, to take instruction from POC leaders, to not speak at protests unless asked, and to donate funds raised to Black-led organizations. Lately, they've been joined by Wall of Dads groups, many carrying leaf blowers to deflect tear gas, and Walls of Nurses, Vets, and Grannies. Right on, people!
* Movement Voter Project which identifies & supports the most effective grass-roots groups organizing voters in crucial swing states, is hosting an online house party tomorrow, Aug 6 at 7:30 MVP focuses on groups led by youth, Latinx, and African-Americans who empower communities of color to combine issue-activism with a commitment to VOTE in November. Register for house party here.
* To make voting safe & accessible in swing states, volunteers at Vote From Home 2020 will send vetted mail-in ballot applications with pre-paid return envelopes to minority group members who've been targeted for voter suppression, and will followup with each voter by phone or text to answer questions & provide help at every step of the process. Hope you can contribute just $25 to this effort.
MUSIC
* I love classical music but when pandemically stressed, I gravitate to jazz standards. An old friend, Larry Russell, jazz saxophonist supreme, sent me two quotes that explain the attraction: Nat Hentoff: “Most of us lead or are led by lives of patterned regularity. . . And except for economic or physical uncertainties, we neither face nor court significant degrees of risk because a fundamental drive in the vast majority of us is toward the attainment of as much security as is possible. In this sense, jazzmen, of all musicians, are our surrogates for the unpredictable, our paladins of constant change.” And from legendary drummer, Art Blakey (above): "Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." Yes, exactly!
* I'm reposting last week's music item, this time with correct links: *After the Parkland school shooting in 2018, Music Ascension facilitated an arts initiative to help students give voice to their thoughts and feelings through songwriting and recording. Now their new project, THREAD, which mitigates adult traumas associated with the Covid crisis, proves that creative expression can transform anxiety and pain into meaningful art and emotional healing. More info here.
FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM
* First, the great basketball legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (above) wrote a column entitled “Where Is the Outrage Over Anti-Semitism in Sports and Hollywood?” Next, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, supported Kareem and called out Black celebrities Nick Cannon, DeSean Jackson, Stephen Jackson and Ice Cube for making antiSemitic remarks. Niow, hundreds of VIPs on the U.K. music scene have signed an open letter against “all forms of racism” in response to a British rapper's anti-Semitic Twitter tirade. When will it end? #NoSilenceInMusic. #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate.
STAY SAFE HELP SOMEONE ELSE STOP HATE SUPPORT BLM.
-- Letty
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