Devon A. Mihesuah, American Indians: Stereotypes and Realities

*BUMPED.*

My copy came yesterday Wednesday.

Thanks to reader support I'm able to keep my book collection going.

I really appreciate it!

At Amazon, Devon A. Mihesuah, American Indians: Stereotypes and Realities.

This is a nifty little book, by the way. It's a myth-busting little tome, chock full of bibliographic citations.

Don't miss it!

Cinco de Mayo in the Trump Era

So stupid. Everything is so politicized.

Folks can still celebrate Cinco without being all depressed about heightened immigration enforcement. Leftists are just such fucking goons.

At ABC News 10 San Diego, using the AP wire service:

Cinco de Mayo in Trump era leaves Mexican-Americans torn https://t.co/2sQ8TuntdV

— 10News (@10News) May 5, 2017

For years, Yazmin Irazoqui Ruiz saw Cinco de Mayo as a reason to eat tacos and listen to Mexican music.

The 25-year-old Mexican-born medical student left Mexico for the U.S. as a child and celebrates the day to honor a homeland she hardly remembers.

But the Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident said she's reluctant to take part in Cinco de Mayo festivities this year as President Donald Trump steps up federal immigration enforcement and supporters back his call for the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I mean, what is it about? You want to eat our food and listen to our music, but when we need you to defend us, where are you?" Irazoqui Ruiz asked about the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.

She isn't alone. Trump's immigration policies and rhetoric are leaving some Mexican Americans and immigrants feeling at odds with a holiday they already thought was appropriated by beer and liquor companies, event promoters and bars.

Latino activists and scholars say that ambivalence is bolstered by the hazy history of Cinco de Mayo and by stereotypes exploited by marketers.

The once-obscure holiday marking a 19th century-battle between Mexico and invading French forces is now a regular celebration in the U.S., where party-goers flock to bars for cheap margaritas and tacos. Television beer commercials often show mostly white actors on a beach celebrating.

"The narrative around Cinco de Mayo seems to say, 'this day really isn't yours'," said Cynthia Duarte, a sociology professor at California Lutheran University...

More.

Evelyn Taft's Chance of Showers Forecast

Just a nice mild day today.

It's getting toward the end of the semester, though, so I'm ragged after a full day. It'll be nice to lounge around tomorrow and read books. The weather's certainly suited for it. I hope it's not too hot, heh.

Here's the lovely Ms. Evelyn, herself sporting the robust red tonight, for CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

The Collapse of American Identity

Here's a great piece, from Robert P. Jones, at the New York Times (surprisingly).

Jones is the author of The End of White Christian America.

.@PatriarchTree The Collapse of American Identity: #MAGA https://t.co/eiJS0QWBgg

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) May 2, 2017

There have been other times in our history when the fabric of American identity was stretched in similar ways — the Civil War, heightened levels of immigration at the turn of the 20th century and the cultural upheavals of the 1960s.

But during these eras, white Christians were still secure as a demographic and cultural majority in the nation. The question at stake was whether they were going to make room for new groups at a table they still owned. Typically, a group would gain its seat in exchange for assimilation to the majority culture. But as white Christians have slipped from the majority over the past decade, this familiar strategy is no longer viable.

White Christians are today struggling to face a new reality: the inevitable surrender of table ownership in exchange for an equal seat. And it’s this new higher-stakes challenge that is fueling the great partisan reorientation we are witnessing today.

The temptation for the Republican Party, especially with Donald Trump in the White House, is to double down on a form of white Christian nationalism, which treats racial and religious identity as tribal markers and defends a shrinking demographic with increasingly autocratic assertions of power.

For its part, the Democratic Party is contending with the difficulties of organizing its more diverse coalition while facing its own tribal temptations to embrace an identity politics that has room to celebrate every group except whites who strongly identify as Christian. If this realignment continues, left out of this opposition will be a significant number of whites who are both wary of white Christian nationalism and weary of feeling discounted in the context of identity politics.

This end is not inevitable, but if we are to continue to make one out of many, leaders of both parties will have to step back from the reactivity of the present and take up the more arduous task of weaving a new national narrative in which all Americans can see themselves.

RTWT.

Devin Brugman and Natasha Oakley on the Beach in Miami

These two have a pretty sweet life, I gotta say.

From Hawaii to Miami and tropical locales in between, it's rough out there.

At Egotastic!, "Devin Brugman and Natasha Oakley Sweet Thong Sisters."

There's times where I forget what a beach girl I am 💫🌴 So happy to be in Miami wearing @mondayswimwear X pic.twitter.com/I11d6aYcjq

— Natasha Oakley (@Tashoakley) May 4, 2017

Shop Today's Deals

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And, Mountain House Just In Case...Essential Bucket.

More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) - Black.

Plus, Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF 30+, 5-Ounce.

Also, Save on Craftsman Tools.

Still more, KIND Breakfast Bars, Peanut Butter, Gluten Free, 1.8 Ounce, 32 Count.

BONUS: Paul MacDonald, Networks of Domination: The Social Foundations of Peripheral Conquest in International Politics.

Dennis Prager on Communism's Horrific Legacy

Prager's a great guy.

This is most excellent, man.

Aleister, Long-Time Blog Personality, Comes Out as Mike LaChance

Formerly of "American Glob," Aleister used a pseudonym for about 10 years, and then revealed his true identity just the other day.

I probably should have started with a pseudonym, lol.

At Legal Insurrection, "Meet Mike LaChance, aka “Aleister”."

He's been blogging full-time for a few years now. More power to him.

Jessica Gomes Uncovered for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2017 (VIDEO)

Lovely.

Naomi Schaefer Riley Interview at Prager University (VIDEO)

Following-up from Tuesday, "Ending the Trust System Will Do More for American Indians Than Changing the Name of the Washington Redskins."

At Prager U:

Trump White House Deliberates on Afghanistan War

From Eli Lake, at Bloomberg:

.@EliLake reports on the White House's deliberations over the war in Afghanistan - https://t.co/L2n0Jy1lzj

— FPI (@ForeignPolicyI) May 2, 2017

The New York Times Prints Fake Facts

From the Center for Security Policy:

.@nytimes Prints the Fake Facts that Fit its #FakeNews Narratives https://t.co/H33V9uvJzt

— Nick Short (@PoliticalShort) May 2, 2017

Patricia Murphy Responds

On Twitter Tuesday:

@1PatriciaMurphy That's really cool, Patricia!

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) May 2, 2017

@AmPowerBlog Thanks! I've known the fight song since birth.

— Patricia Murphy (@1PatriciaMurphy) May 2, 2017

Lock 'em Up: Code Pink Protesters at Sessions Hearing Could Face Year in Prison

Fuck 'em.

The woman who laughed during the confirmation hearing of Jeff Sessions was convicted and could face a year in prison https://t.co/yHfUsgB66R

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 4, 2017

Jackie Johnson's Increasing Clouds with Chance of Showers Forecast

It's going to be another spectacular day tomorrow, with sunny and warm conditions. But through the weekend we'll have a low pressure system coming in, with increasing clouds and possible showers. Here's the lovely Ms. Jackie and a robust red dress that accentuates her natural assets!

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

Christine Brennan‏: #NFL Disses Colin Kaepernick While Embracing Athletes Accused of Sexual Assault

Hey, it's an interesting read.

Kaepernick's exercising his right to dissent when dissing the flag, no matter how vile his opinion. No NFL team will touch him. But a number of athletes accused of violent crimes against women, some caught on videotape, are riding high in the league.

I don't feel sorry for Kaep. That said, Mixon and some of the other thugs are sick and should've been given the cold shoulder.

At USA Today:

NFL welcomes those accused of sexual and physical assault, but not Colin Kaepernick. My @USATODAYsports column: https://t.co/EYY46wBeQI

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) May 3, 2017

ICYMI: Naomi Schaefer Riley, The New Trail of Tears

Following-up from yesterday, "Ending the Trust System Will Do More for American Indians Than Changing the Name of the Washington Redskins."

At Amazon, Naomi Schaefer Riley, The New Trail of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians.

Ashley Graham for V Magazine

At London's Daily Mail, "'My cellulite does not define my worth!': Model Ashley Graham poses NUDE for V Magazine as she reveals she was 'disgusted' with her body as a teen."

And at V, "Body Beautiful: Ashley Graham Bares All to Tracee Ellis Ross."

Critics Tell 'Elitist' Jimmy Kimmel to Shut Up (VIDEO)

It's Charles Hurt, at the Washington Times, via Memeorandum, "Shut up, Jimmy Kimmel, you elitist creep."

Also, from the scum leftist TBogg, at Raw Story, via Memeorandum, "CNN panel goes off the rails after conservative calls Jimmy Kimmel's emotional healthcare appeal ‘cheap’."

Amber Lee's Warm Inland Forecast

We've got the May gray weather by the beaches, but as you move inland it's not only warmer, but near record temperatures in some locations.

It's definitely SoCal heaven right now.

Go out a grab a beer and enjoy it!

Here's the lovely Ms. Amber, for CBS News 2 Los Angeles: