Why I like writing better than speaking

 One of my favorite opinion writers is John McWhorter, a linguistics professor at Columbia, and author of many books and articles. In addition to linguistics, he writes about race relations and the evolution of cultures.

Like me, he is very skeptical of the Radical Left and the Radical Right. While he self-identifies as a Democrat, he is also very critical of the "woke" ideology that has dominated academic and activist spaces.  He can critique the "woke" without resorting to the juvenile antics of right-wing nutcases like Candace Owens.  Anybody who can do that is my hero! 

But I have a respectful difference of perspective on McWhorter's recent article in the New York Times, titled "If You Have Something to Say, Then Say It"

John McWhorter, “If You Have Something to Say, Then Say It,” New York Times, November 12, 2021,                             https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/opinion/writing-spoken-argument.html.

In that article, he states that schools should spend more time encouraging students to become better public speakers rather than become better writers. He also stated this

A lot of people really hate writing. It’s an unnatural activity, as humanity goes. 

As a blogger, I have some feelings towards that statement. Not because McWhorter is totally wrong, but because I feel that the power of writing is under-appreciated. 

And when I mean "the power of writing", not only the power of writing on the reader but also the power of writing for the one doing the writing.  Especially for me, being that I have speech impediments. 

I wrote the following letter to John McWhorter

Dear John McWhorter,

I'm a huge fan of your writing and your thinking. I love the way you dismantle the "woke" cliches of the Radical Left without resorting to the tired cliches of the Radical Right. I really wish your works are recommended in academic spaces as often as the works of Ta-Nehisi Coastes and Ibram X. Kendi to showcase true diversity of thought.

However, I do have a different perspective on writing vs speaking.

 You see, when I started blogging back in 2003, I assumed that more people would take up blogging. (shameless plug: check out https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com) 

When I started using social media, I assumed that former classmates who were so vocal in person would be writing their thoughts on a regular basis in their facebook posts, but oddly, I find very few did.  I assumed maybe they have become more private as they got older. Or maybe that they were so traumatized by having their writings corrected so brutally as students when they were in school that they never wrote again once their school days were over. 

But your article helped me understand The Why that more people aren't blogging or writing their thoughts on social media posts. Writing doesn't come naturally to most people.

Whereas for me, writing is more natural to me. I started talking late (at the age of 5) and have a speech impediment that makes it hard to speak clearly, even though that didn't stop me from being a substitute teacher (from 2005 to 2018). 

 

Writing is also more natural to me because I have some time to think of what to add (or subtract) from the final product before submitting it to be read by the reader. I also love writing because I can express myself without being interrupted like I would in a spoken conversation.

 

I can also express myself more clearly in writing about very emotional topics without breaking down into a crying fit or a loud rage like I would in a spoken conversation. 

 

Writing has been a major miracle in expressing my grievances towards my parents and have actually helped them understand my side of the story that they wouldn't have gotten in a spoken conversation that tends to get a lot of interruptions. By writing those letters to my parents, it had made follow-up spoken conversations much easier.  On the other hand, my father, for whom English is a second language and hasn't learned to type has a harder time expressing himself and I do feel bad for him. 

Now, I do realize not everyone likes reading like I do, so I do have a YouTube channel (another shameless plug: 

https://tinyurl.com/ydfdep3a ) to reach out to those who don't like reading blog posts. Some of my learning disabled friends have mentioned about seeing my videos but haven't mentioned about reading my blogs.

But as you might hear in my videos with my speech impediments, and compare it to the clarity of my blogs, blogging and writing is me in my more natural element compared to my YouTube videos.

Anyways, I apologize if this letter makes you feel like a trauma dump, as if you're a therapist dealing with a stranger's problem. I just wanted to share a different perspective from someone who prefers writing over speaking. I hope that more students can embrace writing as it can bring wonders to their mental health like it did for me.

 

Maybe we can improve the teaching of writing by having teachers more gentle in their corrections, that way students aren't so traumatized that they no longer write after finishing school. 

I look forward to reading more of your writings and I hope more people can rise up against both the "woke" left and the Alt-Right like we do :)

Sincerely,

Pablo Wegesend

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Now I do worry that if I could no longer write, type, or see,  it would cause a major disadvantage for me to communicate and express myself!

 I fear becoming the character in "Johnny Got His Gun", a novel and film about a veteran who loses his limbs, sight, voice, and hearing, and now has a hard time communicating with others. This inability to communicate and express has caused the character to go insane.  

(note: the story also inspired Metallica's classic song & video "One")

But as long as I'm able to write, type, and speak, I will continue to use my voice to express myself and give my insight to the world. 

in memory of my dentist Dr Clifford Park

For many people, going to the dentist can be very intimidating. Someone is doing something to your teeth with equipment while you can't speak. 

But it wasn't intimidating with Dr. Clifford Park. He puts you at ease, tells you what he is going to do, and kindly explains the situation to you.  Even if it means him encouraging you to drink less sugary drinks. 

I became Dr. Park's client because he was my parent's dentist. In fact, sometimes I meet my parents at his office because we would sometimes have appointments the same day. 

My mother met him before I was born when she was a client of another Dr. Park who was retiring and referred her to Clifford Park.  Both my mom and Dr. Clifford Park shared a collective trauma from a pediatric dentist who used to work at Palama Settlement who had horrible attitude toward the kids he worked with.  From that trauma, Dr. Park set out to be a better dentist for his clients.

When it was my turn to see Dr. Park, he would sometimes to talk to me about the letters I have written to the local newspaper or he would ask me about my adventures as a substitute teacher. 

The last time I saw Dr. Park was in August of this year. I had an appointment with him the same day as my parents.  He seemed very healthy.

So it was a shock when I got a letter in the mail saying that he had passed away, The letter didn't state the cause of death.

The letter did promise some sort of transition to a new dentist, but that is still in the works. My next scheduled appointment is this coming February. Hopefully, by then, arrangements can be made for me to have a dentist as great as Dr. Clifford Park.

Rest in peace Dr. Park! 

The wrong priorities in reopening during the pandemic: Unemployment Insurance office still closed

 Back in February, I wrote a blog post AND a letter to the local newspaper saying that Hawaii's unemployment insurance (UI) office should reopen as soon as possible.

the letter to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/25/editorial/letters/letters-ui-offices-must-open-for-in-person-assistance/

The blog post "Open the Unemployment Insurance office already"    https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2021/02/open-unemployment-insurance-office.html  

It's November, and it's still not open to the public. 

Now, they're saying they'll reopen on December 1. That's more than a year too late.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/11/03/breaking-news/hawaii-unemployment-offices-to-reopen-dec-1-with-limited-hours/

Here's my letter to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, posted today

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/11/08/editorial/letters/unemployment-office-help-shamefully-slow/

In a humane world, the state Unemployment Insurance office would’ve been one of the first places to reopen to the public during the coronavirus crisis. However, in the real world, reopening bars, arcades, banquet halls and stadiums were given higher priority, all because they service those with money to spend.

But the Unemployment Insurance office, which is designed to service those who don’t have much money left, is the last place to reopen to the public. A shameful snapshot of what our priorities really are.

Pablo Wegesend

That the Unemployment Insurance office took this long to reopen is total negligence! 

And the person who is in charge of Hawaii's Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR), from which the UI office falls under, is probably the most tone-deaf people in our state government (and that's saying a lot, being that our government officials are notorious for being tone-deaf). DLIR's director is Anne Perreira-Eustaquio.

This from Honolulu Civil Beat

https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/09/workers-in-hawaii-face-new-job-losses-this-time-without-a-safety-net/

n the absence of in-person help, Liriano says she’s spoken to many workers who have simply given up on getting the money they’re due.

“By the time (unemployment is) calling back people, people have literally lost their phone service. It’s been so many months,” she said. “They’re living on the streets or in their cars.”

Perreira-Eustaquio said people who need computer help can use Hawaii libraries, and questioned how many people aren't able to access the online application.

“I don’t know of one person who doesn’t own a phone,” she said. “Nowadays everyone has a phone.”

WTF?   Anne Perreria-Estaquio is implying that everyone has internet access, everyone has a smartphone!

A person who is that OUT OF TOUCH with the reality of poverty SHOULD NEVER be in charge of ANY social service agency!

Just because everyone in your clique has the latest iPhone doesn't mean everyone does.  Just because everyone in your clique is experienced with Zoom/Skype/etc, doesn't mean everyone is.

I know MULTIPLE people who don't have a smartphone. In fact, I know MULTIPLE people who lack even basic computer skills. 

Yes, even in 2021! 

And a person who is desperate for help from the UI office definitely isn't able to afford the latest technology. 

There are MANY people out there whose jobs don't even involve any computer technology.

I remember working at a school a few years ago, and some of the custodians and security guards had trouble even doing an online survey that all school staff had to do.  That's because their jobs don't require using a computer or a smartphone on a day-to-day basis. 

If those same exact people got laid off, do you think they're able to do a Skype session with the UI office? OF COURSE NOT!

But yet, Anne Perreria-Estaquio thinks everyone is a computer expert now. She thinks everyone is addicted to the smartphone like she is. 

It's this attitude that tells you that Anne Perreria-Estaquio has ZERO experience with poverty.  There's no way a person who experienced poverty can have that kind of blasé attitude towards concerns about those who lack internet access.

 This blasé attitude from Anne Perreria-Estaquio is VERY DANGEROUS because it is very intimidating towards desperate people who are seeking help.  It shows that she has no heart towards the poor.  It gives off a "whatevers" attitude towards desperate people who might be on the brink of suicide because they're about to lose everything. 

And remember, she is in charge of the department (DLIR) that supervises the UI office.

I think deep down, she is too nervous to take the necessary precautions to reopen the UI offices, NEVERMIND THAT NEARLY ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS already implemented those precautions to make their services accessible.

I mean, at this point, even the new football stadium on the University of Hawaii campus already implemented some sort of precaution policies to engage public access.  And that stadium can hold 9,000 people. 

But Anne Perreria-Estaquio took this long to figure out how to make the UI office accessible to the public?

That's the sad thing!  Our society prioritizes those who are so spoiled that they demand to attend expensive events, instead of prioritizing those who are facing eviction and starvation. 

 

Magic Johnson's announcement: 3 decades later

3 decades ago today, on November 7, 1991, basketball superstar Magic Johnson announced that he tested positive for HIV.

It was a major shock for the sports world.  Johnson was one of the biggest stars in the NBA. He won multiple championships, and it was only a few months after his Los Angeles Lakers lost the Finals to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. People were expected them to compete again for an encore the following post-season.

But it was not meant to be. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has shown no mercy to those infected! Many have died slow painful deaths from a weakened immune system.

I was in 5th grade when the announcement was made. This was a topic of class discussion. We all thought Magic Johnson would be dead by the year 2000.

But yet, it's 2021, and Magic Johnson is still alive. He was lucky with the timing and the fortune he had to have access to medications that reduced the effects of HIV. 

He did retire from the NBA after the announcement, but he did play in the 1992  Olympics as part of the USA Dream Team, the first group of NBA play in the Olympics. (Previously, the Olympics was reserved for amateur athletes).

He did return to play in the NBA in 1996 and then retired for good.

Magic Johnson did became a successful entrepreneur with his chain of movie theaters, as well as his partnership with other companies which he encouraged to set up shops in African-American communities. 

He also tried his luck as a TV talk show host, record label executive, sports commentator, real estate investor, and a sports team executive. Some of those ventures worked out better than others. 

Magic Johnson is still physically fit and still has his happy smile.

But just because some people can thrive after an infection, that doesn't mean everyone can be so lucky.  Something to think about in this covid-era. 

======

Learn more about Magic Johnson's HIV announcement and its impact since then  at

Chris Herring, “Thirty Years Later, Magic Johnson Is Still Doing Lifesaving Work,” Sports Illustrated, November 6, 2021, https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/06/magic-johnson-30-year-anniversary-retired-nba.

comedians and free speech

 Comedians and their defenders say that nothing is off-limits from comedy!

But you know what else is NOT off-limits?  Criticisms of comedians!

If comedians have freedom of speech, so do their critics.

How dare I say such blasphemy!

======

Dave Chappelle thinks it's "punching down" on African-Americans to criticize him, Kevin Hart &  DaBaby for their homophobic jokes?

He thinks it's "racist" to judge him (plus Kevin Hart & DaBaby) by the content of their character. It isn't! 

Don Lemon had a classic response to Kevin Hart's jokes about abusing his son if he did anything Hart considered "gay"

the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwG7rFwwi10

article about Don Lemon's statement

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/don-lemon-kevin-hart-ellen-degeneres-1203100012/

He then referenced an old tweet from Hart about theoretically disciplining his son for playing with a dollhouse.

“That was a joke to Kevin. The truth is, that is a reality for many little boys in the United States … somewhere a black dad is beating his black son,” Lemon said, referencing a story about his friend and Hollywood creator Lee Daniels. In his series “Empire,” Daniels scripted a real-life moment when his own father threw him into a garbage can as a little boy for wearing a pair of high heels.

“Those views of the LGBT people in the black community have consequences,” Lemon said, calling up stats from the American Center for Progress, like their report that 44% of homeless gay youth in America are black.

“That’s huge. Remember, black people only make up 12 percent of the U.S. population. Among homeless transgender youth? 62% of them are black. Those kids were likely kicked out of their homes or had to run away because of who they are,” he added.

 ==================

The thing about a lot of comedians is that many act as if they haven't matured since middle school.

I should know because back when I was in middle school, I would make and laugh at inappropriate jokes and didn't understand why anybody would be offended.

But as an adult, I now understand! 

I can't be 13 years old for the rest of my life. 

I wrote about the issue on my blog back in 2016 when an old video went public showing Donald Trump joking about grabbing women by their genitals.

http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2016/10/outgrowing-inappropriate-humor.html

That Donald Trump still got elected after that shows that the USA got some serious problems. 

If voting-age adults think that's funny, what does that say to victims of sexual abuse?

And what does it say to those who commit sexual abuse?

That's the reason people use their freedom of speech to criticize comedians who glorify abuse!

After all, the critics have freedom of speech too!

------

41 years old

 Today, I made it to being 41!

https://www.cardswishes.com/birthday/41st-birthday-wishes/

And just like last year, there will be no festivities.

Yes, I did get vaccinated! 

However, it's only been a month since Hawaii had a shortage of ICUs and oxygen tanks due to the outbreak of the delta variant. While case #s are declining, they could go back up again if people act as if we're still in 2019.  It was earlier this year when Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi was begging Hawaii governor David Ige to open up everything, and because of him, the delta variant outbreak happened and cases went up.  Case numbers went back down in recent weeks, and yet again, Blangiardi is begging to open up everything again. The cycle repeats itself. I won't contribute to that cycle by doing anything festive this year. Festivities will have to wait. 

Earlier this year, I made a YouTube speech telling people to take the coronavirus crisis seriously

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuHmN1Cz_xc

Because I'm avoiding festivities this year, I'm becoming more of a recluse. I already enjoyed the blessing of living alone and can go days without socializing with others. But in the past, I also attended tons of public festivities, but now's not the time. 

Plus, I'm too old to be concerned about whether I need to "socialize more". That phase has passed a long time ago! 

Plus, I can still communicate with others via social media, email, and even the old-fashioned letters. I'm still socially connected, I just need a lot of me-time. 

-----

I'm still working (currently in a fashion store) but I would like to eventually return back to being employed in the library world. I do occasionally volunteer with the Friends of the Library of Hawaii. Earlier this year, we closed Books@Mark's. (learn more at this link) Since then, I did some shifts organizing shelves at their new book store on the days it is closed. The shop will soon move to a nearby location. 

And I'm still an independent artist under the name Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior. 

I started selling merchandise with my art via RedBubble. Check it out at https://www.redbubble.com/people/madtigerwarrior/explore

 As for the music, I'm still focusing on finishing up my nearly-no-budget music videos for the songs from "Science Fiction Music" album. Check out Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior  YouTube channel for updates.

 Afterward, I want to continue making tracks for a hip-hop instrumental album. 

As for a vocal album, I have no time for that now, but never say never! 

And of course, my major passion: This blog! I don't always have time to blog as much I like when, but stay tuned! You never know what interesting stuff I might share in the future :)

Thoughts on Larry Elder

 Yes, I know Larry Elder is "old news" by now. He attempted to become California's governor through the failed recall election last month.  However, I didn't have time to blog my thoughts on Larry Elder when the results came in, and I still want to document them now.

I first heard of Larry Elder back in the year 2000. At the time, I was between my freshman and sophomore years in college.  At the time, I was really interested in learning more about the alternatives to the Democratic and Republican Parties, as well as the alternative to the right-wing & left-wing political philosophies.

At the time, Larry Elder identified as a libertarian. He hasn't yet evolved into the right-wing conservative Republican that people know him as now.

In fact, in his 1st book that came out in the year 2000, "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America", one of those 10 things was "Republicans and Democrats - Maybe a Dime's Worth of Difference". So basically, he was saying those parties aren't really that different from each other. He encouraged readers to take a look into the Libertarian Party. 

St. Martin's Press

Larry Elder's book "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America"

The other parts of the book gave a libertarian perspective on economics, health policy, drug policy, and gun policy. He also talked about the importance of fathers and how absent fathers cause psychological harm to the children who are more likely to become negative statistics. 

However, the part of the book that got the most controversy was the chapter that stated that "Blacks are more racists than Whites".  Elder, who is an African-American from South Central LA, stated in that chapter that you can't blame racism for every problem, white racism was declining, and we make too many excuses for black bigots.  All this was written when the 1992 LA riots and the OJ Simpson case were still fresh in people's minds. 

Larry Elder was called an "Uncle Tom" and "sellout" by those who felt that any African-American who didn't toe the far-left line was disloyal to the black community. 

I never like the idea that all those of non-European ancestries should all be far-left. But I also never liked the far-right, especially when many of them were religious fanatics and anti-immigrant.

In fact, at the time, Larry Elder was pro-immigrant and pro-choice.

But because Larry Elder kept beefing with left-wing activists, he eventually became more right-wing. Also, 9/11 happened and he distanced himself from the pacifism common among libertarians. 

In his next book, "Showdown", published in 2003, Elder basically declared that he is now a right-wing Republican.

St. Martin's Press

Larry Elder's book "Showdown"

And since then, from his articles he posted online, there were less criticisms from him about the nation's militarized war on drugs, he now becomes more strict about illegal immigration, and he expressed sympathy for the pro-life movement. He defended US military adventures in Iraq. 

He still occasionally wrote a profound editorial on the necessity of good fathers, and sometimes, his critique of left-wing activists still lands. But his once-libertarian soul became compromised to the point where he became just another average Republican.

And anytime a Republican said or did something controversial, his response was "but this Democrat said this, and this Democrat did that". He became the king of what-about-isms.

This really became a problem when Donald Trump became the Republican nominee and then the president in 2016.

Trump symbolized the worst instincts of right-wing Republicans. He started his campaign demonizing Latine & Muslim immigrants, had multiple sexual assault allegations, and violated free-market economics when it suited him.  A real libertarian would never want to be associated with a guy like that.

As for Larry Elder? More what-about-isms! More of the "but this Democrat said this, and this Democrat did that" to distract from the fact that Trump is a repulsive racist, rapist, fascist and a con artist. 

Trump is now gone from public office.

But Elder's constant pandering to Trump supporters poisoned whatever chance he had to become California's governor.

Larry Elder from his pro-libertarian days might've had a better chance to be California's governor.

I mean, the incumbent Gavin Newsom had his weakness. He was caught hosting a maskless dinner when he imposed restrictions on gatherings for the general public.  Crime, homelessness, and the cost of living were going up.  People were losing patience with the radical left and their "abolish the police" attitude. In 2020, the people of California voted against affirmative action, basically saying people should be hired on merit and not for diversity quota points.  The 2000 version of Larry Elder could've won this!

But 2021 Larry Elder's sympathy with the anti-mask, anti-vax-mandate crowd wasn't popular with California voters. It would've worked in the red states, but not California.

Also, there were other reasons that California voters had no interest in voting for Larry Elder

• allegations that he threatened his ex-girlfriend with a gun (the case never went to court)
• mentoring student activist Stephen Miller, who later become Trump's advisor passionate about restricting immigration
• claims that undocumented immigrants took jobs away from African-Americans 
• ending birthright citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented immigrants
• statements favoring employers asking female job applicants if they plan to become pregnant in the near future.
• his claims that feminists exaggerate incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault

In the era of #metoo, this wasn't going to work. In the era of increased activism among Latines, this wasn't going to work. 

It especially wouldn't work in California.

And it wouldn't work even when far-left activists act unreasonable.  

And Gavin Newsom, with all his faults, isn't a far-left activist, he's just another corporate Democrat, the type of Democrat that usually gets elected in California (and most other places where Democrats get elected).

Larry Elder could've presented a reasonable & moderate pro-market, semi-libertarian, pro-meritocracy, and pro-law-and-older alternative. That's what Arnold Schwarzenegger did when ran & won in 2003. 

But Larry Elder sold his once-libertarian soul to gain favor among right-wing conservatives. And for that, he lost! Sad! 

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learn more  on Larry Elder and the recall election at

Steven Greenhut, “Republicans Got What They Deserved in California Recall,” Reason, September 24, 2021,                                                https://reason.com/2021/09/24/republicans-got-what-they-deserved-in-california-recall/.

Paul Rosenberg, “Decoding the California Recall: Why It's Happening — and Why It's Crucial That Newsom Survives,” Salon, September 13, 2021,    https://www.salon.com/2021/09/13/california-recall-jean-guerrero-interview/.

Jonathan Martin, “Newsom’s Anti-Trump Recall Strategy Offers Republicans a Warning for 2022,” New York Times, September 15, 2021,    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/us/politics/midterms-california-republicans-newsom.html.