Richard Leis

Category: Politics

  • “It Was Another Time”: James Bond and Andrew Cuomo

    I love the James Bond films. This weekend, I finished the fourth in the series—Thunderball (1965)—in my latest rewatch. I acknowledge, however, that most of the films in this franchise are filled with offensive and derogatory content, including racism, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny. There are too many of these scenes. I don’t love these films…

  • Life Update: December 2020

    ‎⁨Rocky Mountain National Park⁩, ⁨Estes Park⁩, ⁨Colorado⁩, ⁨United States⁩

    The high anxiety I felt in March and again in the summer hasn’t materialized in the same way with the latest, even greater peak of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, which may reflect complacency and exhaustion during this never-ending pandemic. My outrage and despair that much of the Federal government, several state governments, and many…

  • RBG Memorial Challenge

    To participate in the fight against fascism and bigotry and for social justice, as well as to manage despair, I’m going to need assigned tasks between now and the election. It looks like the RGB Memorial Challenge will provide some of that guidance and discipline.

  • I See and It’s Not Nearly Enough

    Black header to support Black lives matter

    “I see how police officers and forces and governments react when they are challenged for their violent policies and racist behaviors. I see how they empower and embrace white supremacy groups and vigilantes while targeting Black people, people of color, peaceful and agitated demonstrators. I see how so many Americans have opinions about rioting and…

  • “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass

    Frederick Douglass ca. 1879

    Professor Geta LeSeur at the University of Arizona introduced me to Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech, a speech I now read or watch being read every year on this day.

  • White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

    Book cover of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo with white text including text that appears shattered over a black background

    White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo is a great place for White people to start, learn a little humility, and start building stamina for grappling with race and racism. I learned a lot while experienced many head-smack moments and moments of shame while reading this…

  • Condemning J.K. Rowling and Her Transphobic Views

    The Transgender Pride flag was designed by Monica Helms, and was first shown at a pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, USA in 2000. The flag represents the transgender community and consists of five horizontal stripes, two light blue, two pink, with a white stripe in the center. Monica describes the meaning of the flag as follows: "The light blue is the traditional color for baby boys, pink is for girls, and the white in the middle is for those who are transitioning, those who feel they have a neutral gender or no gender, and those who are intersexed. The pattern is such that no matter which way you fly it, it will always be correct. This symbolizes us trying to find correctness in our own lives".

    I condemn J.K. Rowling and her continuing transphobic views, including her recent social media posts and response to the backlash.

  • Supreme Court Reinstates Transgender Military Personnel Ban

    Black header to support Black lives matter

    I condemn reinstatement of this bigoted ban by the conservative majority of the Supreme Court.

  • Space as Solace During a Government Shutdown

    Frontier Channel Mars Header 2020 with website text next to image of Mars

    The recent space activities I’m writing and posting about provide solace during this government shutdown that has furloughed most NASA and related departments employees and contractors.

  • Condemn

    Black header to support Black lives matter

    “Condemn / Condemn / when necessary / Condemn / Condemn white supremacists kkk nazis / whatever name gone by Condemn / always”

  • Vote

    Get out and vote!