The John Mason Talk-Walk, July 21, 2023

I speak about the SAG-AFTRA strike, the current movement of Labor organizing, and the need to resist fascism in the United States. 

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Hello, hello, hello, John Mason. How is everybody? Yesterday, I attended a rally at Love Park in Philadelphia for the actors represented by their union SAGAFTA. And who should come there are the are the stars Shirley Ralph and Lisa Ann Walters. You have to remember that for every Lisa Ann Walters or Shirley Ralph, there are hundreds of thousands of actors who are dedicated to their craft. And they are struggling to make a living from that craft. And they make far, far less than what you would make on the minimum wage. And yes, it is serious work. I've done acting and it's a job. And so I went there to show my solidarity with my union brothers and sisters, as it as did other union brothers and sisters. I saw their uh representatives from the Philadelphia AFL CIO, the Writers Guild of America, which is joining alongside SAGAFTRA's joining alongside of Writers Guild of America because the Writers Guild of America represents the writers of scripts that uh the producers need in order to make a movie. And there's some rumblings about IATSI joining in. Ayotze, that's the union for stage hands and people who do the serious rough work of setting up a stage, setting up a movie set, and breaking it all down so as to make the performers look good and the producers rich. And there is also representation by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. And this comes alongside of the strike, the upcoming strike by members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters against UPS. And there and lately there has been a lot of organizing action. Oh yes. The working men and women of America are finding their voice. They are learning the value of organization and solidarity and coming together. They know who the real enemy is. It's not some Mexican immigrant trying to eke out a better living. The same people that Texas Governor Greg Abbott may his name be cursed forever. He he's ordered the net the National Guard of his state to chase chase uh immigrants uh acros back across the Rio Grande and not not to even give them water clean water to drink monster traitor and yes, like every other American with a brain, I worry about the state of the country. More specifically the rise of fascism. Yes, that's what it is, fascism. And they and the current crop of fascists that are running all over the re all through the Republican Party, uh thanks to their Lord and Savior, Donald What's his face they are terrorizing uh their opponents or or people they think are too weak to stand up to them. Like uh LGBTQ people, transgender kids trying to get through high school, and drag queens that but they're we're standing up and stay they're standing up and staying strong. I stand by them like I do my union brothers and sisters. And it's time to stand up for ourselves and resist this this act of terrorism. It was great to see the the protest against the Mons for Liberty at uh uh last weekend at a couple weekends ago at the uh at the um at the Marriott. But do they get the message? Of course, uh these uh these conservatives, as they call themselves, are always complain about being oppressed and being big being uh complaining about being oppressed and discriminated against when someone complains about their their tyranny, their attempts to oppress them. The conservatives act like uh they shouldn't they should never be criticized. In fact, I'm speaking generally here. I'm no one I know I'm in dangerous territory, but I'm speaking generally, but it's my observation that the conservative movement has this superiority complex, that uh they they own the country, that they're the rightful owners of the country, and they uh they're the only ones that should be running it, and and you and uh they don't have to deal shouldn't have to deal with uh their quote unquote inferiors that uh every everybody should obey them, like the lords and masters and of us all they they think they are. Well, that's that's always been in my observation the conservative mode. Uh it's like they they have this uh one uh one theme they hit upon and they just go with it. It's like there's this uh it's like there's this uh agreement among them. I don't I don't like going to conspiracy theories. But they they are of one accord. But that was back then and I'm I'm I'm daring to believe that this so-called conservative movement, well let's let's call it what it is for real, a fascist movement is is unraveling. And we are we have an opportunity next year to drive another nail in the fascist co coffin of fascism in this country by getting out and voting for Joseph Robinet Biden and every other Democrat across the ticket, up and down the ticket. Uh let me clarify some things. I I don't believe that uh any person with a D at the end of his name, their name, is really on board with the people. I mean, look at Kirsten Cinema and Joe Manchin. So but we um but we have to stay on top of them. We have a better chance with Democrats. I'm sounding parson, but I'm going with my observation. The secret weapon is to for us to get out there and vote. And we can do some voting this year in November, where like say in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, we we have our general election coming up in November, and in Philadelphia, we have uh elections for mayor and city commissioners and city council and and sheriff and register of wills and city control maybe not and uh judgeships, all kinds of judgeships. That's just those elections are just as important as voting for a president or a senator. So we'll let's flex our muscle this November and get ready for next year. Get out there and vote. Now okay, I'm all talked out. I go on some tangents, but the message is clear. We can, must, and will stand up to this current crop of fascists that's trying to terrorize us. And they know damn well that our vote is our weapon. Otherwise, DeSantis want to create these law, bullshit laws that are terrorizing people out of voting. Fortunately, I have a friend in uh in or in Florida who is assuring me that there are strong movements against the shithead and his minions. I believe we ought to set an example for them in Pennsylvania and the rest of the world. Okay, that's it. Really, that's it for now. For now. And now my my novel Soldier of the Cross is available on Amazon.com. It's the story of David Lucas, who as a young man in the early 60s was a drunk and bullying whore chaser. He he gets in trouble in the army. He he meets the chaplain in the in the stockade and becomes a fanatical born again Christian. A totally sincere fanatic trying to be a manly man for Christ, trying to be a good Christian man, but it blows up in his face. That's all I'm gonna give away. Please purchase the novel Soldier of the Cross on Amazon.com Oh and a personal note. All this work is work standing up for the podcast and all my other media projects. And donations are appreciated. Please look up my website, johnomason.com and hit PayPal. There's a PayPal app in my on the uh on the website. Uh please uh please look into it. I would greatly appreciate it. And now Hamperic is a lovely little CBD product store located on Snyder Avenue near 15th Street in South Philadelphia. There you'll find some you'll some of the finest, finest cannabis infused products. Flour and gummies and candies and drinks and lip balm and hand sanitizer and dog treats. Yep, dog treats. Look them up, please. Himperificlc.com. And also my beloved career and business coach Michelle Snow. Michelle is excellent in helping you develop your professional career or a small business that you know what you're doing right, where you need work, and help you network with other up-and-coming entrepreneurs and professionals. Please look her up. Growwithsnow.com. Okay then. That's our choice, that's our mission, and we have no choice but to accept it for ourselves and our future generations and our neighbors and friends, the people we share this community with. We must band together and fight for our rights and our lives. We can do it. We've done it in the past. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend and, as my peeps say, Shabbat shalom. Bye.