People Archives - Political Poetry Pastiche

Information Vs. Knowledge: How Information Is Deadening Our Minds NOW!

“Anyone who harbors the notion that [Jane] Austen’s circumscribed world of rural English parlors and parks was small-minded, provincial, or dull needs to reread Pride and Prejudice to reencounter the vigor of Elizabeth Bennet’s quick wit and astute social observation, or the generosity of Jane’s moral reflection, or the instructive trajectory of Darcy’s growth in self-knowledge, largely through defining moments of honest conversation with the woman he comes to love.”
–Marilyn McEntyre, Caring for Words In a Culture of Lies

The April 12th, 1993 cover of Time magazine was an unforgettable picture of a long series of images in rectangular formation entering an eyeball.

Why I Will Always Stand By Israel

The people of Jewish descent mentioned in the following article go un-named. In the current climate of increased anti-semitism in the United States and the world, I don’t want to put them in harm’s way.

I will always stand by Israel because Jews saved my life.

Who I Should Be: A Triple-Encomium to Three Friends

“A true friend accepts who you are, but also helps you become who you should be.” –Unknown

If you’ve read this article, you know that in Classical Greece and Rome, the encomium was, as theorized in rhetoric—the study of the art of persuasion—a speech in praise of someone.

An Encomium of Jeff Fitzgerald–a la the Ancients

An encomium was, In Classical Greek and Roman culture, was a speech in praise of someone. My good friend Jeff Fitzgerald often listened to me talk about my love of rhetoric. We lost touch, and I always intended to reconnect with him.

What Derek Skye Villaverde–Mr. Gay Maryland United States At-Large–Taught Me About Family

Mr. Gay Maryland United States At-Large isn’t what you think. As always, gay men come up with the best witticisms. “At-Large” in this case means over 200 lbs!

Anyhow, I was lucky enough to be present at the crowning of Derek Skye Villaverde, 2021’s Mr.

What I’ll Remember Most About Late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-7)

Photo Courtesy of wbaltv.com

On October 17th, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-7) died. When people die, I, like most people, reflect on how they lived their lives. I also reflect on how we existed in the shared space that was our relationship.

Daily Record: December 20th, 2019

Participated in Paths After Park, wherein I spoke for three, 40-minute sessions to small groups of students about my life after Park. I spoke about writing and local political organizing.

It was really awesome!

I also discovered something shocking: I’m not as scared of public speaking as I thought I was.

Textual Memories Of My Rhetorical Guides

This post is dedicated to Emily LaPadura, a great friend and teacher of rhetoric!

Memory is inherently subjective, flawed, and self-serving. The moment something’s over, we start remembering it in a way that serves some purpose, whether we’re aware of it or not.

On My Activist Tutor, My Sister, Dr. Zaneb Khan Beams, M.D.

Looking back on it 11 months later, it feels like a full-circle moment in my life that my sister, Dr. Zaneb Beams, M.D. suggested I volunteer with Byron MacFarlane’s campaign for Register of Wills here in Howard County. My first meeting with him over Korean food amidst the hustle and bustle of the Whole Foods in downtown Columbia set in motion one of the best years of my life.