Things I Think About

This is election season and as such, I expect propaganda to flow from both sides of the aisle. One that caught my eye today was against Joe Biden. It was a picture of him holding hands with the late Senator Robert Byrd at a political rally with the caption, “Does a Photo Show Joe Biden With the ‘Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan’?” The internet meme caught my attention so, I had to research Robert Byrd and learn about this alleged Klan connection. For the record, Senator Robert Byrd was NOT a Grand Wizard. Was he involved with the Klan in any way? Most definitely. In this episode, I look into the history of one of the longest serving U.S. Senators in American history and ask, "Is it time to cancel Robert Byrd?" 

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The evening newscasts on ABC, CBS and NBC have been 150 times more negative when covering President Trump compared to presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to a new study.  News stories in general and reports focused on President Donald Trump in particular will continue to be reported negatively because its highly profitable for the mainstream media. (No, its not purely for ideological reasons.) In this episode I discuss research focused on the media, the psychological effects of so much negative news coverage and why nothing will change despite the adverse effects on the public.The transcript and resources related to this podcast can be found on JimStroud.com.

The idea of reparations being paid to African Americans as recompense for slavery is a hot topic in America and has been for quite a while. In this episode of "Things I Think About," I examine the very first attempt by the United States government to give reparations to African Americans post civil-war. The historical insights I share may surprise you as much, if not more, than they did me. Tune in to find out. | Big thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz. | Click here to subscribe to Black History Quiz

Links related to this episode can be found on JimStroud.com.

Oprah Winfrey believes America is based on a caste system and that no matter your lot in life, as long as you are white, you have an advantage over all other minorities; alluding to what is popularly known as “white privilege.”  Is this true? I do a bit of research and decide that its not.  Tune in to hear my argument on why white privilege is illogical (to put it mildly). Big thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz! Subscribe to their newsletter now because it takes more than a month to learn our history. (https://www.getrevue.co/profile/bhq) 

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I saw a video that featured teenagers and their reaction to racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the George Floyd protests and riots. Listening to some of their testimonies was heartbreaking as they likened the USA to a third world country run by demagogues and storm troopers.  When the video finished, I asked myself, "If I were a black immigrant with the entire world as my option, would I choose to live in a country that would oppress me at every turn?" Of course, I would not, yet millions of black immigrants flow into the USA everyday and they prosper. How can that be when America is so racist? 

This is the first in a series of episodes defending America as being a racist institution profiting on the exploitation of minorities. More will come in the future.  Tune in to this one and share your thoughts?

The woke cancel culture in society seeks to publicly shame or withdraw support from public figures because of unpopular opinions or offensive actions. In some cases, it might be appropriate to do so, yet increasingly it is a sign of mob culture that has gotten out of control. What happens when cancel culture enters the workplace and people are fired because someone is triggered by an alleged woke vs racism comment or an opinion expressed decades ago? Worse yet, what if you are cancelled at work for trying to help a cause that both parties agree with? It may sound crazy but free speech is under attack and it is becoming more prevalent in the workspace. In this episode, Jim Stroud examines examples of cancel culture, why it persists and what it will take to finally end it. Tune in for a very special episode. Big thanks to Black History Quiz! Subscribe to the Black History Quiz Newsletter now! > https://www.getrevue.co/profile/bhq

When writing The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx thought he was providing a road to utopia, but everywhere his ideas were tried, they resulted in catastrophe and mass murder. And there is no exception to that rule. Not the Soviet Union, not Eastern Europe, not China, not North Korea, not Vietnam, not Cuba, not Venezuela, not Bolivia, not Zimbabwe. Wherever Marxism goes, economic collapse, terror and famine follow. How is this relevant? Black Lives Matter co-founder – Patrisse Cullors admits that she and fellow founder – Alicia Graza are trained Marxists. I will speculate on the ramifications of that in this episode.  | Special thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz! 

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Next to my father, the only other man I looked up to when growing up was The Lone Ranger. Silver bullets, a black mask, a white horse and Tonto mean more in the maturity of my adulthood than they did in my childhood, but I always had an appreciation for them (even when I was not totally sure what I was celebrating). Webster defines a manifesto as “A public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, especially of a political nature.” If you would indulge me, I would like to explain and evangelize what I call “The Lone Ranger Manifesto” with the hope that it becomes not just a series of amusing observations, but a moral template to live by. | Resources related to this podcast can be found here: https://bit.ly/ThingsIThinkAbout4  / Special thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz!

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Do you know someone or, have seen someone, angry over trivial matters? Perhaps, you have witnesses someone go into a rage over a microaggression? If so, would you hire them to work for you? Chances are you would not because instinctively you know that they would make a bad employee. Well, you no longer have to rely on your gut for such decisions. A scientific paper has been published that backs up what you already knew. Snowflakes make bad employees. I discuss the research in this episode and oh boy, is it good! |  Articles and resources cited in this podcast can be found here:  https://bit.ly/ThingsIThinkAbout3  / Special thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz!

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I watched an interview of Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors where she argued that police need to be defunded and by doing so, would resolve issues of homelessness, gentrification and improve the overall quality of life for society. I took note of what she said and found points where we agreed and very much disagreed. Plus, I make several ominous predictions based on a very disturbing trend. Articles and resources cited in this podcast can be found here: https://bit.ly/thingsithinkabout2 / Special thanks to my sponsor - Black History Quiz!

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