For many people, performing civic duty politics can feel like coughing to recover from COVID. The process is irritating but absolutely necessary to get back to full health and remain that way for as long as possible. And if one ultimately contracts COVID again after recovering, they must repeat that same process to achieve the same result. And no matter how many times they contract COVID, to get back to and remain healthy, they must repeat this process.
All people who make excuses not to vote and then refuse to vote as a result of those excuses are refusing to cough. Yes, you are the equivalent of people recovering from COVID who refuse to cough. Just like someone who has COVID and refuses to cough is unlikely to recover, the American democracy, which is in an existential crisis, is unlikely to recover unless all Americans do our civic duty, which includes voting.
The preceding short message and admonition along with the following link to an extremely important and informative article on the Alternet that is a must read that will prepare and encourage you to do your civic duty, are the only politics that you will need to receive your political fill from this article. So now, here is “… For Your Reading Pleasure”:
M2: Street Cop To Top Cop
M2 was startled awake by his ringing telephone. He looked at the clock and could not believe what he saw; it was 4:15 a.m. Who could that possibly be, he thought, as he dragged himself out of the bed and answered the phone.
Hello, he said, while struggling to keep his voice from sounding groggy and unclear.
Hello, Mr. Morgan. This is Albert, the front desk attendant in the lobby. He continued before M2 could respond. It seems that we have a young woman in the lobby who insists on speaking with you. She is causing quite a scene and she refuses to leave unless we allow her to speak with you.
What is her name? There was a brief pause before Albert responded.
She says that her name is Candy, sir.
It was chippie 10! M2 had introduced himself to her only a few months ago and, just as it was with all of his chippies, they had immediately become friends with benefits. I knew that she was a mistake, he thought, as he retrieved the jeans that he had worn to happy hour. I’ll be right down.
Thank you, sir.
M2 was fuming! When the elevator stopped at the lobby level M2 took a deep breath and calmed himself before he got off and took the short walk to the lobby area. Although Albert did not say anything, M2 nodded at him just to acknowledge his presence. He smiled broadly when he reached chippie 10 before he spoke. It was obvious to him that she had been drinking.
Good morning, Candice. You are here bright and early. Let’s go up to my place.
Good morning, baby, she said as she walked beside him toward the elevator.
M2 remained calm while he and Candice were on the elevator but did not say anything because he knew that the elevator had surveillance cameras. Candice was very happy and chatty.
As soon as they entered M2’s apartment, he exploded in anger. What the hell do you think that you are doing, Candy, coming here like this and at this time of the morning?! As a matter of fact, what the hell are you doing coming here period?! And how did you find out where I live, anyway?!
Candice was overcome with anger as she attempted to respond. First of all, don’t you…! M2 interrupted her midsentence.
Listen bitch, I don’t know what kind of scheme you have in mind but you had better realize that I am not one of those guys out there on the street or that you pick up at the bars that you frequent! As of this minute, we are done! And if you are thinking of going to Internal Affairs (IA), forget it; if you try that, I will bury you. You will be in jail for so long that you will forget what the outside looks like… and you know that I can do it!
Candice had heard about M2’s reputation before she met him and they had become friends so she knew what he was saying was true. A lot of her friends who lived the same lifestyle as she did had told her about other women who had crossed him and what had happened to them.
Under the circumstances, rather than press the issue Candice decided to remain silent and accept her fate. She and M2 were through. Because of her demeanor and lack of response, M2 calmed down. He could sense her fear and acquiescence so when he continued to speak it was in a kinder and gentler tone.
I’m sorry that I yelled at you, Candy, but you have to know that you shouldn’t have come to my apartment without calling me first to see if it would be okay. And just so that you will know it, it would not have been okay. This is my private space; this is where I can always be alone, relax, and escape from any and everything that I might want to escape from.
Now, I can tell that you have been drinking so I am going to fix you a hot cup of coffee and after you have finished it, I’m going to drop you off at your place. And Candice, after what happened today, I don’t want to hear from you again. And another thing, I don’t want you to share my address with anyone.
Okay, Candice responded.
She spoke in a whispered voice and her tone was so contrite that M2 felt terrible and hurt about how he had just treated her. His experience as a cop told him that he could not let Candice know this though because he knew that with her background she would take it as a sign of weakness and her natural instinct would be to take advantage of the opportunity. So he put on his calloused street cop face and went to fix her coffee.
It was 5:15 a.m. by the time that M2 dropped Candice off at her apartment and headed home so he decided to stop and have breakfast. When he got home it was a little past 6:30 a.m. He went back to bed.
Again, I hope that you enjoyed the read. Be sure to continue to stay tuned because there will be more political articles to keep you informed and… there could be more excerpts for your reading pleasure.
Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line