This week was a lot. My head is still spinning after talking to bartenders about spiked drinks and the kid who told me that ice cubes are being roofied at parties in New York.1 Then there was Cage Match on the White House lawn. Not my thing. Apparently, it wasn’t a thing for a lot of people, either, as the event lost the $30 million that organizers anticipated earning from viewers paying to livestream it. This loss is now being touted as an investment—sorry, a “strategic marketing investment.” That sounds like a tax write-off and an attempt to avoid taking ownership of a flawed business decision. While disappointing, what was truly disgusting was the statement made by UFC fighter Josh Hokit.
After an interview with Joe Rogan, Josh Hokit yelled, “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?” The response was divided between enthusiastic applause and laughter, along with a substantial amount of booing and shocked silence. Josh Hokit then vomited on himself, which some say was real and others claim was staged. Either way, it ranks high on the disgust scale. Some have said, “That’s just the UFC.” But what about the White House?
The silence is deafening. There have been calls for the White House and Donald Trump to issue a statement, and so far there has been nothing. This tracks. After all, this is the president who posted an image of Michelle Obama depicted as an ape on Truth Social back in February and refused to apologize. As a Black woman, this continues to sting.
Once again, I’m left wondering: I understand that he has supporters, but tell me, what policy or accomplishment makes it acceptable to portray Black women as apes and then refuse to issue a statement condemning Josh Hokit’s remarks?
There are social media posts circulating that claim the Obamas are suing, but none of that is actually happening. As she always does, the former First Lady has displayed dignity, strength, and grace. We were reminded of this when she delivered a powerful speech at the opening of the Obama Center in Chicago this week.
The entire opening ceremony, with four former presidents (Biden, Bush, Clinton and Obama), foreign dignitaries, and Grammy-winning musicians, embodied everything we would want for America’s 250th birthday. It was something of an antidote to the cage match and the cringeworthy appearance of the President at the G7. Intellectually, it provided balance. Spiritually, it was the Tartan Army and the World Cup.
About 50,000 Scots descended on Boston for the World Cup this week, and it was a party. I mean an all-out, burst-into-song, tap-your-feet, get-your-happy-on kind of party. Social media wasn’t exaggerating. They emptied bars and liquor stores of alcohol. I am not kidding—Sam Adams Brewery had to call in multiple emergency deliveries of lager.
Walking home from Boston Common on Friday night, I saw Scots queued outside liquor stores singing “No Scotland, No Party.” They soaped the fountains, crowned statues with orange traffic cones, and even held a parade led by a duck. I know—even as I write this, it sounds crazy—but it was a party, and a good one at that. They were polite, cleaned up every spot they occupied before leaving, and donated $60,000 to local charities. But wait, there’s more.
They were simply infectious with their good cheer. During a watch party for Scotland versus Morocco on Boston Common, there was no ill will. Even the Moroccans joined in singing, “No Scotland, No Party.” So while the opening of the Obama Center was the antidote, the Tartan Army was the recovery. It was the experience of people being joyful and existing in harmony. To the Tartan Army, a thank you from Boston. We’re a little sad today singing a different tune because, there’s no Scotland and there’s no party.
1 I’ve been on SubStack for a month. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve gone off in two different directions, on the same topic. You can find my Substack articles here: https://sheilathorne.substack.com
Social Media Postings
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The Fusion
The Crowning
The Fountain
No Scotland No Party with the Moroccans and the Scots.
He Came Back
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 