Who Would Jesus Deport?
“The biggest gun we’ve got is called the ballot box...Vote 'em out" - Willie Nelson
Good morning, y’all.
I spent my weekend vacillating between ennui, exhaustion, and energized.
Hubby and I (and the pup!) attended an uptown pro-immigration rally from 157th to 209th Street, which are predominantly immigrant neighborhoods. Hundreds of uptown anti-fascists marched in support of immigrants and refugees.
Ignore what you see on FOX News about George Soros paying protestors to vandalize property. This is what “antifa” looks like: peaceful Americans who prefer democracy to authoritarianism.
Marching among a diverse group of people who are also disgusted with MAGA 2.0 was the perfect balm for the non-stop what the actual fuck is going on?!?! that reverberates through my entire being since Inaguration Day.
Long-time activist Willie Nelson said it best in 2018 during the kids-in-cages-at-the-border era, “What’s going on at our southern border is outrageous. Christians everywhere should be up in arms. What happened to ‘Bring us your tired and weak and we will make them strong?’ This is still the promised land.”
But Christians aren’t bothered. In fact, they’re less bothered than they were in 2018. I don’t think I’ll ever understand the mental gymnastics it takes to “support MAGA in the name of Christ.”
Who Would Jesus Deport?
Speaking of Jesus, I hear it was Easter yesterday? But I celebrated 420 with a groovy new THC drink.
As I often discuss in my column, Behind the Pitch, I get a lot of press releases about upcoming products. I delete most of them, but Willie Nelson launching a THC spirit1 caught my eye.
I was immediately transported back to 2010 as a career bartender in Waco, Texas, working the opening of Willie's truck stop in Carl's Corner, Texas.
I got emotional thinking about how much my life has changed since I was that 25-year-old party girl dousing my lost soul in whiskey and cigarettes. The girl in the above photo had no idea she would eventually move to New York City, address her mental health issues, write books, and even co-found her own drink.
💜Your New Fav NA Drink: Purple Braids
Co-founding a non-alc spirit gets me back into my bartending era because I get to play with new ingredients. We make our own seaweed vinegar for (parentheses), so I figured seaweed and weed would be a perfect pair. The subtle sweetness in Willie’s Remedy is an excellent balance for our bold, smoky spirit, After.
This drink, Purple Braids, is named after Willie’s iconic hairstyle with a nod to Prince. It’s the perfect slow sipper for spring and summer.
💜 Purple Braids Recipe:
1 part (parentheses) After
1 part Willie’s Remedy
Splash of Butterfly Pea Tea (optional; just for color!)
Shake well over ice, then strain into some fierce glassware and vibe out to some Willie tunes.
I’ll leave you with another critical Willie lyric from his song, “Vote ‘Em Out”
“The biggest gun we've got is called the ballot box. So if you don't like who's in there, vote 'em out.”
XO,
Tawny
I get 10% commish if you buy