#771 – Dick Bernard: Heritage. The Parish Picnic

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NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS AND FREQUENT VISITORS TO THIS SITE. PLEASE SEE NOTE AT THE END OF THIS POST.
Enroute to Mass at Basilica of St. Mary this morning, Cathy, my wife, told me that the annual parish picnic was today. That was news to me, though I usher at the Church. But they’re always fun.
Along the way we chatted about parish picnics we had known: me in rural North Dakota, and she in St. Paul.
They had common elements, these picnics: “potluck” meals (“bring a dish to share”), games for kids, and for adults, like the ever-popular cake walk; maybe somebody playing some music. “A good time was had by all” would be a usual and accurate descriptor.
I thought of one particular photo from my past: the only picture I know of from a parish picnic, at St. Elizabeth’s in Sykeston, North Dakota, probably from 1959, when the new Church was about completed. Here is the photo:
(click on photos to enlarge)

Sykeston ND, on the St. Elizabeth school grounds, circa 1959

Sykeston ND, on the St. Elizabeth school grounds, circa 1959


One of the ladies was holding, along with the Nun, something brought to the event. It could have been a cake. Something was heating in the pot. One of the ladies was wearing a hat – in those days, most of the ladies wore hats, all of them inside the Church, that’s for sure!
But the whole essence was community togetherness, relationship building over a hotdish, or a piece of cake or pie.
Cathy mentioned “Booyah”, something I never heard of out on the prairie but which is still a staple at big gatherings particularly in these parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Some years ago I had occasion to look up the history of “Booyah”, and this is what I found. You’re never exactly sure what you’re going to get in a dish of Booyah, but it is likely to be pretty good!
Today’s event was more downtown big city, as one would expect at a major church on a major downtown Minneapolis street, but the principles are exactly the same. Get people together, often strangers (as we met today), and let people get to know each other over a casual meal.
For us, today, it meant meeting a young lawyer and Delta Air Lines ticketing agent and their three year old son who hailed from Louisiana and North Carolina respectively, and met in New Orleans several years ago, and now live in North Minneapolis. We had a great visit.
For us it was Famous Dave’s today, and not Booyah, but what difference does it make? It was a great time in the city!
Basilica Parish Picnic September 8, 2013

Basilica Parish Picnic September 8, 2013


Famous Dave's dishes up the goodies at Basilica September 8, 2013

Famous Dave’s dishes up the goodies at Basilica September 8, 2013


NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS AND OTHER VISITORS TO THIS BLOG:
As blogs go, mine is very active, varied, and probably fairly small in readership. But I am always surprised by now many people actually stop by, and particularly comment, on one topic or another. A recent example is the Syria post of September 3, which would mostly be seen at the time it is published, but to which later comments have been added. This happens frequently.
In addition, over the history of this blog, I have found myself quite without intending beginning informal series on a particular topic. For instance, this is at least the 8th post in recent years specifically relating to some aspect of “heritage”. A very major current issue for me is the situation with the Minnesota Orchestra. Etc.
With this post, I am going to work harder to connect blogs of like topics, and to simply suggest to everyone who is a reader to bookmark some topic in which they might have an interest, so that they can check back once in awhile to see if there are additional comments.
This blog began as an experiment. It has sufficient history now to be a bit better organized.
Here are some topics. If there are several posts on a topic, the post highlighted below is more-or-less the index blog, from which all other related posts are linked. There are a number of other series, but most of these are on issues which have come and gone.
Thanks for checking in.
Matters relating to French-Canadians and French in America (September 1, 2012, a starter site for a planned French-American Heritage Foundation website)
Heritage (Oct 5, 2011, 1st of several)
Mary Ann Mahers Peace Corps Experience in Vanuatu South Pacific (Nov. 10, 2012, a continuing blog of Mary Ann’s experiences)
Minnesota Orchestra Lock-Out (Aug 30, 2013, is anchor post. A major ongoing issue since October, 2012.)
On Growing Older, (May 5, 2013, and continuing in other posts.)
Remembering Sykeston ND (May 4, 2013, several posts linked from the original post)
United Nations Flag Issue at Hennepin Co MN (March 27, 2013, ongoing issue)
Valley City State Teachers College Memories late 1950s early 1960s (Jan 2, 2013, all related are linked within this post)

#770 – Dick Bernard: Exorcising "Power"

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The word in the subject line, “exorcising”, is not misspelled, and the quotation marks around “Power” are intended.
This morning’s Minneapolis Star Tribune had as it’s primary front page story, “[Minnesota] Orchestra board firm in face of the risks”. The story runs 36 column inches and (as of 9:30 a.m.) if it is in the on-line edition as yet, it is in hiding somewhere within that on-line edition.
It will probably be on-line sometime later today.
In addition to the length and placement of the story, I noted the emphasis. Four lines of the story, one on page one, and the rest on page three, and another column inch or so later in the story, were devoted to the Musicians Union position.
My constituency – we’re called “listeners” or “audience” usually – didn’t seem to merit attention, as has been the case till now.
The three top officials of the Orchestra board met on “Tuesday [Sep 4?] with the Star Tribune editorial board”, the story said. For each of them, the trip to the Star Tribune would be an easy walk from their offices in downtown Minneapolis. One of the Orchestra board’s members is noted on page two of the paper as Publisher and CEO of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Co.
The seeming life or death struggle in downtown Minneapolis at 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis 55403 is a classic example of exercise of brute strength – “Power” in the traditional hierarchical sense.
There is really nothing very complicated about Power. More than 25 years ago I heard a talk which pretty much laid out the potential – and peril – of seemingly invincible “Power”. I wrote about it some time ago, here, Nov. 17, 2011. It is fairly short and speaks for itself.
The tiny minority who exercise “Power”, such as those three Orchestra Board chieftains who went in to meet with the Star Tribune Editorial Board (there’s probably an editorial ahead), know how to leverage their brands of power, such as described in the above referenced blog post.
But my guess is that the architects of the crisis at Orchestra Hall are also terrified about being found out and exposed for what they are, a tiny group who managed to take over and is blaming the victims for their own self-made problem, which is rapidly becoming a looming disaster.
“The people” in this case is probably not the general public, as most folks don’t go to the Orchestra and have only a vague notion of how important that institution is, or how little spade work the Board did to get support from the audience when they were supposedly in crisis.
“The people” are the folks who have been in the audience – the listeners – who in many and diverse ways have power to influence the future of this Orchestra we love.
Playing by the “Power folks” rules won’t solve things. All that is required is a bit of thinking outside of the box.
I know what I’m going to do personally. I’ve stated it publicly.
To everyone else, your call.
COMMENTS:
from Jim P. Sep 4, 2013: Just a thought on your meaningful blog title – it’s disastrous when people who grew up outside the walls get in charge inside the walls, especially for those who remain outside.

#769 – Dick Bernard: Uncle Frank, Annelee's father, Syria, the President and US Congress

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As I write, Secretary of State John Kerry is testifying to a Senate Committee on the Presidents request to Congress regarding response to the contention that the Syrian Government has used Chemical Weapons against its own people.
I strongly support the Presidents request for debate, and I have written my U.S. Senators and Congresswoman about the issue (what I said at the end of this post).
This is a crucial debate, with room for differing opinions. Each of us can weigh in. We have equal access to our elected representatives: two U.S. Senators and one U.S. member of Congress.
Our nation is extraordinarily complex and is now over 225 years old.
Recently I’ve shared with my own friends the pertinent language of the U.S. Constitution on the general topics of War and Defense: here are the relevant section of Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution “The Congress [Senate and House of Representatives] shall have Power…”To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States, respectively….[other assorted powers]”
Of course, this is the foundation document for our nation, but subject to interpretation.
In the last 50 years the major problem (in my opinion) has been continuing resolutions that essentially have ceded war-making powers to the Presidents, from Vietnam to, most recently, Iraq and Afghanistan. This abrogation of authority is a luxury to Congress, which can deflect its own responsibility for war-making, and blame whomever is President for the results.
Of course, to war or not to war is a decision with consequences.
World War II began about 1939, but the U.S. did not enter until after Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, because Congress would not authorize U.S. entrance into the War. My Uncle Frank died at Pearl Harbor, and the next day, Congress declared War. Not long after, our friend Annelee’s father was conscripted into the German Army, and died at some unknown place late in that war. And we essentially destroyed Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in all millions upon millions of people were killed worldwide. Maybe entering WWII earlier would have shortened the war and reduced the carnage. Whether or not is speculation.

Frank Peter Bernard, USS Arizona, pre-December 7, 1941

Frank Peter Bernard, USS Arizona, pre-December 7, 1941


Making war is not a game. It solves nothing, and it is ever more deadly.
There is a process for making decisions about such war powers in the U.S., and it is the Congress, which in turn is answerable to US (thus the subject line, “US Congress”,”US” as in, “we, the people”).
Do your duty as a citizen and weigh in on the Syria issue with your representatives; and stay engaged.
My own thoughts on the proposed Syria action, conveyed to my representative and senators: “I am glad Congress is being forced to go on record on this issue. History proves that war never solves anything, and bombing as an instrument of war makes the long term problems even worse. Look for other ways to solve such problems. NO BOMBING! Ditto on the Continuing Resolutions that have so vexed us since Vietnam. Congress by the Constitution is the only agency that can make war. I know this is a difficult issue. Think Peace.”
UPDATE Sep. 4, 2013: In addition to below, two other responses have been filed on this post. Click on “response” tab at the very end.
 Overnight came this interesting and long summary of commentaries about the debate now beginning in Washington D.C., and what it might all mean…which depends on who’s doing the talking. Emphasis is placed on the War Powers Resolution of 1973, referring to this interesting link.
Going way out on a limb: my guess is that no American bombs will drop on Syria. President Obama is not a war-making adventurer; rather he is caught in the residue of situations like Iraq and Afghanistan that preceded his administration. This doesn’t mean that the process of revising our long standing habits will be easy. But it is not impossible.
The relationship of the United States to War is analogous to an addicts relationship to his/her drug of choice: we know it’s a dangerous relationship, but we’re hooked. War is the solution to every problem, but it is killing us. Before we can change, we need to deal with our denial of this unpleasant fact.
The people – ourselves – must speak on this issue, and on any issue, if we hope to change anything in D.C. I think the President deliberately is giving us this opportunity.
I hope we take it, people to their representatives, and to each other, face-to-face.
Comments
from Corky M, Sep. 4, 2013: Thanks Dick for informative reading. A junior in HS in our house provides for interesting conversation with their peers. If you can’t remember the casual “grunts” of teens, their interest in technology makes for interesting “very late night” debate with their friends. The high schools of today appear to encourage much conversation among the students on current issues.
from Wilhelm R, Sep. 4, 2013: I read your article with interest and I feel to make some comment. I do not know whether you want this or not , but since you sent the article to me …. may be I miss something here . Your thoughts seem to be focused on the constitution of the US and not the subject itself. Your arguments only ‘kick in’ after a war is justified which you do not seem to question. The discussion is not a US internal discussion based on some document , however revered it might be, but on Justice or better Right as in the right thing – not expedient thing – to do. This is where the discussion has to or should be. President Obama on all accounts seem to follow the footsteps of his predecessor pretty well and seems to try to even out do him albeit somewhat smarter. Drones strikes, Libya, now Egypt, Yemen, the list goes on seems to me to be a pretty conclusive track record. what makes you think that the evidence presented for going to war this time is any different in purpose than previous ones? ( Kuwait Babies thrown out of incubator , Iraq1; Saddam’s WMDs, Iraq2; etc don’t we ever learn? or are we able to hide behind meaningless phrases such as conspiracy theory indefinitely where we can replace in our discussions facts with slogans, where slogans will trump facts any time?} the discussion in Washington is not a discussion of facts and attempts to do the right thing it is and always will be a negotiation between different interests. In that context of course the constitutional document – the document that sets the rule of how these negotiations shall be conducted becomes important however it has nothing to do with doing the right thing. Sorry for my long and unsolicited rant.
Later followup from Wilhelm: Here is a suggestion: Why not proposing a 1 hour (or whatever) nationwide work stoppage or slow-down with the threat to repeat it. The slow down could be or should be done by going by the “book” since in most cases going by the book or according to regulations will just about bring work to a halt. The German postal workers, who are prohibited by law to strike used and implemented this strategy very effectively. Such a coordinated and publicized approach might be highly effective and ….
from Dick, in response to Wilhelm: No need to apologize for “unsolicited rant”. It’s all part of a necessary conversation.
from Michael K, Sep 4, 2013: I was so pleased to see your comments to your representatives in Congress. On this issue we are in total agreement.
from Annelee W, (whose Dad is mentioned in the above post, and whose books are very interesting) Sep 4, 2013: I always remember uncle Pepp when he said in 1943, [in Mitterteich, Germany]:
“HAVING A WAR TO ACHIEVE PEACE, JUST BRINGS ANOTHER, BIGGER, MORE HORRIBLE WAR”
PAPA SAID,”WAR IS MAN’S INSANITY AND INHUMANITY TOWARD OTHER MEN.”
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, ANNELEE
UPDATE Sep. 7, 2013
Dick Bernard
I’ve had two previous posts which emphasize Syria: May 2, 2010, and May 7, 2013.
Of course, the debate rages about whether to give President Obama the authorization to take action in Syria, or what kind of action to take, or who’s to blame.
Personally, as I said at a meeting the other night, I think forcing the debate was an act of genius on the part of the President. It is something of a “put up or shut up” declaration. It is especially putting the Republican far-right types in a quandary: how to vote in agreement with the Presidents request, while hating the President. All will sort out in the next several weeks.
But, no question, it has activated action back home, which is exactly what should happen.
(At the same meeting referenced above, I proposed a position against any kind of military action against Syria. I proposed it for debate, and by later today our particular group will have decided on the specific wording, and make our position known to our Minnesota Congressional Delegation – two Senators and eight Representatives. I have earlier predicted that there would be no bombing of Syria. There, I’ve said it again. I’m in no position to decide or know what will happen. The issues are so complex that those with more information, I would think, would be reluctant to start anything. We shall see.)
What is going on now causes me to think back to my earliest training as an organizer in 1972. (The right likes to belittle the President by referring to him as a Community Organizer in Chicago.)
Well, the tenets of this early training of myself came from the master of organizing of the least powerful, Saul Alinsky. (Alinsky had died, unbeknownst to me, a very short time before I took the training in question, in Washington DC, a mile from the White House.)
One of the Principles espoused by Saul Alinsky was very simple: “Personalize, Polarize and Publicize”. You chose a target person, you made yourself the opposite of him or her, and you publicized the daylights out of it.
If you see some comparison between todays anti-President Obama rhetoric, you are perceptive. It is the same principles.
Back then, 40 years ago, we found that it worked pretty well at first. It was sort of fun, actually, to find the enemy and make him squirm.
But like all good ideas, once it was found out, it lost all of its power. Besides, the enemy, we came to find, was actually quite often a fairly decent individual, just occupying a different role than we were.
Of course I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised that the President and his advisors are simply applying the same principles to their sworn enemies. “Put up, or Shut Up.”
Just a thought on a warm Saturday.

#768: Dick Bernard: Heritage. An Enchanting Evening at La Farm

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Sunset August 31 was 8:02 p.m. CDT in rural Ashby MN. At that time I went outdoors to try to catch the moment in a snapshot:
(click to enlarge any photo)

Sunset at La Farm, August 31, 2013

Sunset at La Farm, August 31, 2013


(A small album of additional photos is on Facebook, here.)
Behind me, indoors in the small farm house, now a home and retreat place for family members, Patty Kakac, Anne Dunn and friends were presenting an enchanting “Grandmother Voices” concert. The “house” audience was only 18 of us, and it had taken us 7 hours, to and from, to get to the show, but it was an awesome and inspiring evening. Patti sang, and Anne shared fascinating stories. Part of me wished that the whole world could experience what we were experiencing; the other part of me, selfishly, reveled in the special time for just the few of us.
Both women perform gently, from the heart, taking their listeners into the subject of their song and story. They are serious and they are humorous, and their new show is a blend of two styles and different traditions. Except for my short trip outdoors to catch the sunset, I was enthralled, and I think the same could be said for those of us in the farm house living room.

(You can hear Patti sing in this YouTube segment. On occasion, Anne Dunn has written for this blog. Links for Apr 12, 2009, May 3, 2009, Dec 13, 2012, Jul 18, 2013 are here. In 2000, she was the person behind Whispering Tree, a CD for school children which may still be available in some libraries.)
We all had an additional and unanticipated special treat on Saturday night.
Enroute to La Farm, a short distance west of Alexandria on I-94, we were slowed by a powerful thunderstorm with high winds and traffic-stopping rain. Since our destination was to the west, we called to inquire about the weather there. Indeed, the powerful thunderstorm had passed their way, earlier.
On the country road to the farm a downed tree nearly blocked our path, and in the yard, we were told that the power was out.
So, we watched the concert, from 7-9 p.m. in the dimming light of the sunset streaming through the window behind the performers. And then dusk, and then dark. Out came the candles, and the last of the concert was in the dark.
For me, and I think for the others too, the separation from electricity only enhanced the evening.
La Farm house reminded me of my Grandparents pioneer house in North Dakota: originally a very small rectangular house with downstairs and upstairs, with later add-ons like kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms…. Sharon Henneman, a grandchild of the original La Farm inhabitants, shared this story about the house and home: La Farm – a story remembered
Grandpa was a farmhouse fiddler, good enough to have a small band for neighborhood dances “back in the day”. From about 1927, the whole family gathered around the piano in the living room to sing songs.
Back then, there was no electricity, no interventions by man, other than lamps. There was no thought of power outages. The weather was as it was.
It was nice to experience, in a sense, the good old days Saturday night in the living room at La Farm.
I wish I could transmit last night to all to you. I can’t.
Maybe you have your own memories of similar days of old.
(Enroute home, about 11:00, a message came to us and others: the power is back on. Somehow, it was anti-climactic. That power outage was really an addition to an already rich evening.)
NOTE: Patty Kakac can be reached at pattykakacATgmailDOTcom. Her phone 320-834-4445. (See Patty’s comment after the photos) I have her 1998 CD, Patchwork, which is wonderful. I think it is still available through her. It brings the old days to life, as she and Anne Dunn did again Saturday night.
Patty Kakac and Anne Dunn, a half hour before sunset.

Patty Kakac and Anne Dunn, a half hour before sunset.


Anne Dunn tells one of her stories. Night has about fallen.

Anne Dunn tells one of her stories. Night has about fallen.


La Farm at Sunset, the original two story pioneer home essentially surrounded by later additions. The "concert hall" was behind the glass doors at left.

La Farm at Sunset, the original two story pioneer home essentially surrounded by later additions. The “concert hall” was behind the glass doors at left.


As dusk approaches, the concert continues, soon in the dark!

As dusk approaches, the concert continues, soon in the dark!


from Patty Kakac, Sep 3, 2013: I am enjoying reading about the concert from out there in the audience. Your writings about going back to childhood days reminds me of the song I wrote for a play called “Playing with Memories”. We started writing the play by gathering elder people together to tell us of their memories. So many recited the very same thing you have about the music…someone with a fiddle, someone on a piano. So I wrote the song using that theme. My method of writing these sorts of songs is to simply go through the words the people say and fit them together, somewhat like putting a puzzle together. Here are the words to the song…thought you might enjoy them. I had thought about singing the song that night but there wasn’t time or place where it fit in.
Thank you for such a beautiful review.
(It’s a waltz)
PLAYING WITH MEMORIES – lyrics and music by Patty Kakac
Playing with Memories so I can recall
People and places I love most of all
And when shadows of life darken my day
Playing with Memories chase the dark clouds away
Mama cooking in the kitchen would sing
Sister in the parlor made the old piano ring
Soft, lacey curtains blowing in the breeze
These are a few of my memories
Papa would bring out the fiddle and bow
Neighbors would come as soon as they’d know
We’d push chairs and table against the wall
Turn the old farm house into a dance hall
I’ve loved you all the days since we first met
How you danced in my arms I’ll ne’er forget
I’ll cherish your love as long as I breathe
Forever I’ll hold you in my memories
Patty was responding to this comment to her, Anne Dunn and the hosts at La Farm by myself:
Saturday night keeps rattling around in my brain, and I need to let the thoughts out!
To be honest, if [our guest, Christine] had not been interested in going out the La Farm, we probably wouldn’t have gone. We’d heard Patty and Anne doing a preliminary version of their show the previous year at my sister Flo’s, and the six hour round-trip was not especially appealing.
But, we went, and the power went out, and it was one of the most singularly powerful evenings I’ve personally experienced.
And the storm and the power outage enhanced the experience.
Saturday night we basically experienced the old days going way back before things like electricity and modern conveniences like indoor toilets.
Back then, what came to La Farm, came, of course, just like Saturday, a storm came through. It could have been welcome, or it could have brought hail, or a tornado. It simply happened.
And there the people were, isolated, coping as best they could.
But then there was the concert.
I have done a great deal of family history, and as I said in the blog, my roots, particularly my mother’s side, was full of farm music.
So, here we sat in a dark room, lit by a couple of candles (secretly, I wished the LED lights would be turned off!), in a community of music.
Back in the olden days, I know from family and other stories, these country gatherings were primary recreational and social events.
There were dances in hay mows (the upstairs of barns); community halls, saloons, houses…wherever people could gather and somebody had a fiddle, or a piano, people passed the short time between work and dark (except in the summer) doing what was done Saturday night.
If the original part of that house could tell tales, it would probably remember such goings on from time to time. They’d be small and informal, but unless the home owners were anti-social, they’d be happening. And to survive out there, you had to have an element of being social – what if the barn burned down, or such.
Today we can (it seems) manage everything. Cell phones get us out of the house when the phones don’t work; we can watch perfect events in perfect color and high definition, with perfect sound systems without ever having to interact with another soul.
Saturday night, you were, in my opinion, in pioneer days, not only in Minnesota, but most everywhere else in the developing United States and Canada.
It was really a great privilege to be there.
I could go on and on.
Maybe some of those on the copy list could add more….
Thanks to everyone who made the evening possible.