Trump-out#

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Following the 2000 U.S. Presidential election I kept, and still keep, all of the newspapers till the Supreme Court ruled that George W. Bush had been elected President.  This was Dec. 12, 2000.  Al Gore, out-going Vice President graciously conceded, and on Jan. 6, 2001, Gore himself presided at the U.S. Senate when the Bush win was made official.

In 2000, Bush won the electoral college 271-266.  Gore won the popular vote 50,999,897 to 50,456,002.  One other candidate, Ralph Nader, polled over a million votes: 2,882, 955.  Here is the data.

In 2020, Joe Biden had over 81,000,000 votes for President; Donald Trump over 74,000,000.  There has been no concession by Trump; no graciousness whatsoever. Over 50 times (the exact numbers change) courts have affirmed the validity of the elections where there were legal challenges; all states have accepted their election results, but not Donald Trump, and Vice-President Mike Pence will have an interesting day on January 6, 2021. All of the results are easily available.  It appears that disrupt and confuse will be the order of the day through the inauguration January 20, and doubtless on into the Biden presidency.  No one will benefit, certainly not we citizens.

The above is the story of two countries 2020 ends: the U.S. in 2000 and the U.S. in 2020.

In 21 days Donald Trump will be history.  Three weeks is an instant in history; but a long time.  Lots can happen, but there will be an end.

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This blog is a public place.  This is the 1,633rd post since I began posting here in March, 2009.

Best I can tell, “Trump” appears substantively in 79 blog posts; the first August 1, 2011, when someone sent me one of those ubiquitous forwards where Trump was railing on against “Obamacare”.  The next mentioning Trump appeared in 2016.

I wrote the posts, and I really thought that Trump ran only for his own vanity.  He had no experience in governing, other than running his own business; he was a TV personality in “The Apprentice”, a show which I have never watched.

I’ve watched politics for many years, and since the days of Newt Gingrich (1978 was when he burst on the national scene) and even before, the successful Republican tactic has been attack-attack-attack, the nastier the better.  Achieving and retaining Power was all that mattered.  What is happening this year is nothing new for them.

(Hillary Clinton was probably the most qualified candidate for President in modern history.  She only appeared 20 times in my blogs in the same period as Trump, the first April 16, 2015.)

In the run-up to the 2016 election I wasn’t aware of Trumps prodigious production of flat-out lies about anything and everything.

I think the worst part of experiencing the Trump years was the sense that I and others who share my political philosophy were completely excluded from partnership in the United States.  This was manifested in many ways from the mouth of Trump himself, his rallies with his true believers.  This is the only such time period in my adult life, including when Republicans were President (for more years than Democrats).  There was no respect for we losers 2017 to present.  Trumps supporters by their acquiescence supported this exclusion, making people like me second class citizens.  Win-Lose is always an ultimately Lose-Lose philosophy – a never-ending cycle of losers seeking payback….

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I’m publishing this on Dec. 31, 2020.  My intention is to keep succeeding posts Trump-free.

On New Years Day my recommendation to the 81,000,000 who agree with me is that Joe Biden will do a great job under awful circumstances he will inherit.

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#  in the headline:   I recently was re-listening to audio tapes I made during a January 1996 trip to Israel.  On our first morning in Tel Aviv the tour guide was going over the usual ‘rules for the road’ for we 73 tourists, and noted that Israel’s climate is dry, and that we should be careful to keep well hydrated.  At the same time, as we all know, things like coffee have other effects, so we were advised to use the frequent opportunities to “coffee-out”.  It got a good laugh.

POSTNOTES:  The disastrous Trump era will be news for years.  Among many incongruities I saw:

  1.  I think the very worst consequence of Trump-“style” was to exploit the need, unfortunately shared by virtually all candidates for U.S. President in our history, to go to war, or at least threaten such action as almost a political necessity.  Trump chose as his “enemy”, people like myself, Democrats.  Of course, setting one group in society against another weakens the whole.  No matter: war sells.  We almost demand it.
  2. Leveraging fear and resentment are very useful tools of manipulators.  Thus the division of our society into “tribes”, one of which includes me; the others who tend to think of people like me as ‘socialists’ or worse.
  3. The alliance of “Christians” with an amoral serial liar is disconcerting.  In my opinion, this was primarily a lust for power vy so-called Christian leaders through hoped for control of judges and those who make the laws to be judged.  I’d recommend the Netflix series entitled “The Family” about the group that is responsible for the annual Presidents Prayer Breakfast.
  4. The similarly odd alliance of “populists” with American Oligarchs from among the super-rich.   The populists were easily manipulated by promises; Oligarch’s had the money to manipulate, but are stupid: the glorious American economy depends on people with money to spend on assorted goods…still the desire of many of the super-rich seems to be to squeeze the poor (everyone below the one percent) economically.  Increasing poverty does not bring prosperity, except for the few….
  5. The replacement of demonstrable facts and science by assorted story-telling and out and out fantasies like made up stories, Q-anon and the like are very dangerous to society at large.

The future is up to us, in the New Year.

Christmas Day 2020

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All best wishes this Christmas day.

Last Sunday, I received several favorable comments about the photos from the old Bible.  Here are the links to all 30 or so photos found in Grandma Bernard’s 1911 Bible: Bible Photos (2) of Palestine 1911; Bible Photos (3) of Palestine 1911.  Click to enlarge the pdfs.

In addition, from the same Bible, here are 17 maps of ancient Palestine; Bible 1906005. Click to enlarge.

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Christmas 2020: Years ago – I’m guessing about 2007 – I was privileged to have a conversation with an elder.  Duane Lilja had developed a program for school kids which he called “Walls to Bridges”.  As I recall, his was a ‘giving back’ kind of program to schools. I met him that single time, but he and his philosophy were memorable.  Duane still lives in Coon Rapids MN, and I talked with him on the phone on Christmas Eve.

The day we met years ago he gave me a poster (pictured at the end of this post) which he had developed for use in schools on the theme of peace to “All Who Promote & Protect Human Rights.”  I kept it, and this week revisited its abundant wisdom.

The posters focus is  brief quotations from 11 philosophies, some would say “religious traditions”.  I present them exactly here as he presented them, clockwise, in a circle, none superior or inferior to the others.  I share the poster with his permission.

If you think you cannot make a difference, remember Duane and his circle: “We are all part of one Human Family”.  

Duane gave a great deal of thought to this poster, which he hoped would be the basis for discussion.  At the end of the poster is this statement: “The purpose of this poster is to discuss a goal all these beliefs have in common.  The poster should not be used to compare, discuss or teach any of the beliefs on it.  You treat people like people, for no other reason than they are people, and that is reason enough.”

Suggestion for today: Think of at least one person who you know, now, who made an unexpected but big and positive difference in your own life.

BAHA’I: “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be lai upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.”  Baha’ ‘liar, Gleanings.

CONFUCIUS: “One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct…loving kindness.  Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”  Confucius.  Analects 15.23

NATIVE AMERICAN: “We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive” Chief Don George

JAINISM: “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahovira Sutrakritanga

JUDAISM: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.  This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.”  Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a

ZOROASTRIANISM: “Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.” Shayast-no-Shayast 13.29

BUDDHISM: “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Udana-Vargo 5.18

HINDUISM: “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”  Mahabharata 5:1517

ISLAM: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad Hadith

CHRISTIANITY: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you: for this is the law and the prophets.”  Jesus, Matthew 7:12

SIKHISM:  “I am a stranger to no one: and no one is a stranger to me.  Indeed, I am a friend to all.” Guru GranthSahib, pg 1299

Duane Lilja, chart, 2002.

In peace, and with best wishes for a good 2020.

PS: Yes, I keep current on politics.  American Politics thoughts at this space again from December 31 forward.  Check archive by month if you visit.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Laura: Thank you so much, Dick. I especially like the greetings from the various cultures. To you and your family a blessed holy and happy Christmas.

from Rebecca: Thanks for all this interesting, thoughtful “news” of the past, present and, we hope, future–i.e., the unity of religious thought through the ages.

from David: The New York Times has an email series, “At War” that focuses on the America’s ongoing wars, mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The author is C.J. Chivers, staff writer for NYT Magazine and author of two books on America’s experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You wonder if war turns otherwise decent people into amoral beings, or, are there people out there who are drawn to combat by their very nature.
 
In these troubled times, I hope you and your family found peace and solace during the Christmas season. Let’s all hope that the New Year bring about brighter, more hopeful days. 
Response from Dick:  Our national vocabulary is a war vocabulary (“battleground states”, ad infinitum).  And who can forget “Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, marching on before“? Until recently, war has been a great asset – we have had superiority.  This superiority began to change with Korea, in my opinion.  But we’re addicted to war – ever more sophisticated battle boats, “space force” etc.  Things like Covid-19 have brought new adversaries to our shores, and we are not yet ready to change the conversation to peace….  Thanks.
 from Jermitt: Thanks once again for sharing the quotations from some of the greats.  I also appreciate the poster.  This is a nice testimonial for your friend who does so much for children.  Thanks again for the great blog.

 

 

 

Grandma’s Bible : A Christmas Reading

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Friday is Christmas Day, as celebrated in the Christian tradition.

I note that the Gospel for Christmas this year is Luke 2:1-14.  Following is the 2020 Christmas text and pictures from Grandma’s very well worn Bible (1911).

This is a good time for each of us to reflect on where we fit in this picture.  I’m sure the other religious traditions of our world have similar lessons and basic beliefs.

(About two-thirds of Americans are “Christian” in one way or another; About one-third of the planet is “Christian”.  The percentage is declining.)

As the Gospel recounts, Mary and Joseph and many others made a road trip of about 100 miles at that time.  Google map of the trip as it would be in the present day: here. One can only imagine what it was like over 2000 years ago

In that same Bible are many period photographs of Palestine in the early 1900s.  Here are photos of Nazareth and of Bethlehem as they were in the early 1900s.

From the same Bible is the text that speaks most to me this Christmas.  I heard this recited most powerfully at the Mt. of Beatitudes in  Israel, Jan.8, 1996.  It is worth reading and reflecting on the entirety of Chapter 5.

And from the same Bible, here is the remainder of Chapter 5: Matt Ch 5 – 11 to end (click to enlarge – one page)

All best wishes at Christmas, 2020.

Some manger scenes as depicted in Christmas cards at the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal ca 1992: Christmas cards Oratory St Joseph Montreal

COMMENTS (see also end of post)

from Molly: 3 pages, pdf: Molly 2020 Winter Solstice(click to enlarge the pdf)

from Mark: Fantastic post – thank you

from Christina: Thank you, Dick – and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

from Mary: I read this prior to going to church today.  Thank you! Merry Christmas

from Jermitt: Wonderful text with the pictures.  Interesting that she had these pictures in her bible.

Response to Jermitt from Dick: There are 28 of these pictures in Grandma’s Bible.  I will hopefully have all 28 in pdf format by Christmas.

from Laura: Thanks, Dick. A blessed Christmas to you, my friend.

from Lynn: Thanks…

“…All is calm….”

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REMINDER:  One day left (today) for “The World Is My Country” online, Dec. 17 for on-line gathering with the producer of the film.  Details here (scroll down to Third Thursday).

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December 14, 2020: Merry Christmas. Here’s Bing Crosby’s rendition of Silent Night.

In a few days it’s Christmas.  Cathy always does the tree, we’ve downsized over the years from real tree, to a large artificial tree, to a small one.  They’re always nice.

Dec 14, 2020

Downstairs is the creche set I purchased from a Palestinian in Jerusalem in January of 1996 – it’s now 25 years old.  All of the figures Olive wood.  Previously they’ve been on the mantle of the fireplace.  This year on the coffee table.

Dec. 14, 2020

There are other “Christmassy” evidences around.  But this year is very different in our town, and yours as well.

Today is Election Day in the Electoral College in what used to be the United States.  The election is proceeding as I write.  This is the country in which I’ve lived my whole life, now in turmoil.  A new experiment of a tribal country prevails this Christmas.  Hard to find “silent night, holy night” here.  Are you in the acceptable tribe?  Or not.  We will make nice with the loser.  That’s easy.  In “win-lose” everyone is a loser in the other sides eyes.

And there’s Covid-19, of course.  For me, that trip began March 6, 2020.  What follows are a few random photos, mostly from my daily short drives in the nearby areas.  Just a few views of the last 10 months…more months of this to come.

Grim reminder at Basilica of St. Mary March 15, 2020. Final open-to-all Mass day in 2020.  I ushered this day, the last large public event I attended.  Attendance was very low compared to normal….

Forsythia, late April, 2020 Woodbury MN

The day after urban terrorism at 27th and Lake, Minneapolis the end of May, 2020. My good friend owned a popular restaurant right behind the burned out building. It, too, went up in smoke the next day. The ruins remain as of this day. (See final photo, below)  I think the perpetrators of the fire are still at large, but for how long?

Deer near walking route Juy 30, 2020

Fall colors early October, 2020, St. Paul MN

Nov. 7, 2020. I watched this ‘project’ all summer along my walking trail. One time I saw the kids and their Dad working on this build, using deadfall from the woods. It was a good use of time, I felt. Sometimes it would change shape, or number of structures. This was the latest and perhaps last for the year.

A declaration of resilience at Gandhi Mahal, the restaurant of my friend, burned down at the end of May, 2020. Photo: Oct 31, 2020. (The restaurant was next door to the burned out building in the photo above.)

This day, Dec. 14, 2020, the state electors chose Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as incoming President and Vice-President.  Their inauguration is January 20 2021.  This was the day of the first U.S. innoculations for Covid-19.  This is a day for hope, though the wars continue.

This day, also, came an e-mail from JoAnn, my former state legislator, who is one of those active in changing the conversation about politics.  She included some quotations which deserve sharing as our history as a country hopefully proceeds towards national healing:

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory … will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
Abraham Lincoln, 1861
 
“Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be quick to love and make haste to be kind.”
Henri-Frederic Amiel
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”
Denis Waitley
 
“So let us begin a new remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
John F Kennedy

What are your memories of the year now past?  What are your commitments for the year about to begin?  All best wishes for a hopeful Christmas and New Year.

A quotation that sticks with me: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

POSTNOTE;  Monday Dec. 14 Just Above Sunset: History here

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from SAK:

Thanks Mr Bernard that is so moving, those memories & thoughts of peace.

I remember a quote from the Boston Herald I came across once. This was written in 1913 most probably and proclaimed that Great Britain, the United States & Germany had reached such a level of civilisation that war between them was unthinkable. And then there was World War I or The Great War.

Well even during that dreadful slaughter the guns were silent the first Christmas & carols rang out! A film was made about that truce.

The original Silent Nightwas in German & composed by an Austrian& I was just watching parts of The Great Escape which I had first seen decades ago . . . Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Garner, James Coburn, David McCallum & many others. That was the other & even worse disaster: WWII.

Can we be sure that there won’t be other major wars? Difficult to bet against it! With economic distress & rising nationalism it’s usual for violent passions to take over. ” Against stupidity the gods themselves rage in vain,” Friedrich Schiller:

Predictions  & forecasts point to a sad 2021 but hope springs eternal & I wish you & yours a Merry Christmas & a glorious New year.

Response from Dick: Thank you.  Re the 1914 Truce, for those with access to public television, a wonderful musical was made last year in the Twin Cities, and has aired twice recently on PBS.  It is titled “All is calm”, as I recall, and about the 1914 Truce.  The powerful song, Christmas in the Trenches, by John McCutcheon is readily accessible on-line at YouTube.

from Larry: There are several children’s book versions of the Christmas Truce story.  The one I’m most familiar with, SHOOTING AT THE STARS, is in my December SUN POST column, link here.

The World Is My Country

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You have possibly heard about, and perhaps even seen, this film about Garry Davis, which premiered here in 2017.  It is free, on-line now through next Wednesday, Dec 16.  It’s “popcorn length” – about an hour.  Thu. Dec 17, 7 p.m. there’s live on-line discussion with film producer Arthur Kanegis.  Details below.
Regardless of your own history with the film, I urge you to watch it one more time, and join the online debrief with producer Arthur Kanegis on Thursday, December 17, 7 p.m.  All details are here (website globalsolutionsmn.org), scroll  to Third Thursday Film Discussion group.  You need to register for both film, and the Third Thursday Zoom.
Personally, I hope there are so many interested that live audience participation will be restricted to q&a.  That’s my dream.
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Re the film, one of my CGS MN colleagues raised a question with my group earlier Wednesday. Tactics.  It is a good topic for thought before watching the film, and I’m including his observation, Eleanor Roosevelt’s critique of Garry Davis’ tactics in 1948, and my response, below.  Please note especially the “PS”.  Succinctly, I think this film is thought provoking and stimulating to today’s youth who wonder if they can make a difference; and Garry Davis made a huge difference.
The film, has been recommended for possible airing on U.S. public television stations by their umbrella organization, NETA. This is a very big accomplishment. Wherever you live, if you like the film, recommend it to your local public broadcasting station. Our local station carried the film in December 2019.
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Here is the earlier on-line conversation:
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From Jim, Dec. 10  (Jim is a long-time good friend): I am looking forward to the discussion about Garry Davis and his tactics.
I am concerned about his tactics.  I am attaching, here, a 1948 article by Eleanor Roosevelt that expresses some concerns about Garry Davis approach  — just more perspective for the discussion.
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Response from myself: This is one of those items I printed out including Eleanor Roosevelt’s December, 1948 commentary).

Concern about tactics is certainly not unique to Garry Davis and Eleanor Roosevelt.  A single example: Martin Luther King was ceaselessly and sometimes viciously criticized for his tactics.  In the end he was assassinated.  Dr. King wrote his famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail in response to religious leaders who felt he shouldn’t be rabble rousing in Birmingham, but rather be moderate in his approach.  MLK was a non-violent protestor till the end.
I spent my career as a teacher union organizer back in the day when teachers got the right to bargain and there were a bunch of teacher strikes.  Teachers had waited long enough, but were urged to wait some more.
Eleanor Roosevelt, who I deeply respect, was very much part of the establishment, in all ways.  Garry Davis was a nobody, in context of the meeting she discusses.   The two weren’t on a level playing field, shall I say.  It is natural that they had differing rules of engagement.
At the same time, I think both Eleanor and Garry had a great deal in common – maybe in this case there was simply a different focus on how best to get to the same destination.
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PS:  My personal enthusiasm for The World Is My Country was ignited in the fall of 2012 when I asked producer Arthur Kanegis if I could show an early rough cut of his film to a dozen or so high school kids at a high school in St. Paul.  This was before the public preview in Jan 2013.  I wanted to see how kids would react to it.  On Nov. 12, 2012, the day of the film, I gave the students a slip of paper before the film, told them it was about an old man telling his story, and asked them to rate it from 0 to 10 – how they thought they’d evaluate it.  I think the resulting average was 4 (after all, it was a movie!).  During the film, I noticed they paid close attention.  The draft was longer than today’s version.  At the end, I gave the kids a second slip of paper, and asked the same question.  This time the average was 9.  It was that single encounter that convinced me that The World Is My Country was a great film to show and discuss with young people – and they are the ones who will inherit what’s left behind by our generation.  
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A wish for Christmas: Christmas in the Trenches, John McDermott
Another:  A little change of pace music, here “The Longest Time” from Vancouver B.C..

Dec. 7, 1941 & The World Is My Country

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I begin Pearl Harbor Day with a commentary entitled “This Particular Civil War”.  Read it later, but please read it, and think about its implications for all of us.

Nov. 8, 2020 S. St. Paul MN.  My daughter did a project to remember veterans on Veterans Day.  Her great-uncle Frank’s poster was among these (below).

This Dec. 7, I ask readers to watch a movie, and think about how it applies to all of us, in the present day.

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This Dec. 7, the documentary film, The World Is My Country, the amazing story of WWII veteran and peace activist Garry Davis, is my focus.  Davis’s death merited a long front page obituary in the New York Times July 28, 2013.

Garry Davis was born in 1921; Pearl Harbor brought his older brother and himself into the military; his brother was killed in 1943 when his Destroyer was hit off Italy.  Garry’s dilemma of conscience began when he bombed a German city, killing German civilians not unlike the Germans he daily worked with in the theater in New York City.

Davis was in his 20s when he made a difference to change the conversation, and he engagingly tells his story himself, as an old man.

The film is being offered free on-line for a week through December 16, and I encourage you taking the hour to view it.

“THE WORLD IS MY COUNTRY”
Film (2017) | Running time: 58 min
Sign in here.

This film has recently been placed on the recommended list for scheduling by America’s public television stations.  Disclaimer: I’ve been supporting the production of this film since I learned of the project in 2011. I found it to be an excellent vehicle for catching young peoples interest and promoting discussion.  Do watch it.  I think you’ll reach the same conclusion.

(Yes, I’m sure you’ll be asked to contribute.  I’d encourage that too.  If you’re interested in participating in an on-line conversation with the movie producer the evening of Thursday, December 17, make your request to me dick.bernard@icloud.com.)

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A FAMILY STORY THIS DAY. Since 1981 – I recall how it happened – I’ve  annually remembered the death of my Uncle, my dad’s brother, Frank Peter Bernard of Grafton ND, on the USS Arizona, Dec. 7, 1941.  Enter “USS Arizona”  in the search box of this blog and you’ll find many links, likely all relating to my Uncle Frank.  Today’s post is a variation on the others.

Largely war stories have always concentrated on young males, sent to fight, and often die, for their country.  Uncle Frank was 26, probably old among the victims that Sunday in Honolulu.  War and Peace is not a simple conversation.  I have a grandson in the Marines; I know antiwar people including a good friend who went to prison for his beliefs.  I’ve served myself, and come from a family for whom service was expected and a duty.  But there is a place for all in this conversation.

As noted, there are many military veterans in my family and circles, including myself.  There are many stories, told and untold.  For a single example: across the street is friend Don, 91, who did his two years in Germany after WWII (the reconstruction years).  His memories often go back to those years.  Some years ago he gave me a CD, which I’ve again listened to in its entirety: Danny Boy: John McDermott.  The link (clink to enlarge) has the play list of this marvelous CD; several cuts of which directly relate to war and its consequences.  Most likely you can easily find all of the songs on YouTube.

Today’s Family Story

Frank Bernard was my dad’s younger brother, born 24 July 1915.  He joined the Navy Sep, 1935; assigned to the USS Arizona Jan 1936, died aboard the Arizona Dec. 7, 1941.  He served his career on the Arizona.

Frank Bernard, Honolulu pre-Dec. 7, 1941

In 1942, Mom’s brother, George W. Busch, (born 11 Jan 1916), completed Naval Officer training; and thence spent three years as an officer on the USS Woodworth (DD 460) in the Pacific Theatre.  His Destroyer survived the war.  They landed at Tokyo Sep 10, 1945, and he arrived home through Portland OR in late October 1945.  He began his career as a public school science teacher.

Naval officer George Busch with family and new spouse Jean Busch with Busch family, May 1944.  He was on leave and married his college sweetheart.  From left, back row, siblings Edithe, Art, Vincent and George.  Standing front: Sibling Esther, mother Rose, wife Jean, dad Ferd.  Kids in front row, Mary Ann and Richard.

Personally, I was one year old when Pearl Harbor happened.

In May and June, 1941, I traveled by car from North Dakota with my parents and grandparents Bernard, destination Long Beach, California. This included an apparently unanticipated visit with Frank Bernard, while the Arizona was berthed at nearby San Pedro.  My Aunt Josie lived in Los Angeles, and since 1937, Grandma and Grandpa usually spent part of the year in Long Beach.  Many others did the same.

What follows is part of a 1941 Shell Oil road map of the U.S.  The actual trip is described in two earlier posts, linked below, in which my parents describe the general routes we followed to and from.

Here’s a pdf of the same map: 1941 road map west U.S.

Here and Here are two previous posts about the 1941 road trip to and from California from North Dakota.  They didn’t take the trip to be remembered by history, but certainly they did contribute to our knowledge of this time.

Enjoy.

Late June 1941, Long Beach CA, from left: Henry and Josephine Bernard, Josie Whitaker, Frank Bernard, Richard, Henry and Esther Bernard.  Grandma Josephine wrote on the back of this photo: “Taken June 22, 1941 at Long Beach.  The first time we had our family together for seven years and also the last.  This is where we lived.”

 

A Million Copies

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Two years ago today was not a usual day.  I spent it mostly unconscious, in open heart surgery at Fairview Hospital in Edina MN.  There are endless veterans of similar experiences.  We survive, or don’t; there is a long period of recovery which works or doesn’t.

I’m two years older; I think my surgery worked well, and I’ve tried to help it succeed.  There is much to be grateful for, today.

Next month I’m 21 years retired.  It hardly seems possible.  Like everyone fortunate enough to be able to retire and to survive the experience, a task was that of re-inventing myself in an unfamiliar world.  A speaker I heard back then, Michael Meade, described it well, “The Canyon of 60 Abandon”.  My Christmas greeting for 2000 gave a brief description, here: Canyon of 60 Abandon002.

21 years have taught me that there is indeed life beyond retirement.  In 2008, I put up a website, A Million Copies, for the sole purpose of honoring a couple of heroes I met after retirement: Lynn Elling and Joe Schwartzberg, recently rebuilt, but still the same basic content.

Lynn Elling died at 94 February, 2016.  Joe Schwartzberg died at 90 in September, 2018.

They made a difference.  So can we.

Here are photo of both men, very late in their respective lives.  As I once heard a eulogist speak about someone who died, both Lynn and Joe “lived before they died, and died before they were finished.”  They went out with their boots on for peace and justice in our world.

It is easy to dismiss old men…and women.  Take a few moments to celebrate their lives.

There’s lots of work still to be done.

Lynn Elling calls his last meeting, November 5, 2015, at Gandhi Mahal.  He died Feb, 2016.

Joe Schwartzberg with some of his droodles, March 13, 2018.  He died six months later.

Technology

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One year ago this time of year, was one of the worst times of my life.  I usedcomputer a lot, innocently, and I was maliciously and viciously hacked.  It wasn’t till the end of January 2020 that I was back in business, older and hopefully wiser.

It is not easy to be ‘wiser’.  Most recently, today, a simple family letter with replies and a forward went somewhat awry, some recipients had trouble reading the text – too small, or too wide – the sort of thing all of us experience crossing technologies, platforms and whatever.  A real letter, with stamp, is preferable, but an e-mail is so much more convenient, faster and easier to transmit to more people, instantly.

Can’t win for losing (for my family, and anyone else interested, I’m passing along the earlier communication at the end of this post, about music in my ancestral family.)

On a more positive note about technology and its partner, real paper, it is daily being confirmed that the fears of interference in the 2020 Presidential election did not materialize.  On Sundays 60 Minutes former cybersecurity director Chris Krebs confirmed that this election was not disrupted by mischief.  One of his biggest shoutouts was to paper ballots, which can and did confirm the accuracy and security of the technology used in this election.  (Krebs was fired by Tweet by President Trump.)

High tech has great positive potential; and great potential for peril.  Hackers, mis- and dis-information by global evil-doers require caution.  For me, a learning from my bad experience is to no longer have passwords saved, and to go through the process of turning off the computer when I’m off-line, and re-signing in each time.  Nothing is a guaranteed.  But more diligence, not only just by myself, makes serious problems less likely anyway.

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Now, here’s the family story (which happens to be about music in the old days) which even non-family members might find of interest.  This story essentially continues three Thanksgiving time posts on the same general topic, here, here and here.

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Music in the family: the errant e-mail chain.

Nov. 28, Mary: Hi guys and I fully expect I put the wrong e-address for Dick.  Auto population and advanced years keep me sort of annoyed!

Anyway, a local retired musician is a great fan of Lawrence Welk and of course knows all things Welk except did not know he was born in Stasberg North Dakota.  So, I need my history of the Lawrence and Ferdinand connection confirmed.,,.I think they were about the same time frame but I do not think they ever played together Grandpa was fiddle (violin?) and I believe he did some local gigs.  I also think Stasberg is not too far from Berlin though I have never been there.
Anyway, David would love to know more if you know anything about Grandpa Busch’s foray into music-especially if there actually is a Welk connection.  David is Eastman trained and was a professional musician before he retired into his current job as volunteer usher coordinator for the local philharmonic.
In the rest of the world as we know it, Thanksgiving was quiet but the turkey I roasted was big enough for a year of leftovers and big pot of soup.  I will go out biking for awhile today as our 50 plus temperatures are not expected to last very much longer.  Hope all is good, enjoyed the holiday notes!

from Dick, Nov. 28: Well, quickly for now.  Strasburg and Berlin are about 100 miles apart (here).  Grandpa was born in 1880 and they moved to ND in 1905 and Lawrence was  born in 1903, and there is no lore that the Busch’s ever met Welk, though they certainly would’ve loved the music.

I went out to the Welk home in rural Strasburg with Vince and Edithe one time (here).  It was just a small typical rural farm place which was a tourist attraction.  The year after Edithe died (2014) a niece of Lawrence came down to St. Rose from Jamestown and talked to the residents about her uncle.  (Photo). That was the closest call I think they had to the man.  The Nursing home audience was very attentive!
I have a letter somewhere from Aunt Josie, Dad’s sister that says that Grandpa Bernard and Lawrence Welk were friends.  This is plausible, because from the late 1930’s through most of the 1950s Bernards wintered in Long Beach, and during the 50s Lawrence Welk was very prominent in the LA music scene, and the odds that Bernards went to see him from time to time is pretty good.
That’s about all I can offer.
Frank, Nov 30: There was a piano in the Yellowstone West Thumb employee rec hall and one summer I learned a few chords (ie C, D etc) while on break from my busboy job.  That would have been 1960s.  Later on at the Busch farm I sat down at the old upright, opened up the keyboard and did a little chording.  Grandpa  was very interested and got out his fiddle and we did a few tunes — all of course limited by my minuscule musical ability.   So, if Grandpa played with Lawrence and I played with Grandpa, you know someone only twice removed from Lawrence Welk.  That, and $2.50 will get you a tiny coffee at Starbucks, should they ever be allowed to reopen, of which I am becoming less certain of as days go by.
Dick, Dec. 1:  I think Grandpa Bernard is the one who may have actually met Lawrence Welk in California, per Aunt Josie’s recollection.  Of course, no way to prove that, either!  No doubt, Grandpa Busch was a country fiddler when he was young.  He apparently read music, rather than improvise.  He had a small group and played neighborhood dances, like in Grand Rapids.  The Busch’s were all interested in music, it seemed.  I wonder what finally happened to the old piano, which I tried to research years ago.   Attached is a photo of Grandpa, fiddle and family about 1912 or so.  He would have been in his early 30s.  Grandpa is holding the fiddle, Grandma is behind him.  Mom would have been 3, probably to Grandma’s right.  I don’t know for sure who the other people were.

Busch family with visitors about 1912. Ferd is at center with the fiddle; Rosa stands behind him. At the time there were three children. Lucina is in front of her parents, Esther, my mother, is to her sisters right. A younger sister, Verena, is probably not in the picture. She was born in 1912. The other children are from the other family(ies).

 

In addition,  I wanted to note that the picture was taken at the west wall of the original house.  Where they were standing was likely what later became the living room where the piano stood.  Mom’s memories (p.124-25 in the Busch-Berning family history) says “After I left home [about 1928] the folks acquired a rather badly worn piano but it was a real boost to the musically inclined in the family.  Lucina had taken piano lessons at the [St. John’s] Academy [in Jamestown] and she would chord or play the melody while Dad played the violin and the rest of us sang, both hymns and popular songs.  Dad bought a lot of sheet music and seemed to have most of the current songs in his repertoire.  He could read notes and that helped with the violin.”
  On page 120 Mom says “Rural entertainment was something else.  We used to have Yoeman club dances in the Yoeman building in Grand Rapids once a month during the winter time.  [Dick: I think the building still stands on the Main Street of Grand Rapids and was remodeled]. We would go with sled or buggy, bring a box lunch and dance until two o’clock in the morning.  Many of the dances were square dances and quadrilles.  My dad was always the fiddler with some assistance from other musicians in the area.  I even played the banjo one night along with the dance band.  There was always a good piano player at least good at chording and rhythm.  If the children got sleepy they slept on piles of coats in the club kitchen and many slept the whole night long.”