No Kings: A Week.

One week ago was the national demo.  My post about the day was October 19.  In all there were 17 comments, take a look.  A particularly interesting comment is 3 pages forwarded by Lois from Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with brief summaries of three months in the Fall of 1775.  Take a look.

On October 23, I added a post with information pertinent to the White House project.

The big decision each of us have to make is how to make a difference, day by day.  There are so many possibilities for each person wherever you are, whatever your personal circumstances.  Personally, I especially like the column by Peter Leschak that I sent along a week or so ago.  In his gentle way, he identifies how each of us has an immense amount of power…if we exercise it.  You can read it here: Peter Leschak STrib Aug 17 2025.

October 18 cannot be an end in itself.  It must be a continuing of individual effort.

Consider enrolling on Indivisible.  It is very easy.  You aren’t forced to do anything; but if you’re looking for ideas and motivation, you’ll find it there.  (Of interest to me: the two founders of Indivisible graduated from Carleton College in Northfield MN in 2007 and 2008.  Neither grew up here, but we can still claim them.  Two young people with a positive vision.)

Yesterday, going through some personal political history stories I’ve chosen to keep, I came across a brief article in the March 7, 2023, New York Times.  The headline of the article by Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher: “Trump, Vowing ‘Retribution,” Foretells a Second Term of Spite”.  [ NYT Mar 7 2023] This was 2 1/2 years ago.  I remember seeing the actual comment on television.  “I am your retribution”, he said to the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor Md.

Two and a half years ago….

His second term is not yet a year old.

White House

A preview of the below here.  See the two illustrations.  Paul Krugman on the issue October 24, 2025.  A brief history of the East Wing of the White House can be read here.

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You’ve likely heard that there is a little remodeling project underway at the White House.  Here’s a PDF reference map of the area: White House Google Map 10 23025.    This view is as of 8 a.m. CST October 23, 2025.

The current (at the time of your visit) google map of the same area can be viewed any time you visit, is here.  Note the status of the east wing below.  Today’s photo shows an intact east wing.  Yesterday the east wing was demolished and presumably this will show in subsequent updates of the satellite map.

Here are two closer up views of the White House itself, from the same Oct 23 google map.

note especially the East Wing (to the viewers right).

I’ve been to the White House twice, in January, 1980, and the end of October, 2000, days before the 2000 election.  I’ve been by the White House quite a number of times.  The National Education Association, a few blocks up 16th Street NW, was the organization I worked for, and a few times I was at NEA  for some meeting or other.  I’d always walk down the street to the White House area.

The White House Tour book we have is easily available as a used book: “The White House An Historic Guide”. Our edition was 1999, 159 pages.  It is a worthwhile inexpensive purchase if you are interested.  The East Wing gets sparse reference at page 10: “Most visitors to the White House enter through the East Wing lobby…Construction of the East Wing began under Theodore Roosevelt…Completed in 1902, the building changed little until the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration when it was enlarged to provide office space.

These few words possibly give me some context about the reason for this demolition.  Seems to me that the East Wing, beginning with FDR, seems to have become office space for, among others,  the First Ladies.  Best I can recall these were: Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Melania….  Eleanor Roosevelt, most especially, was a power in her own right.  In effect, in my opinion, she essentially had the same status as FDR.  An unelected President and World Leader in her own. right.

Melania?  I can’t get inside the mind of the current president, nor can most anyone else, but I think the specific psychological target of his demolition of the East Wing was women, generally, and I don’t think minding the White House legacy was Melania’s priority.

1999 edition of the White House Historic Guide

I’ve been pretty uniquely privileged to visit “The People”s House”, the White House.  The estimate is that a half million visitors take the tour each year.  Against the U.S. population of 340,000,000, and allowing for visitors from other countries, and repeat visitors, a half million is a very minute fraction of the U.S. population.  Of course, tours won’t happen while the current project is under way.  The huge ballroom will not be a People’s Ballroom, that is a certainty.

Renovation work at the White House is not unusual.  But nothing with the current President is usual, and this is the rub with the current massive ballroom project.  This is not a routine matter, and a very bright light deserves to be focused on the project.

POSTNOTE: I am trying to be dispassionate about this.  But I am watching it very carefully.  At the same time, the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis is engaged in a major renovation of my church, the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, designated co-Cathedral of the Diocese.  The church is over 100 years old and needs expensive preservation work, and thus is in an incessant fundraising mode.  The church survives because of parishioners who contribute time and money, but for something like renovation, the fundraising doubtless focuses on what I’ve heard described as “high net worth” individuals – rich people.  This is understandable: it is easier to catch someone with a spare million lying around, than to collect a dollar each from a million donors….  I’ll leave it at that for the moment, except to say that from the beginning, 2015, it has been known and obvious that the President of the United States is loyal only to himself.  We knew that and we elected him anyway.

 

The Day After “No Kings” October 18

POSTNOTE: here is how the event organizers report on October 18.

We were at the Stillwater MN Demo yesterday.  It didn’t look like much compared with the mega rallies, but I’m quite positive there were well over 1,000 persons near the St. Croix River Bridge.

Here’s a photo I took of the group on the bridge itself, not all of the participant, but a substantial part.  Imagine a “T” I’m taking the photo at the top of it.  Both sides were equally packed.  Vehicles were restricted to one lane in the middle of the street, and were infrequent and moved very slowly.

October 18, 2025, Stilllwater-Oak Park Heights MN.

You could not imagine a more orderly crowd.  The volunteer at front was one of the traffic managers, and there were cars, not many, which freely and safely went through.  I don’t recall any hostile exchanges.  There was one police presence, that for a medical situation for one of the demonstrators.  There were loads of flags and signs.  No speeches.

We had to walk about a half mile in, and of course, out, and we got there early.  We were tired when we returned home in mid-afternoon.

I’d say the benefit of gatherings like this around the country is a chance to connect with others among the many millions of us who are deeply concerned.  The visibility doesn’t hurt either.  The fake news merchants would have to lie through their teeth to come up with a story of violence within our group, and my guess is that would be a repetitive story everywhere.  We didn’t need to have a flier to make nice or make trouble.  We were simply citizens concerned about the future for all of us..

Over the years, especially in the Iraq War era, I was in lots of demos and marches, all non-violent.  This was no change.

The demonstrations aren’t ends in themselves, rather than a beginning for daily efforts in the great assortment of ways each and every citizen can contribute towards a better future for us all in this country.  This was the second demo at the this site.  The earlier one (which I did not attend) was much smaller, I heard.  People are paying attention.

We citizens, all of us, ARE the politics we like to criticize.  Keep on keeping on.

October 17 post is here.

COMMENTS:

from Carol: I’m not clear if the protest yesterday was on the bridge over 36 or on the interstate bridge.  When I went, it was on the 36 overpass bridge.  Not a terribly long walk from that parking lot – but long enough that I really didn’t look forward to it again.  So I thought I would go to the one they had advertised at an overpass on Hwy. 52 in W. St. Paul.  They said an easy walk, etc.  I’m glad I checked that out the day before as it was also quite a long hike, uphill.  But then [husband] got sick and I decided to just skip this one.

I see the Hwy. 52 overpass one made the national news.  I have no idea why they didn’t organize something around the Capitol this time.  Most everything seemed to be on the Minneapolis side.  Last time I went to a park in Hudson, which was perfect (and very well attended!)  But they didn’t have one there again.  I think part of it is cowardice, frankly.

Response from Dick: Re the walks, both directions were a bit of a hike and there was no easy way to avoid them.  Best I can tell, this initiative, everywhere, is completely volunteer driven.  I suppose there could be many possible legitimate reasons for not organizing any demo.  They’re a huge amount of hard work and responsibility.  Had some folks not rolled up their sleeves, none of these events would have happened.  Nobody asked for any donations.

from Jean:
[First] pic is from the Women in Walkers rally in front of Carondelet Village on Fairview in St. Paul. I’ve been to 4 actions with them and it’s always been about 50 to 60 people. There were over 3000 people there. Had a great time and all the honking by every vehicle driving through. These are board members of Twin Cities Nonviolent and friends. We followed the request to wear yellow and have positive messages. These are messages from the skit Vote Climate did at the state fair EcoExperience August 23.

October 18 St. Paul


from Dick

October 18 Stillwater

from John in Davis CA:  Looked like a beautiful day in Stillwater.

Crowd estimates are always tricky, but I would say that probably around 5000 people marched in Davis – since I don’t do selfies, I just took pictures of the other participants.

Those photos are here.  The album also includes other photos from an earlier rally in June.

Again, a very orderly crowd, which actually picked up more trash on the parade route than was deposited – streets were cleaner after they left!

from Sue: Golden Valley was filled with positive energy, great signs, and supportive horns.

from Brian: Thanks Dick! For this report and stepping up!

from Lois (see also comment below): Please find [following] pages of “Passport Through Time” for 250 Years: Passport Through Time 250.  These are for October, November and December of what was happening 250 years ago during the American Revolution.  This was received from my chapter DAR Regent.  Interesting that it was sent out to us at the time of the “No King” marches.

No Kings

POSTNOTE after the event: we joined the group in Stillwater MN.  It was very well organized and much effort was expended to keep it as a constructive, positive and safe experience.  There was only a single police presence during our time there, and it appeared to relate to a person who had fainted.  My one recommendation is to everyone: it is great to have these public events, but their effectiveness is totally governed by what each of us do in the days afterward.  It is not enough to just show up one time.  Thanks to everyone.

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Here is the latest about Saturday October 18.

Tonight (Oct 17) 8 pm Central on MSNBC: film on Andrew Young: The Dirty Work

pdf: No Kings graphic

We plan to participate in one of the demos.  At our age. I am reluctant to speak in certainty about this because of matters like parking, walking distance and the like.  But we will be there, and I will report at the end of this post perhaps later in the afternoon on Saturday.   Simply check back at this space, and scroll down.  Your own comments after the event are welcome, of course.

I am a veteran of demos, particularly between 2002 and 2008 – the first, an immense peace march after the death of Paul and Sheila Wellstone in October, 2002; the latter at the time of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in summer 2008.  Three years of that time period, 2005-07, I was president of a coalition of peace groups, Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers,  and the demos were mostly related to the Iraq War.

“Antifa” is the hate word to describe the 2025 demonstrations.  I do not recall, ever, even mention of anything resembling “Antifa”, certainly not within the movement, and only rarely some external source would complain about the “radical left”, which in my experience was in no way similar to the most aggressive demonstrations in the hottest times of the Vietnam conflict.

Most likely what I’ll experience tomorrow will be similar to any other experience.  Just some peaceful people deeply concerned about the present and the future of this country.  I expect some photo op situation somewhere in this area where ICE or similar will have something to play on TV clips later.  No idea whether/if/when, but there is a possibility.

To me the importance of the ‘boots on the ground’ national event tomorrow is to demonstrate solidarity of concern.  The real work starts afterwards and daily down the road from October 18.  As a country we have entered extremely dangerous territory regarding our future as a democracy.  We stand at the edge of losing 250 years of a very proud history to some version of authoritarian rule – ironically which we, the assembled voters one year ago, voluntarily elected either by actual vote, or not voting at all.

Actions do have consequences.  So does inaction, or uninformed response.

Whether or not you can be at a demo tomorrow,  be on the court, not in the stands.  It’s our future at stake.

 

 

Screenshot from gramee

COMMENTS (more at end):  

from Joyce: Eric will be at one of the demonstrations. I can’t be there because I’m scheduled to give a talk at the Orchid Society, and I can’t reschedule. I’m hoping for many millions of demonstrators in the US, and I’m thrilled that 18 countries (at last count) will hold demonstrations with us.

from Brian: Thanks for sharing.   I’m going to our No Kings march in NYC tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to it.

from Mary:  We have a neighborhood group going to protest, NO KINGS. Luv your stuff old buddy,

from Frank:

from Maria: Hello DiCK,  I am going at the   ‘No Kings’  in Time Square NY.

from SAK:

Thanks Mr Bernard,

I read on your site:

“As a country we have entered extremely dangerous territory regarding our future as a democracy.  We stand at the edge of losing 250 years of a very proud history to some version of authoritarian rule . . .”

An article by Charlotte Higgins which appeared in a British paper opens with:

‘A few days ago I asked an American acquaintance – as one does these days – where he sees “it”, by which I meant the political situation, heading.’

It seems from the reply she got that she might have been asking you!

Here’s the article.

Good luck with the marches.

London, UK, will be having a demonstration too.
One paper reads:

‘Saturday 18 Oct

No Kings Day

Forming part of a global movement against Donald Trump, a “no tyrants” rally will be taking place outside the US Embassy this Saturday afternoon.

Scheduled to take place between 1pm and 3pm on Nine Elms Lane, the event aims to express opposition to Trump’s “authoritarian power grab.” ‘

To show the diversity & in no way to belittle the importance of the No Kings protests, I see also:

‘Sunday 19 Oct

Free the Gentoo Penguins

At 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, activists will gather outside the Sea Life London Aquarium to call for the release of 15 penguins, reportedly living in harsh conditions underground at the aquarium.’

from Carol:

October 18, 2025, Carol in her best ICE disguise.

I voted

I cast my ballot today in the special election Nov. 4 for 4 school board members of South Washington County SD #833, and new Senator for SD47.  I voted at the new Washington County Center which is essentially behind Kohls Department store, just off Woodlane Drive.

I have lived the same address for the last 25 years, and my entire life has either been in or very close to public education, including 27 years representing public school teachers.

My ballot today was for three school board incumbents, and one new representative.   Those who got my vote are incumbents Louise Hinz, Katie Schwartz and Sharon Van Leer, and candidate for newly open position, Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg.  The four are recommended by the local teachers union.

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger is my choice for Senator in SD47.  She has been my state representative and I have been very pleased with her approach to the job of representing not only ourselves, but all citizens.  She is endorsed by a large group of organizations.

The campaign fliers for all are here, for the School Board candidates, and for Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger: 1). School Board ISD 833 Nov 4 2025; 2). School Board ISD 833 Bockman Eckberg Nov 4 2025;  3)  Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger SD47 Nov 4 2025

Here are a few personal comments: 1. I strongly support Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger for Senate for SD47.  She is my local state Representative (47A) and she has been an outstanding representative.  There are endless issues for any legislator, and I have a sense that she has the ability to listen to and represent differing points of view, crucial in a government official, particularly now.

2. I endorse the slate of school board candidates supported by the District 833 teachers union.  Three of the candidates are incumbents; the fourth is a new candidate.  My entire life has been in public education in one way or another.  I do not actively engage in the affairs of the local school district, and my assessment is, just from local news over the years.  In a large and diverse system (nearing 19,000 students), there are infinite possibilities for conflict about this or that.  The school district is well governed even in these difficult times.  The three incumbents are positive leaders.

I had the opportunity to hear the 4th candidate present her points of view in person last week.  She is a strong candidate.  Check out her website.

“Tolerance” is an very important word in my assessment of effective government officials.  Ours is a very  large school district with infinite points of view and tolerance is an essential.

POSTNOTE: I do note that all of the candidates I’m supporting are women.  I recall that earlier in my career, the 1970s and earlier, women were conspicuously absent from elective positions.  The present day change is welcome.  And men, too, run and are elected in all areas, and probably still outnumber women.

October 13, 2025: Columbus Day? Indigenous People’s Day?

Yesterday at Mass, Fr. Taste hit another homer in his homily based on Luke 17:11-19, the one where the Samaritan Leper is among 1hose who are healed, but is the only one who goes back to say Thank You….  Father T is in my neighborhood age wise, and he started his sermon with a quotation from one of Garrison Keillor’s books – where a couple had a little party on their 50th anniversary, and it wasn’t until afterwards that the Mr. got around to telling the Mrs. he loved her.    I interpreted the message he had for all of us: be grateful to ourselves and to others.  There are infinite ways, the best, small.  In these days, gratitude is something to practice.

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For the last several weeks I have been watching the fascinating Nova series, “Human”, on PBS.  The final local showing (Episode 5) is on TPT Channel 2 on Wednesday October 15, 8 p.m. Central Time.  For the entire series, check in with Nova.  If you can watch at home, the entire series is well worth your time.  Narrator and host Ella Al-Shamahi brings the story of homo sapiens to life.  This weeks episode, the final one, apparently explores the most recent historical period of humankind – most likely the pre- and post-Christopher Columbus periods.  Check out the series: it’s okay to see the last episode first!

Heather Cox Richardson discusses the history of Columbus Day in her October 12 column here.

In my state, Minnesota, today is recognized as Indigenous People’s Day, in concert with the annual United Nations event.  Minnesota is one of 17 U.S. states recognizing and celebrating the day.

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Yesterdays Basilica of St. Mary newsletter commentary by Janice Andersen was very relevant to the current days, I felt.  Here it is: Janice Andersen Oct 12 20250001  

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The big news on Sunday, and of course today, the pending peace in Israel/Gaza.  I am not inclined to go overboard on optimism.  Today is a single day in a very long and troubled history in the region and is are no magic long term solutions.  Stay tuned.  Last news I saw or heard – on purpose – was yesterday afternoon.

COMMENTS (more below)

from Jeff: [Columbus Day] is a “Democrat” holiday…hahaha…trump must not have known…

It’s silly to make Columbus the poster boy for the ills of all colonialism, but he was a despicable human actually per historical fact
I see the old line Italian americans always defending Columbus….for gods sake they should dump him and elevate Frances Cabrini…

from Joann: Thank you, Dick.  Your messages are insightful and helpful.

from Brian:  I work a lot with Native Americans.  I’m on the board of one of their credit unions, in Montana, that I helped them start.   Thanks so much for your great post!

from Norm: I want to offer the following comments regarding the agreement in Gaza:

Like you, I am very cautious about making too much out of the agreement given the history of that area of generations of conflict and tribal that raise serious questions of whether the Palestinians will ever be able to rule themselves should that ever be allowed.
I remember that Arafat when he was the leader of the PLO was so loved by his fellow Palestinians that it was claimed that he never slept in the same bed and location on more than one night having to change every night to stay alive.
Now granted, Trump being the insecure, arrogant and narcissistic fellow that he is, is making a big deal out of how he had brought peace to the Middle East something that no other US president has ever done and, of course, as always, claiming that he is the smartest and most accomplished  and successful US president ever…
And publicly claiming that he should be and/or have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize or the Noble PP as he calls.
Such an insecure man who continually has to tell himself let alone tell world how great he is also makes him a very dangerous man-child to be the leader of a major national power.

“Influencers”

Please note “ADDITIONS” at the end of this post.  If it’s been your inclination to sit this one out, get off the couch.  Our future as a democracy is at stake, and we’re the only solution.

INFLUENCING

Every now and then a new word crops up and has its day in the headlines.  A current one is “Influencer“.  If you search the internet you will find numerous definitions.  Here’s one I selected, from the Oxford English Dictionary.

Today, it seems, you have to go viral to consider something successful.  Or have a very large boatload of “followers”. whatever that means.

I want to propose a new definition of “influencer”: first each person has to convince him or herself that he or she can make a difference as an active individual wherever he or she lives….

Since November 2024, when my ‘side’ ‘lost’ the election, I have said that 75,000,000 of us agreed on an alternative outcome, but we were a tiny bit short of a plurality.  There was no “landslide” “victory” or “loss” last November.  Every one of us were “influencers”.

Of course this also means that 77 million influencers voted for the opposing candidate, as were the 90 million or so who didn’t vote at all, or the free who voted for minor party candidates with no chance of being elected.

In short, every single one of us who were qualified to vote, whether voting or not, is the only ‘influencer’ who makes any difference.

If each person takes on the task of helping one other person make up their mind, change can happen pretty dramatically…there is no ‘yah but’.

As we’re all learning the hard way, elections are no spectator sport.  All of us are the “team”, period.

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Re the Team, I’m really no different than anyone else.  First, I have to talk myself into taking some unfamiliar action – in other words, to change customary behaviors.

The viral bunch is always an annoying noise in the background, like those fine-tuned ads for the perfect pet food for the perfect dog or cat.

For all of us, perfection is a dream, and we clomp along trying to do our best.

My challenge, become an influencer, just by doing a little bit more every day, getting a little out of your comfort zone.

You read this this far.  You are an exceptional person.  Keep on keeping on.

POSTNOTE: As I was drafting this I thought back to a workshop I’d attended in Grand Rapids MN in the late 1980’s.  The speaker, Don Keck, was an organizer for the National Education Association, and his talk was about Power,  In my memory, his talk had five bullet points about Power and who has it.  The first four were obvious: Knowledge, Position, Money, Information.  There were other sources of power, but these were primary examples.

It was the final power that caught my attention, and that he spent the most time with: Referent Power, the power of relationships, which he called “Referent Power”..

In my blog archives, there are nine that include the word “Referent” in one way or another, At the end of my post for February 10, 2011, I expanded a bit on the word, as follows:

Message to the Proles March 10 2010: ** – Power defined. I once heard an excellent talk about some of the many kinds of “Power” in plays in all of our lives. As I remember them: there is the power that comes with authority (“I can fire you”, or variations usually involving money); there is the power that comes with the capability of defining the rules of society (“I can make laws”). Power comes with family connections – a family marries into a family with power. The list goes on.
But there was one power I paid most attention to, and the speaker called it “referent power” or “the likeability factor”. For people immersed in the other kinds of power, this is the scary one: this is the problem of relationships, and builds outside, and independent of, the others.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS: 

Some things you can do:

Facilitate helping with registering to vote: Joyce Vance October 7, 2025

Check out and participate in No Kings Day on October 18 (we’re signed up).  In the lower left corner of the home page is a box.  Enter your zip code and find the nearest group in your area.  Additionally, take time to watch this 10 minute Tim Snyder video Who was who in Weimar Germany; and a three minute one, No Kings – Freedom

Check out “No data day” here.  This is very interesting.

Lori Sturdevant, long time highly respected commentator on politics in this area, had a must read column in the October 8 Minnesota Star Tribune: Lori Sturdevant STrib 10 8 25

I have added several references after “Do something” in the Darkness or Light post.

POSTNOTE:  I think back to my most recent visit to Niagara Falls three years ago, this time of year.  I visualize the people in a barrel, an occasional stupidity there, where someone thinks they can capitalize on surviving a trip over the falls.  It is one thing to read about it; it is another thing entirely to stand there, at the lip of the falls, and imagine what it would be like.

At the moment, America – all of us – are in a barrel, about to go over the edge.  If you’re excited about that, be very careful what you pray for.  Odds are against victory.

Dad at Niagara Falls 1972

Darkness or Light?

Related Post “The Generals”, October 1, 2025.  (There are several comments.)

September 30 – October 1, 2025, seems to potentially be as historically as significant as January 6, 2021.  The ultimate outcome is going to depend on the American Citizen, collectively, you, I, everyone else.  I’d suggest that you at least take the time to read Robert Reich’s post, and the Wiki about Russell Vought, one of the chief architects of Project 2025.  I’m also including for your own information some photos and information about the East Wing of the White House, which is apparently under construction as an immense formal ball room.  Apparently it will not be a victim of the cuts.

You and I and our fellow citizens are the solution, period.  There are millions of ways to impact.  Sitting on the sidelines is not one of them.  It will not be easy, to complain is not enough.  You’re needed for the long haul.

Do Something.

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Robert Reich October 2, 2025.  [Also, from Robert Reich in my inbox October 5, 2025: “A National Trauma”] And Oct. 6.

Wiki About Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget, apparently a crucial architect of Project 2025.  More from Heather Cox Richardson Oct. 6

Also take the time to get acquainted with Stephen Miller, a key leader of the deportation crowd.

Oct 7.  An excellent summary of the Ku Klux Klan from National Geographic publication “Secret Societies” 2017, republished 2020.  Complete Title of Publication: Secret Societies True Tales of Covert Cults and Organizations and Their Leaders.

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History: East Wing of the White House

White House Postcard view of East Terrace 1902.  “East Wing” added about here in 1905 by Teddy Roosevelt.  This postcard dates from 1904,

The U.S. presidents and the U.S. Capitol, 1905. All Presidents shown up to and including Theodore Roosevelt (standing second from right). Found in the basement of the North Dakota farmhouse of my grandparents, who came to North Dakota in 1905.

POSTNOTE October 3:

There’s no need to dig deep on this current disaster: Revenge against Democrats (which is people like me) is front and center in the Presidents rage; but paramount is favoring the filthy rich.  Best to have “friends” who  own the ship of state (whatever that happens to be) rather than help the masses who in the final analysis are always the ones who are the source of the riches in the first place: they do the work and spend their money to buy the goods which generate the profits for the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Every Sunday I go to Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, and every Sunday we get a newsletter with an assortment of news related to the Parish.

Last Sunday, the Gospel was Luke 16:19-31 “The rich man and Lazarus”.  It is not an affirmation of those who pine for the gilded age, particularly those who have fought their way into the temporal heaven (Scrooge McDuck comes to this old man’s memory – cavorting in his money bin….)

Last Sunday Fr. Gillespie had a column on the front page of the newsletter, “Mind the Gap” which was spot on, and I’d like to share it with you: Fr. Gillespie on Lazarus… 9 28 25.  You don’t need to be Catholic, or Christian, or believer in any religion to relate to this story, which is even more timeless today than long ago when whoever authored Luke wrote the story.

None of us have any idea what happens with our spiritual essence when we die.  There are endless beliefs.

Fact of the matter is that the idiots who are the filthy rich won’t be taking it with them, and likely the ones who win the lottery when their benefactor dies may not be dedicated to continue their commitment.

I haven’t read the book Fr. Gillespie mentions, on the “Have-Yachts”.  But, anyway, take a look at his column, and maybe even read it.  He is a brilliant writer.

COMMENTS (more below)

from Mary: Thanks for sending this.

from SAK:

Many thanks Mr Bernard,

Of course I am going to read Mind the Gap – having heard that so many times on the London Underground (Subway). In fact in Lego Land once I noticed a miniature train station & the speakers shouted “Mind the Gap” when the train approached.

Fr. Joseph Gillespie is indeed a good writer. I thoroughly enjoyed the article/sermon. It is loving in the sense that he does not attack this or that policy or politician but still makes a point.

 

The Generals et al

We can’t know how September 30, 2025, will play in the history books years from now, but today is the first day.  Pay close attention and get, and stay. in action.

My first thoughts this day go back to Union staff days where, on infrequent occasions, we “Union Thugs” were asked to help a local union planning to strike.  (One time I was President of the Union staff for the state teachers Union that employed us.  Now, that did make the news.  That strike lasted only a few days.  It was 1979, if I remember correctly.)

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The Government Shutdown started at midnight Sep 30, 2025,

The shutdown has all the earmarks of a labor-management conflict.  Without going into the weeds, I have one observation (among many) unresolved disputes often have something in common:  at some point matters came to a head, and there is a walkout.  It’s always the other sides fault….

In my experience then, which was only from the labor side, walking out was the easy part.  Getting back in, and back to normal, was the hard part, and the prudent local and the opposing management considered this fact.

I only knew the Labor side over 50 years ago; but Management had exactly the same problem – just “the other side of the same coin”.  Regardless of the issues, ultimately there had to be an agreement to settle, which required compromise, whether the walk-out was one day or a month or even more….

I can’t remember any local going on strike more than once.  This is not to say that there were no frustrations, or threats in subsequent negotiations.  The prospect for both sides was too dismal to reprise.  Best to eat crow in essentially private arguments in bargaining, rather than enter into a public spectacle over which both sides had little control.

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Which brings me to “The Generals”, the title of this post.

Also on September 30 was street theatre day at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia.  Fox News personality Pete Hegseth and guest star of “The Apprentice” (aka “Management”) came to wow a gaggle of generals (aka Labor) from all over creation. The Big Show was obviously made for TV where management could be in the spotlight as “star”.

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This is not to make light out of what are two hugely significant events which not coincidentally happened on the very same day.

We will be well advised to not only follow this carefully, but also become active participants.  The stakes are immense.

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As for the Generals, I think one of the problems the Public has is that relatively few adults have actually been in the military and make their judgements based on TV/Radio, movies, social media and print news: chaos and blood.  As the old saying goes “if it bleeds its leads”.   The President wanted a big show; he got it, with no applause….  In the theater it was a big dud.

I am not naive about the military, both from personal and family experience.

I was in the U.S. Army voluntarily for a tour as an enlisted man in 1962-63,  I didn’t realize it at the time, but the “Vietnam era” had begun about a year earlier, and we were being trained for future service in Southeast Asia.  I declined the opportunity to go for officer training; and ended up as Company Clerk in an Infantry Company which, a few years later, saw heavy action and lots of losses in Vietnam.  I and my colleagues were the lucky ones.  But we safely experienced in training what our later colleagues had experience in person.

Dog Tags. U.S. Army 1962-63

Never have I regretted my experience in the military.  Those Generals who have risen to the top of their respective pyramids are generally very strong and effective leaders, as are their subordinates, down to the most basic level.

I have absolutely no idea what those Generals were thinking yesterday, as they sat obediently in a theatre where doubtless legions of Marines have sat in the past for one lecture or another (one of my grandsons approaching his 7th year as an active duty Marine, though not at Quantico.)

As for the Generals, the stark fact is that we, all of us, every one of us, have to be the “Generals” in the days ahead.  We are the one who decide who or how we’ll be governed, and we do this by our actions (or lack of same).

POSTNOTE: For historian Heather Cox Richardson’s view of September 30, 2025: here. Also,  Robert Reich, today short video.

250 Days

By my count, today is the 250th day since the inauguration of the 47th president Jan. 20, 2025.

Months ago, I had a fantasy that maybe it was true he would be dictator for only one day; or that it might be true he really had no idea that there was such a thing as Project 2025.  But I decided on Day One to begin keeping the A section of the Minnesota Star Tribune for his first 100 days (photo below).  If someone ever looks they’ll find all but a tiny few of the A sections there.  The missing ones were inadvertent.  The box has near 250 of those A sections.  September 30, 2025, will be the final addition.

I will continue to be informed and in action, but if somebody else wants to start the next 250 days collection, be my guest.  Here’s my collection (and what your box would look like 250 days from now):

There is an immense amount of readily available and credible information available of what is happening on a daily basis.  We, together, are an immense resource for good but only if we get into action in the millions of ways available to every one of us wherever we live, on whatever issues are important to you.

We know the reality, now is time to get into, and stay in, action.

I plan to keep writing and staying informed and in action, but my emphasis here will be other topics.  The most recent are these:

September 11 was the gun death at Utah Valley University.  There has been immense attention to this since, culminating with a Memorial service in Glendale Arizona September 21.  I decided to do an alternative post entitled “A Gun” on September 18.  It speaks for itself, and I think it’s worth your time.

A long-time passion of mine is family history, and a recent book about over 100 French-Canadian immigrants to the small community of Dayton MN caught my attention since my Dad was 100% French-Canadian, and more than one reference in the book was to some of our ancestors.  Take a look: A French-Canadian Enclave in Twin Cities Minnesota.

September 23 I added a postnote to an earlier post from April, 2024, entitled “Consequences”.  It refers to the conviction of my former State Senator in a heavily publicized case that began in April 28, 2024.  I suggest you scroll to the end to the Postnote for September 23, 2025, and I further suggest you read the link there which was my personal letter to the Judge in the matter.

Back on July 12 and 28 I recommended and saw the new film “Superman”.  It took a while, but Tim Snyder recommended it in his post on September 23.  (I only wonder why he didn’t mention The Rift)….  If you’ve got the time, check the film out.  It speaks in one way or another to today.

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FYI:  Among those I personally depend on for fact-based news, most on Substack (alpha listing):  Ruth Ben-Ghiat,David French,  David Frum, Garrison Keillor, Paul Krugman, Minnesota Star Tribune, Doug Muder (The Weekly Sift), Robert Reich, Jennifer Rubin, Heather Cox Richardson, Timothy Snyder, Mary Trump, Joyce Vance.  There are many more whose writings I see on occasion, forwarded by someone I know. There is absolutely no lack of credible information if one wishes to be informed.

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Brief Reflection Sep 26, 2025: After I had completed the above post, I opened Mary Trumps post for September 26.  Mary is Donald J’s niece, and she knows her uncle very well.  Take a moment to read the first five paragraphs (if you’re a subscriber, you can hear her tell the same story.)

Mary’s five paragraphs are a bullying story, from a TV show she saw as a youngster.  She describes the show and its main character, a youngster who terrorizes everyone else, adults and all.  She relates the character to her Uncle Donald, both then and now.

At a point in time in my teacher representation career, there was a strong push to rein in bullying in public schools.  Anyone who’s had a normal life knows bullying from real life, maybe as a victim, possibly as a perpetrator.  I don’t need to cite examples.  Where there’s people, there are bullies.  Each of us can identify our own.

In the instant situation, today, we as a country for some reason have elected a bully, twice, to be President of the United States.  For some reason the United States Supreme Court has further empowered this bully.  We are living through the implementation of a bully-run society, and in recent days it perhaps reached its current zenith in a speech at the United Nations, and it is possibly connected in some way to the upcoming and surprise short-notice meeting of all of the major U. S. military officers in Virginia, called by the Secretary of Defense.  At this writing, no one knows for sure what this meeting is even about, but it comes soon.

The principles and consequences of bullying are simple and well known to all of us from life experience.  A bully has allies who enable his (or her) behavior.  So it is today in our national conversation.

But so do the victims of bullies, and if and when they make the decision to strike back, there are also peaceful strategies to neutralize and defeat the offenders.

During the time when tamping down bullying became an important public school initiative in my state there were lots of positive results.  I’ve been retired 25 years, so I don’t know the current reality.  But I do know that bullies can be handled by their victims, but it takes courage to say and mean “enough!”.

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A few weeks ago – a postnote to the Sep 7 post “The Hangman” – I offered a musical memory: “POSTNOTE September 8, 2025:  For some reason, the old standard of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes is running through my head: “If you don’t know me by now“.  If we don’t know the issues that face us now in the United States, we will never….  When will we wake up and get into action as individuals – the only real solution ia each and every one of us.