January 6, 2021 Capitol of the United States

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Overnight, Jan. 7, 2021, 6:40 a.m.: The Thinking Here, from Just Above Sunset, comments on the aftermath of Jan. 6.

Personally, while I’ve not been a frequent visitor to D.C. I’d guess there have been more than a dozen trips there over the years, usually for several days, always visiting the federal area – an inspirational place for me.  The rest is editorial.

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Jan. 6, 2021, 4 p.m. CST: random TV screen shots I took.  Words are superfluous.


A snapshot from many years ago, probably 1970s about sunset, taken by myself on an early visit to Washington D.C.   It has hung on my home office wall for many years.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

PRENOTE:  In previous recent blogs I have recommended an on-point film available on-line, which will be discussed in an on-line zoom call the evening of Jan. 17 (7 p.m. CST.  Details here (scroll down to Third Thursday Global Films ….)

from Jim: The US has been humiliated. And the world has lost much ground toward a just world peace.  Just one of the grave consequences of the Trump administration.  But we know the arc of history is not smooth.

from Laura:  Sad as can be, Dick. My heart hurts.

Minneapolis Star Tribune ‘above the fold’ Jan. 7, 2021.

from Marion: Something must be done. Now!

from Norm:  Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or rebellion against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interest of sedition.

“I won by a landslide!”
 
Serious talk of invoking CM [Constitution Amendment] #25 to try to prevent “I never lose” from doing more damage to America than he already has done.

More from Norm:  The next two weeks will be very tough as well as critical for America as well as for the Dems and Biden/Harris unless Trump is placed under the lock and key of CM#25.

The poor bastard can never lose and admit defeat!
When “beaten” in business and so on, he has always threatened to sue or defame his perceived “enemy” since he thinks that since he cannot lose, his opponent must have cheated or defrauded him in some way or manner,
That is who this ignorant, arrogant, narcissistic, insecure draft-dodging bully is, has always been and will always be!
It is also so disappointing to see so many prominent Republicans supporting Trump in his continued claims of election fraud, including Emmer, Fischbach and Hagedorn.
They all seem to have a much different view as well as understanding of what many of us think that America is, has been and should be.
These prominent Republicans really seem to have no respect or love for America in my view at least!
So disappointing, Dick, and disillusioning as well!
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from Flo: I kept saying to myself, is this for real?! It was truly horrifying. My greatest fear is the havoc that Trump and his supporters will continue to create. A split Congress is not a good way for Biden to start his tenure as President, for sure!

This, too, will pass … But where will it end up?
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from Molly:I tried to respond to your post last night, but found I was writing my way into trying to understand or make sense or a future of the mess, instead of writing an actual note.

I did find this posting by Jan Richardson, which I have been sending to my various groups, and thought you might like.  [Dick: This is a Facebook link which probably can only be opened if you have Facebook, which I can’t cut and paste.  It is very appropriate, and brief, from Richardson’s “Circle of Grace: a Book of Blessings for the Seasons“.]
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Jimmy Kimmel on Jan. 6: here.
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from Don: The image that says it all.
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Just Above Sunset, overnight Jan. 8, 2021:  “A number of people of good will“.
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from Dick, early Jan. 8, 2021: There is a great deal to be said about Jan 6 and indeed the entire 78-or-so day time period between Nov. 3, 2020, and Jan 20, 2021.  Our entire nation has a learning opportunity here.  We will all, together, “vote” on our own future, in our own ‘secret ballots’, about our future public behavior.  We will all have a part in defining “Team USA” in the coming years.
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Dick, postnote Jan 8, 2021 noon: Two days ago at this time I was preparing to watch the confirmation of the election of the President of the United States.  I expected some conflict, not what soon cascaded into chaos.
Now the sorting out.  I predict the conquest of the Capitol by insurgents will end up a Pyrrhic victory for the perpetrators.
I keep thinking of my TV screen shot, which I included first, above.  Here it is again:

I call attention to the woman in the stocking cap on which you can see “TRU..”  Who is she?  Why was she there?  What was she thinking then?  What is she thinking now?  Where is her home?

Every insurgent in that building will be in some photograph.  Anybody with a mobile phone who sent out a text or a photo likely has identified him or herself by their exact location at the time of the call – you don’t need to watch many crime shows to learn that.  Unlike in the old days, those folks trespassing the Capitol cannot melt into the neighborhood.  They are not anonymous.

A long-time friend of mine had a brief e-mail exchange with me on Jan. 5.  He apparently did not like my post, “Armageddon“, and was asking to be removed from my distribution list.  No problem  (he was one of three so requesting, out of a total list of about 500).

I responded to him, sending a copy of our single sheet “thread” of four brief e-mails, which occurred entirely on Jan 5, at 8:13 a.m., 3:17 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:33 p.m.  I sent my friend the printout of our thread.

Our exchange was completely respectful – we have been friends for many years.  The only point: the entire thread between us occurred before the polls closed in Georgia on Jan. 5, and obviously before Jan. 6.  Likely there are many legally defensible records of such electronic communications on Jan. 6.

But, as I say, all of this will take months if not longer to sort out, and the tragedy of Jan. 6 needs to be pursued.

There will be justice.  Each of us need to be ‘on the court’.

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Sunday, January 10, 2021: We remain in post-2020 election history.  Rather than new posts about this, any continuing commentary, until inauguration of President Biden on Jan. 20, 2021, will be included below, at this space.

In the interim, I strongly recommend the 2011 film, The Wave, about a teacher’s experiment with authoritarianism.  Details here (scroll down to Third Thursday Film). Watch on your own, and if you wish, RSVP to join the discussion Thursday evening Jan 21, 7-8 p.m.  Please note, there are other films with the same name and topic, The discussion will be based on the 2011 film, which is in German, with subtitles.  You can find more versions at YouTube.  I believe there is a film rental cost of $3.99.

This morning, the Minneapolis Star Tribune headline was stark and clear, about January 6: “A Nation left violated.  America forced to face threat from within”.   It dominated the front page, along with a photo with the now infamous hangman’s noose framing the Capitol dome in the background.  As a nation, we need to face ourselves.  We are, after all, the individuals who ultimately decide our fate.  Those who desecrated the U.S. Capitol thought they represented all of us.

Minneapolis Star Tribune front page Jan 10, 2021

Also, this morning, a friend sent a short film from the U.S. military  from the year 1947.  It is also powerful.  Take a look, here.  You’ll note there is an entire menu of choices.  The one I watched is the second one on the menu, about 2 minutes, presented in the wake of Charlottesville Va in 2017.

Authoritarianism was in fashion in Minnesota and other places in 1930s U.S.  I still have copies of a 32 page insert to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in October which I would be glad to send on request so long as I have copies available.   Post here.

Monday, Jan. 11, 2021:   Just Above Sunset, “Our Home-Grown Fascism”.

Much of 60 Minutes last night was also devoted to the insurrection.

Like many, I wonder how many people were at the Presidential event and the following attempt at insurrection.  The most reasonable analysis I’ve seen thus far is here (maybe 10,000 maximum).  For perspective, the population of the United States is 330,000,000.  This is not intended to minimize the problem, just to give initial perspective.

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021:  A Little Reality Slipping In.  Just Above Sunset.

Re “white nationalists’ by whatever their name, here is an article from US News and World Report in late Sep. 2000 – the year before 9-11.  It is worth rereading: USNews 9-25-2000001

The American Abyss by Timothy Snyder, New York Times Magazine Jan. 9, 2021 is very well worth your time.  This is lengthy (15 pages printed).  Here is a pdf of the article (click to enlarge): American Abyss NYTimes Mag

Wednesday, Jan. 13 2021: Living Through History, Just Above Sunset.

This seems a good time to repost my blogs of August 1 and 2, 2020, on the D’s (Democrats), and the T’s (Republicans).  I post them without any changes to either.

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021:  Yesterday, President Trump was impeached for the second time.  There have been only four actual impeachments of Presidents in all of U.S. history.  I began a blog post on this last night.  You can pick up, comment, whatever, there.  I will save the editorial for there.

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2021: America has had its own ‘beer hall putsch”

Armageddon

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For about 234 years now America, the United States, has been experimenting with citizen management of government.  (It’s called “elections”.). I’ve been alive for about one-third of that time.  We have survived so far.  We are now testing Abraham Lincoln’s concern expressed at Gettysburg in 1863 – whether, or how, our nation will endure.  We’ve become careless.

The battlefield today is the state of Georgia; tomorrow at Congress in Washington D.C.; January. 20, again in Washington….

Last night, while watching the news I scribbled my recollection of Presidencies in my adult life, beginning with the election of 1960.  It is pictured below, and typed in a somewhat neater form in this pdf (click to enlarge): American Presidents since 1940 (any errors are inadvertent, corrections etc are solicited).  In the last 56 years, Republicans have been President for 32 years, Democrats have been President for 24.

The simple process of scribbling those few words from memory generated many thoughts, probably similar to how Abe Lincoln’s own scribblings caused him to think back to the history of his (and our) own young nation.

All the rest I have to say is my own opinion.  What do you want our future to be?

A great summary of the last three days of our history is once again captured by Just Above Sunset: “Sinking in”, hot off the press, hours ago..

Postnotes:

“Armageddon”, the title, is intentional.  I was actually to this place in Israel in January 1996.  It has historical context.

A brief, recent and related post about President Jimmy Carter is here.

I’d really recommend a film and activity my Citizens for Global Solutions group is going to discuss on Jan. 17.  All details here. Scroll down to Featured Events, Third Thursday Global Films.  This is a new activity for us, this is the 4th film.  We plan to continue these virtual gatherings every Third Thursday.  Publicity will always be at the web site noted above.

Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President

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Sunday Jan 3, on CNN, at 8 p.m. CST, will be a special entitled “Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President”.  All details here.

I have admired President Carter from the start – his election as U.S. President in 1976.  My son and I visited Plains GA a few months after his inauguration.

In 1980 I was actively engaged in his reelection campaign, which was effectively harpooned by the U.S. Embassy hostages in Teheran, and the Arab Oil Crisis among other things – his time in office coincided with the beginning of filthy attack politics where the objective was to destroy the opposition by any means.

That’s another very important story for another time.

Enjoy the show Sunday night.

COMMENTS:

from Greg: Yes, I agree it was the beginning, with Ronald Reagan saying government is not the answer but it is the problem. Yes, there may have been malfunctioning in the federal and state governments. But Reagan seemed to be advocating doing away with government functions entirely rather than improving them.  Look where we are now in terms of our national attitude toward the governments.

POSTNOTE:

We watched this most interesting program on Sunday night.  I hope it is repeated.

I have several of Jimmy Carter’s books – he became a prolific author.  In addition to the books, I came into possession of two audio tapes which were most interesting, on aging, and the one pictured below, which was four CDs of 4 Sunday school classes of Jimmy Carter at his Baptist Church in Plains GA in January 1998.  In these talks, Carter would fold in current events and his own experiences with biblical texts to an always large audience of visitors to Plains.  They remain available.  Check Amazon or like providers.

 

Carole Lewis Anderson: Reflecting.

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Carole is one of those on my mailing list, a long time friend, who sent me the following reflection which deserves its own space.  Thank you, Carole.

Carole Lewis Anderson

Dear Friends:

2020 was the most provocative year of my life.

Most analyses have focused on the bad news. There has been much of that, driven by the actions of the Trump administration, and the systematic murdering of black Americans, followed by the first in-a-hundred-years pandemic, with its attendant toxic individualism.

The Trump administration, timed with the maturing of the Internet, has brought together extreme groups, which heretofore had existed in local isolation. Those individual voices of intolerance have existed since the founding of the country.  The Internet has enabled them to create communities of likemindedness. Trump has given his imprimatur and the implicit right to forego courteous conversation, which had enabled disparate societies to function together successfully. This, combined with the silence of the members of the GOP, has shown that “never-again”s can recur, as long as those in power remain silent. That broad lack of courage has contributed to the expansion of Covid-19 with its huge death rate, and to attempted unconstitutional actions. An affirmative vote on the President’s impeachment might have mitigated the worst of the pandemic and stopped policies that desecrate the Planet and threaten our democracy.

As a result, the very existence of our Republic is in question. The health of the Planet has been dramatically further jeopardized. The refusal to rely on experts, and the unwillingness to listen and learn have become tokens of pride. Over 70 million Americans voted for Trump. Fiction-based media has popped up, and Twitter-based groups have established large followings.

But, some good news has sprung from this catastrophe. We elected a moderate and decent person as President, and importantly, we elected a progressive person as Vice President. 

Let’s take this moment to revisit the definition of progressive: “happening or developing gradually; favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas”. 

What the bad news has shown is that America needs to become progressive. The pandemic surge has proven that we need a central healthcare system; that pharmaceutical companies and hospitals should not operate for profit; and, that the poor and infirmed should not be sacrificial lambs. 

The self-aggrandizing administration’s appointments and actions have shed light on the still imbedded racism on which the country’s early growth was based. We need progressive policies to root out racism in many of our institutions, and to underscore the value of education and the efficacy of diversity.

We did not need the pandemic to highlight the often unreported murder of black people for “being black”. We need progressive policies to reform the role of police in our communities. We need public ownership of prisons, which should be reformulated for repair and recovery of those incarcerated. We need enhanced community services and low-income housing.

The economic fallout from the pandemic has disproportionately affected the poor. We did not need a pandemic to expose the greedy underside of U. S. capitalism. To wit: excessive wealth  for some while an inordinate number of Americans live under the poverty level. We need progressive policies to redress these issues.

The pandemic has given many of us time for introspection. Please feel free to share your thoughts on 2020, and importantly on 2021. I would love to listen.

 

A New Year

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19 days remain until Joe Biden is inaugurated as President of the United States.  As we all know, this is not a peaceful transition in the American tradition.  It’s anybodies guess what will happen between now and January 20, and after

I strongly support President Biden and Vice-President Harris.  My primary ask was for a change in “tone” from the office of President: a United States of America, not competing individuals in tribes.  Biden brings great experience in office from local to U.S. Vice-President for eight years.  The job of President is an incredibly difficult one under the best of circumstances – everything is wrong in someone’s point of view.  The departing President had no experience and no apparent interest in learning.

Tone matters.  And experience.

Biden/Harris were elected with over 81 million votes; their opponents received 7 million less.

Almost a third of all eligible voters in the United States – about 80 million – did not vote for anybody in Nov. 2020.

I – indeed everyone of us – are the proverbial grains of sand which in aggregate make a beach.  We aren’t noticed, but without us there is nothing.  We have to be the change we seek in this country of ours.

Best I can do is witness to my own beliefs about what is best for my country and our world.

Each individual counts…but we need to be on the court to succeed.  A note pad someone gave me years ago says it well:

Change will come if we work for it.  We begin from a position of strength, not weakness.  My side got 7 million more votes.

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(My comments on the past four years were published December 31, 2020.   Take a look.)

A tip for 2021: A group of which I’m a long-time member, Global Solutions MN,  has embarked on a series of Third Thursday movie discussions.  Participants are asked to watch a selected film at their home and at their leisure, then on the third Thursday, if they wish, to participate in a one hour zoom conversations.  Here are the details for January:

“Citizens for Global Solutions, Minnesota is proud to present the “Third Thursday Global Films Discussion Group.”
Each month, CGS-MN will share the name of a film or documentary with a global perspective, chosen to expand our horizons and educate us about the world.
JANUARY 2021Film: “THE WAVE”
Film (2011) | Running time: 1h 47 min
Director: Dennis Gansel
Available at: Amazon and YouTube
**A high school teacher’s experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship
**Watch the movie on your own and then join us to discuss the film.
DATE: Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 7pm (Central Time – USA)
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RSVP to me receive the zoom link
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COMMENTS (more at the end):
from Carole Lewis Anderson: a long reflection that deserves its own space as a blog this day, here.
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from Marion: “Best I can do is witness to my own beliefs about what is best for my country and our world.”  There’s no better “best,” Dick.  Keep at it.
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from Laura: Thank you so very much, Dick! Your words are so well-written. Of course I concur with them all.

As I prayed for you this morning, I also am thankful for your friendship and your support for me.
I would join your discussion on Thursday the 21st, except it’s zoom for one of my  book clubs, and I’m the coordinator that evening. Of course I’ll watch the film anyway. By the way, the book I’ve selected that we’re discussing is called The Women of Copper Country, about the 1913 copper strike in upper Michigan. It’s excellent, so you may want to pick it up.
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from Len: Happy New Year to you and your wife and family. I am counting on 2021 being a better year and wish you all the best.

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..