New Year Advice from Abraham Lincoln

     As someone who believes so strongly in the importance of learning from history, I decided to share the advice from the man who held the Union together during such divisive times during the Civil War as my New Year's post.  Perhaps his words have value to our current turbulent times.  

    "I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle."  July 10, 1858.  "Most governments have been based, practically, on the denial of equal right of men...ours began, by affirming those right.  They said, some men are too ignorant, and vicious, to share in government.  Possibly so, said we; and by your system, you would always keep them ignorant, and vicious.  We proposed to give all a chance; and we expected the weak to grow stronger, the ignorant wiser; and all better, and happier together."  July 1, 1854    

    "Passion has helped us; but it can do so no more.  It will in future be our enemy.  Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense."  January 27, 1838  "If a man will stand up and assert, and repeat and re-assert, that two and two do not make four, I know nothing in the power of argument that can stop him."  February 22, 1854   "The people  -- the people  --  are the rightful masters of both congress and courts  --  not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."  Speech in Kansas, December 1859 

    "It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives."  August 22, 1864  "May our children and our children's children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under those glorious institutions bequeathed us by Washington and his compeers."  October 4, 1862

    Thank you Mr. President.  May your words echo through the centuries, and may 2024 be a happy new year.

The Holiday Season

Winter Memories from the 1940s

Did you know that there are at least 17 holidays during this season?  In fact, historians have found winter celebrations as far back as 3000 BCE.  Some of the early celebrations have disappeared while new ones have appeared since ancient times.  Some are related to religious beliefs, while others honor various  traditions.  Faiths and traditions vary from country to country, and while some may be celebrated primarily in a particular location, others are celebrated around the world.

Since ancient time the Winter Solstice has been recognized by many cultures, and traditions from those ancient times have influenced later cultures.  The astronomical occurrence was celebrated as a return of the sun.  The Romans wintertime celebration was called the Saturnalia, a 7-day celebration at the midpoint of the winter season.  In early Europe there was a holiday known as the Yule festival.  Iranians celebrate Yalda, one of the most ancient Persian festivals. 

Today, there are many celebrations in December and early January.  On December 5, Muslims celebrate Ashura.  On that same day in Germany and Eastern Europe, Krampus Nacht is celebrated, with a devil-like character that scares bad children and rewards good children the next day.  St. Nicholas Day on December 6 recognizes a Christian bishop who sold all of his possessions to give to the needy, and people in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg remember him by giving gifts on that day.  On December 8 Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day by performing kind acts.

 In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand there was Boxing day, when gifts were placed in boxes and given to the poor the day after Christmas, although today it is more of a holiday for sports and shopping.  To honor African American culture, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January first, a relatively new holiday celebration that originated at California State University and has spread.  Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6, believed to be the day when the three kings first saw baby Jesus.  It is also the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which is Christmas Day on the Julian calendar, and on January 11, Hindus in Northern India celebrate the passing of the winter solstice.

American Jews use the Soli-lunar calendar, which means that the months begin on the new moon, to calculate their traditional days of celebration.  This year Hanukkah falls on December 7 through December 15.

There are other holiday seasons celebrated around the world that I have not included in this summary of winter holidays.  As I am sure you have noticed, many of our Christmas traditions are adapted from other nations, and in America today, there are many winter holidays, both religious and secular.  It is increasingly common to hear Happy Holidays ringing out to respect the multicultural nation that America is today.

Around the world surely most people wish for peace.  Can we not find ways to suppress cruelty and greed without war.  And, in the greatest nation in the world, can we not remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, who said, "The people - the people are the rightful masters of both congress and courts - not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."

Children's Books at Christmas

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I love decorating the house for Christmas, and the only disappointment I have is the inability to accommodate more of our decorations because we lack the  room for them. Our cat, Emerson, can be trusted with the decoration sitting on every possible shelf, since frankly, he prefers the Christmas trees.  Low hanging Christmas balls better not be breakable, although it is actually sliding and rearranging the tree skirts that he most enjoys.  This year I have given him an entirely new level of Christmas fun with the Singing Santa tree.  Rearranging the artificial forest floor around the trees is his best holiday activity yet! 

However, this is not about Emerson, although he naturally assumes everything is, and his disappointment is apparent, because nothing on the dining room table is small enough to bat onto the floor, or at least knock over...all of the Santas being too heavy.  Since he cannot read, he doesn't see the point in covering the table with books, although he has found one that might be interesting.  I, on the other hand, love the excuse to get out all of the children's Christmas books in my collection out, just for the sheer pleasure of reading and seeing the beautiful illustrations.

I confess, the arrangement was prettier years ago when I had fewer Christmas books, but how could I hurt the feelings of any book by making it think it wasn't loved enough to be included.  There are 44 books, illustrated by 42 different artists.  Seven of the books are "The Night Before Christmas" and 4 are "A Christmas Carol."  There is a "Happy New Year" book, and a "Hanukkah book.  There is a "Nutcracker" book, and  "Jingle Bells," and "The Polar Express.  Obviously, Emerson's favorite is the book titled "The Christmas Cats," although he would have preferred a gray and white cat on the cover.

Many of my favorite illustrators are included.  Larry discovered one he had not seen, a Christmas book about "Franklin and Winston, A Christmas that Saved the World during W.W. II."
  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!  I hope at least a few books are under your Christmas tree, and I suspect the "The Night Before Christmas" just might be read in many homes.  

What are you reading?

Some of my classic children's books
 and my bookend collection

I confess.  We have book cases in every room in our house (including a small rack in one bathroom) and we still have books stacked on the floor.  I love books!  We are fortunate in our community to have wonderful libraries nearby, with enthusiastic librarians that cultivate readers, especially children.   However, the sad truth is that people aren't reading as they once did.  

In 2022, the revenue from book sales was  78.80% from printed books, 10.77% from e-books, and 10.43% came from Audio books.  While the majority of readers still enjoy a book in their hands, many like the ability to read from their phone or laptop.  Audio books are often popular with readers who listen while driving to and from work.   

You might be curious to know that internationally the top three book purchasers were, at least in 2016, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.  The global book publishing market in 2022 is predicted to reach $143.65 billion, with the expectation of 163.89 billion by 2023.  Another interesting set of statistics involves the busiest time of year for book sales.  November and December account for over 21% of the annual sales for bookstores, which you may know have been struggling to survive against internet sales, and as for overall book sales, almost 12% of all books are sold during the last week of November to the years end.  Apparently, books make nice Christmas gifts.  Over 82% of all books sold during November and December were print books, higher that the annual print book average sales.  (Just a hint for your Christmas giving!)  It will probably not surprise you that in the United States Amazon accounts for over 40% of book sales, and 30% globally.  As for e-books, Amazon dominates 80%.  

Those of you who follow my blog know how important it is to encourage children to read books.  Many of you may still be doing your Christmas shopping, and even if you thought you were finished, surely you can add a few books to your Christmas giving.  Authors will appreciate it--publishers will appreciate it--and most importantly, those for whom you have chosen to give a book will have it to enjoy!

Are Our Kids Falling Behind?

 

When I took the ACT Test, I didn't know it might have been wise to have prepared for the test.  Today, students do that, with tutoring, practice tests, often taking the test more than once.  When I took the LSAT to apply for Law School my husband brought home a brochure, with a few sample questions on it.  I answered those and thought I was good-to-go.  I don't know if other students prepared for those  tests back when I was taking them.  Did my good fortune indicate that our educations several decades ago prepared us better for the tests or that the tests are more difficult now or something else?

The newspaper headline that prompted me to write this blog had a headline in bold black letters:  State lags in national marks, followed by "Kansas' class of 2023 has record-low ACT scores.  The article went on to say that Kansas fell behind the national average.  

This blog is not meant to belittle Kansas students, nor is it meant to criticize teachers.  It is meant to make all of us think.  I have blogged about how expensive college is.  I have blogged about people in our community who have chosen not to attend college and who have become successful business owners.  I have blogged about what I see as unfairness of paying off college student loans for students that knowingly went into debt to get a college diploma, while other students chose a career path that did not put them into a huge debt, settling for a path that they could afford.  It troubles me that kids that had the judgement to find another path--working part time, alternating college one semester-work the next, getting through college in twice the time but without debt, getting a 2-year degree and then working and taking night or online classes to finally get the 4-year diploma, or finding various ways to fulfill their dream in ways they could manage economically.  

Part of a college student's education should be awareness of the debt they are accruing and having a reasonable plan for how they will repay the debt.  This is a problem that needs to be addressed in some logical way, and the government simply paying off student debt is not going to resolve the problem of continuing expense for those who want a college education. Neither is it fair to those students who acted responsibly and did not accumulate excessive debt.  Colleges and universities also have a responsibility to find ways for the expense of a college education to be manageable, and that does not mean just asking others to sponsor scholarships while costs continue to rise.

We haven't figured out how to guide responsible capable students to affordable education, if that is what they want, nor how to recognize and aid those students that need help.  Universities do not need climbing walls and other perks to entertain and attract students.  They should not need to lower criteria for top grades.  I was an honor student, and I did not have a straight A average.  Sorry, but just because today's students are smarter than I will ever be on a computer does not mean, in my opinion, that other ways of measuring education are no longer relevant.  I have not been in a classroom in a very long time, and I do not know how students are evaluated today.  However, I do know that universities feel pushed to be competitive with other universities when graduates enter the hiring market.  It seems almost unavoidable that they might be tempted to flatten the old bell curve to help their graduates find jobs, if they perceive other universities are doing that.  

I cannot but wonder how today's students are tested.  Have they shown discipline, preparation, responsibility, reason, on a daily basis.  Are they tested regularly or only at the end of the semester?  Are they tested without access to phones and laptops?  Are the class sizes limited enough for professors to even recognize individual students and character traits? 

What I do know is that we are entering a time when education is about more than asking AI to solve our problems.  That is why reading is so important.  It trains our minds to follow information, whether we are reading history, fiction, logic, instructions,--all of which develop reason, logic, sequence, discipline, empathy, and so many other things that make us intelligent humans.  Our phones, our computers, and AI give us answers.  They do not teach us how to be humans.    

Here is one thing I do know.  High Schools are still free.  That is the time to take advantage of getting as much education as you can.  Do your best work in High School and take advantage of extra classes if they are offered.  And read!  It is wonderful that kids are more proficient on computers than I am, but reading does more for your brain than just surfing online.  The world seems mired in problems, and we need thoughtful, responsible people to resolve those problems.       

Memories of Family Recipies

The holiday season has arrived, and once that would have been easy to describe, at least in my family.  If grandparents were living, we gathered at their homes and traditional meals were prepared.  We alternated years, since both my paternal and maternal grandparents were living.  Because my father had inherited the family home, after my grandmother's death, we often hosted Beck family gatherings.  

According to my internet search, family Thanksgiving dinners are still common, and holiday classic meals remain popular, "prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce" as typical choices.  

My Mother's traditional Thanksgiving recipes were turkey, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, dressing, and corn.  Her special holiday salad was strawberry Jello with grated fresh apple, and pumpkin pie was the dessert.  As I recall, Christmas was about the same.  The only thing I didn't like was the cranberry sauce. 

According to the internet, Christmas celebrations continue to include family gatherings, but they now include travel for some families, who may prefer trips to faraway places, some preferring warmer climates while others head for skiing destinations.  

When my husband and I graduated from college, he left for Officer Training School, leaving me alone in a small town, teaching a class of 6th graders. I do not recall that town having a restaurant, but if it did, I lacked the courage to dine alone.  When he left for his first assignment, he took the car, so I had no transportation other than my two feet.  Those evenings in a rented house with no television were lonely, and the meals I prepared for myself were very simple.  One evening, the parents of one of my students invited me to dinner.  I enjoyed the evening, and although I do not remember the rest of the meal, I remember a salad I was served.  It was delicious, and I am embarrassed to recall that I liked it so much that I had 3 servings.  In my defense, because it included cranberries, my Mother's cranberry sauce had made me think I didn't like cranberries, so I only took a tiny amount to be polite.  It was delicious!  I reached for a little bit more.  The embarrassing part was that when I had finished the meal, I asked if I might have a third serving with my dessert!  I not only left with a full tummy, I left with the recipe!!   In my special recipe's cookbook, I have given it the name of my 6th Grade student, Kathy Swenson's Salad.  Here is that very special recipe.

1,  Grind 1 lb. cranberries.  Add 1 1/4 cup sugar; let stand 30 minutes and then cook  to taste.

2.  Add 1 1/2 small package strawberry jello and 1 cup water.  Set in refrigerator until chilled. 

3.  Then add 2 diced bananas, a cup or more of crushed pineapple, and one half cup of black walnuts.

4.  While that chills, mix a package of Dream Whip and fold into fruit mixture.  Allow to set. 

(The black walnuts may be hard to find, but do your best.  I do not think such a thing as a 'package of Dream Whip' can be found, but whipped cream is fine to substitute.)

If you live in the community where I live, I just hope I get to the last package of black walnuts before you do!  The last time I made the recipe, I bought the last package, and the package was very small.  I cannot blame the supplier.  The husks on black walnuts are so difficult to remove, but other nuts just are not quite as good in matching the tart cranberry flavor.

Happy Thanksgiving!  The salad is also wonderful for Christmas!!

Are Children's Books Today too Obvious?

I can not help but wonder if some children's books are trying too hard to get a point across.  Are authors guilty of emphasizing the objective rather than just telling a great story in which the young reader can discover the 'lesson' for themselves?  Albert Einstein said, "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract positive thinking."  Perhaps we need to trust the ability of children to discover the message for themselves, even when they are very young.  As Einstein said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."  

A drawing by one of my favorite illustrators, Scott Gustafson, whose illustrations from nursery rhymes to Peter Pan are in my collection

Children are good observers of the world around them, and they may see more clearly than we realize.  Or, as G.K. Chesterton said, "Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist.  Children already know that dragons exist.  Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed."  As one author suggested, by allowing children to read fairy tales or other age-appropriate books in a safe environment, they can learn that bad things happen to everyone.  Sharing fairy tales with them when they are young, and continuing to provide them with age-appropriate books as they learn to read will avoid leaving them unrepaired for anything requiring the reason and courage found in those stories.

Even very young children can learn from Fairy Tales, not just about the basics of stories, like characters and the setting, but also the plot and how the story evolves.  When they are older, they will have a grounding in the structure of storytelling.  These early stories will also stoke their imaginations and   arouse curiosity about what can be discovered in books.  They will learn about heroes and villains, as well as moral lessons about right and wrong.

Recently, I discovered the following:  "The more a child reads, the likelier they are able to understand the emotions of others."  That quote was followed by the sad statistic that "80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year."  (Quoted statistics from 2022.)  When a child (or an adult) reads, the characters become real to them.  Stories share the emotions, the disappointments, the hurt of the characters, in a way that allows the reader to experience the emotions of the characters, something they cannot always understand about real life feelings of others. 

In very early times people gathered to listen to storytellers, and children listened with adults to stories of all sorts of tales of talking animals, elves, fairies and imaginary events.  Fairy tales are the descendants of those stories, and as parents read fairy tales to their children, they continue the tradition of hearing these stories in the safety of their parents' protection.  Many scholars view this as a continuation of the experience that helps children work through anxieties that they are too young to express.

By reducing that tradition, or eliminating it entirely, we miss the opportunity to allow children the gradual learning of those lessons found in fairy tales.  Perhaps, by waiting too late to read to them, they never develop the habit of reading for themselves.  If we wait too late, and they are given books that seem to lecture, the lessons will never be learned.

I began by quoting from some early commentators, so I will close by quoting from a popular author of today.  "If you are protected from dark things," said Neil Gaiman, "then you have no protection of, knowledge of, or understanding of dark things when they show up."  

I hope there are some ideas gathered in this blog to encourage the importance of reading to children early, including dusting off the old fairy tales you may have ignored too long.   

The Power of Music

 We are very fortunate in the community in which we live to have many gifted people, and none more so than pianist Duane Hanks.  Recently, he performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and on November 5, 2023 he was the solo artist for the Glenn Mccaslin Guest Artist Series in Pratt, Kansas, which my husband and I had the privilege to attend.  It was no wonder that he had received a 1st prize rating in the 2023 New York Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition and was given the honor of closing the concert.

Those of you who follow my blog may remember the blog "Have We Forgotten History?" which can be found at https://www.blogger.con/blog/post/edit/6321257453868183589/1104479535986519588 . In that blog I suggested reading Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance as a way to learn the history of WW II from a well researched novel, especially as a way for young people and those who are unlikely to study academic books about WW II.  I have been studying that war, and I decided to take my own advice and read Wouk's books myself.  Perhaps that is why I was so very moved by Chopin's Nocturne in C# Minor as it was performed by Duane Hanks so beautifully.

Before he began playing, he shared two stories.  First was the story of Natalia Karp, who at the age of 18 made her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic, although by 1943 she was living in the Krakow-Plaszow concentration camp as a Jewish prisoner.  Knowing of her talent, Commandant Goth ordered her to play for him on his birthday.  She played Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor.  Goth was a cruel and evil man, charged with killing more than 10,000 people, primarily Jews, during the Holocaust, but  he was so impressed with her performance that he spared her life, as well as the life of her sister.  Ultimately they were sent to Auschwitz, where both were fortunate to have survived.  As Duane Hanks played Chopin's Nocturne with such beauty and emotion, I could not help imagining the emotions of Natalia Karp as she played for Commandant Goth in the concentration camp.  

 The second story Duane Hanks shared was of Wladyslaw Szpilman, also a Polish Jew, who had studied in Germany but had returned to Poland after Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933.  In Poland, Szpilman joined the Polish Radio, performing classical and jazz music.  He was a celebrity and a featured soloist at Polskie Radio prior to its bombing by Germany in September of 1939.  Like all Jews in Warsaw, he and his family were forced to move into the Warsaw Ghetto.  When his family was deported in 1942 to Treblinka, an extermination camp in Poland, a Jewish Policeman assisting with the deportations yanked him from the transport train.  None of his family survived, 

He managed to survive by hiding in Warsaw, helped by friends from the Polish Radio and fellow musicians.  About 30 non-Jewish Poles were involved in helping him during the war.  However, it was a German officer, Captain Wilm Hosenfeld who may have played a particularly important role, beginning in August of 1944, when Hosenfeld discovered his hiding place and did not turn him in but rather brought him supplies on several occasions.

I have tried to better understand the situation of Israel-Palestine relations, including my research about WW II and the horrific treatment of the Jews, who believe the Hebrew Bible states that Palestine has been promised to them by God, and the Palestinian Arabs who believe they had the most recent control of the land and it should stay in their possession.  These two groups have at least tried to work things out to some extent, but Hamas, which was founded in 1987, their full name being the Islamic Resistance Movement, defeated Fatah, the Palestinian party that still controls the Palestian Authority based in the West Bank, the 2nd Palestinian Territory, while Hamas and its military organization covers the Gaza Strip and claims full authority, with the goal of excluding Israel.  That does not even take into account the strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, which involves other nations.

These were the thoughts that brought tears to my eyes as Duane Hanks played Chopin.  I thought of  Herman Wouk's books and the history I have studied, recalling the struggles of the Jews trying to escape Hitler and dreaming of a safe place to live after the war ended.  There were tears in my eyes for Israel and for those in Palestine.  I thought of the boy in my high school English class decades ago, so excited about spending the summer in Israel.

I have no answer, only tears.  But do those demonstrators, waving flags and protesting really have any understanding of all of the things that brought tears to my eyes.  Instead of marching and waving flags, perhaps we should go to the library and study the history and complexity of this tragic situation.  The world needs wisdom, compassion, and less greed.  Perhaps listening to Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor might help all of us pause for reflection, and a deeper understanding of the situation.  

Intentional Hurtfulness

 Recently I read an article on Hazing that had resulted in a young man's death.  The irony was that he was a student that other young men respected enough to select him to become one of their own, a member of their fraternity.  Yet, they killed him with excessive hazing.  The article acknowledged that hazing is not confined to college campuses.  It occurs in high schools and other student groups, the military, and even in professional workplaces.  Neither is it a recent practice, the article I read dating it back to 1838.

We are well aware of abuse of people unlike ourselves, different because of ethnicity, religion, social status, and even artificial differences, such as sports competitors.  We invent reasons to shun or haze.  However, it seems particularly unexplainable when such cruelty is released against one of our own, someone we like.  That is certainly not to say that if someone is different the mistreatment is justified.  Not at all, although differences may be found to make it seem more explainable.  

Examples of Hazing are at different levels of severity, from assigning demerits, imposing silence, or using demeaning names; or at a more mid-level, such as embarrassment, humiliation, and sleep deprivation; or at an even higher level, as in the case of the young man in the newspaper article, forced alcohol or drug use, branding, or endangering.  I suspect that many of you reading this have experienced some level of hazing, although you may not have called it that.  I know I have. 

Making friends with someone different...Do I have to?

Unfortunately, it seems to be part of human nature.  An article online titled "Little Bullies?  When Kids Leave Kids Out" states that peer exclusion, when one child excludes another child from being a part of the group, is very common among preschoolers.   That seems disheartening, but I have observed it, as I am sure you may have also.

 While it may be common, and a certain amount may be unavoidable, surely it deserves attention, by parents, teachers, and organizations.  In 2021, federal Legislation titled "Report and Educate About Hazing Act" was introduced into Congress.  It stalled, but new proposed federal legislation, called the Stop Campus Hazing Act is being prepared that recognizes the need to take hazing seriously. 

 We humans can be incredibly generous and kind, but we can also behave badly.  Perhaps we cannot regulate kindness, but perhaps we can find a way at least to recognize unintentional hurtfulness, whether it is hazing or simply overlooking thoughtless behavior.  We need to start somewhere. 

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

 I have found several studies related to surveys asking people whether they believe in ghosts.  It is surprising to me that a large percentage of people do.  What they admit differs by whether they are asked in a well-lighted room or in a dark room, whether they are asked privately or when others could hear their replies, and whether they are asked around the time of Halloween!  Ph. D. Professor Tok Thompson believes that, "Ghosts have an interesting role in that they are a really well-believed and well discussed, but completely an unofficial part of our culture."  Thompson is not only a professor but also a folklorist, an author, and a professor of anthropology.  

Ghosts play a big role in literature and movies.  I decided to write this blog because of an interview I watched of members of the cast of a tv series about ghosts.  The cast was excited to be preparing for a third season.  Apparently, ghosts are popular!  Of course, they get the most attention at Halloween.  I know of some people who do not allow their children to participate in Halloween activities for reasons of their faith.  I also know of churches who host Halloween parties for children in their congregations.  Different cultures regard Halloween differently.

We associate ghosts with certain places, particularly haunted houses and graveyards.  We have stories about friendly ghosts and evil ghosts, with scarry ghosts someplace in the middle.  People make distinctions between "a" ghost and "my" ghost.

I know people who have attended a seance and believe the spirit medium who delivered a message during the seance could have only known that information through contact with a dead person.  I do not believe in ghosts, and I have never attended a seance, but I must admit that one of my favorite romantic moves is the 1990 film "Ghost."  In that movie, a mugger kills Sam, played by Patrick Swaze.  Molly, played by Demi More, watches as Sam is taken to Heaven by Angels.  As the ghost of Sam watches over Molly, I cry every time...even harder since the death of actor Patrick Swaze.  So, I don't believe in Ghosts, but that doesn't keep me from crying whenever I watch that movie.

Remember my reference to the difference between 'a ghost' and 'my ghost'?  I guess the ghost I allow myself to believe in must be Patrick Swaze!     

Do Lies Matter?

 I have written about lying in this blog in the past, but the common acceptance of it continues to trouble me.  A study at the University of Massachusetts found that 60% of people cannot go 10 minutes without lying at least once.  A study at the University of Virginia found that people are more likely to lie over the phone than in person, and another study found people were more likely to lie to strangers.  The list of reasons range from protecting themselves or others, gaining social acceptance, avoiding the consequences of illegal or disreputable activity, and to gain an advantage, to maintain privacy, and to avoid looking foolish or ignorant.  

The studies I read did not seem to include internet lying.  If people are more likely to lie over the telephone than in person, I would assume than lying on the internet is even more common.  Some of the reasons seem more understandable than others, but from my perspective, the acceptance of lying is disheartening.  Many famous people have expressed their concerns and disapproval about lying.  However, as I share some of their comments, you will notice that many of those I quote are long dead!  Do modern commentators find lying less disreputable? 

Here are some thought provoking quotes:

He who tells a lie is not sensible to how great a task he undertakes, for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one. Alexander Pope, 1688-1744, English Poet and Translator. 

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomate, printer, publisher and political philosopher.

It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.  Noel Coward, 1899-1973, English Playwright, composer, director, actor, singer.

The cruelest lies are often told in silence.  Robert Lewis Stevenson, 1859-1894, Novelist essayist, poet, and travel writer.

I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German Philosopher, prose poet, critic, philologist, and composer.

A good liar knows that the most effective lie is always a truth that has had a key piece removed from it.  Carlos Ruiz Aafon, Spanish Novelist, 1964-2020, and author of one of my favorite books, The Shadow of the Wind.

And, continuing with two living authors, I don't like lies...even lies of omission.  Hard truths can be delt with, triumphed over, but lies will destroy your soul.  Patricia Briggs, American author of fantasy.

The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.  Stephen King, American author of Supernatural fiction, suspense, and crime.

I believe lies do matter, and I fear that the disrespect for truthfulness is a threat to the Nation.  George Washington was known for his firm moral conscience.  His leadership as our first President was very important to the young nation and what he helped shape in those first years.  For 200 years, he was known for his honesty as a little boy for admitting to his father that he was the one who cut down the cherry tree.  That story of a little boy who 'could not tell a lie' became a part of what was expected for our leadership and for its citizens.  

The irony is that an itinerate minister named Mason Locke Weems, set out to make Washington a role model for young men by mythologizing young Washington's life.  For over 200 years, the story of chopping down the cherry tree was taken as fact.  The myth that Weems created almost certainly would have displeased Washington, whose integrity should have given Weems many accurate examples to describe Washington's honesty and sense of responsibility, rather than inventing a false story.    

 I believe neglect of telling the truth matters, and I have chosen to share the words quoted above to express my feelings about that importance.  Our justice system depends on people willing to tell the truth.  Those we elect to office are expected to honor the oath of office they have taken.  Contracts mean nothing if those who enter into them have no intention of honoring what they have contracted to do. Reflecting on whether lies matter seems important to me.    

Is Cursive Writing Dead?

 Recently I read an article about a young woman who is making her living by helping people who were never taught cursive writing.  In particular, she helps them learn how to have a respectable signature!    

In 2010, Common Core removed the teaching of cursive writing from their standards for English language, arts and mathematics in grades 1 through 12.  While that decision was not mandatory, many states removed the teaching of cursive writing from their curriculums, causing some states to stop  teaching cursive.  It was not long, however, before teaching cursive began a comeback.  

Kansas is among those states: "The Kansas Department of Education believes that cursive handwriting as a student skill still holds an important place in the instructional practice of every school's curriculum and can be integrated in multiple content areas.  Research supports the role that handwriting instruction plays in the cognitive development of children and this activity is even more important in an increasingly digital environment.  The Board expects educators to insure that all students can write legibly in cursive and comprehend text written in this manner." 

What brought this reversal to my attention was the receipt of thank you notes from local 4th grade students who attended a program at Fort Hays State University that we helped support.  Most of those students were not comfortable writing cursive yet, but their neat printing was a pleasant surprise, as were the hand written thank you notes!  

One of the reasons given for continuing to teach cursive writing is that many of the treasured documents of our American history are written in cursive.  Researchers without training in reading and writing cursive would have lost the ability to read those documents without translation to print.  In addition, genealogy research, less likely to have been translated to text, would be difficult to read.

However, there are other benefits to teaching cursive writing, and by January of 2023, twenty-one states required cursive instruction.  Among the benefits of teaching cursive are:

1.  Cursive promotes a better understanding of words.  

2.  With cursive, the barrier between thought and action is minimal.

3.  Different neurological pathways open in the brain than what occurs with typing.

4.  Information is better retained when written in cursive.

5.  Cursive helps develop motor skills.

6.  Students using Cursive are more likely to retain proper spelling.

I was very disappointed when teaching cursive writing was dropped, but my objection had more to do with esthetics than anything else.  I observed that printed correspondence was unlikely to show much effort to make the correspondence attractive.  Thank you notes are always appreciated, but those thank you notes received during the time teaching cursive was neglected showed little attention to printing neatly or arranging the printing attractively on the page.  If the thank you notes received recently from the 4th graders are any example, writing neatly seems once again to be emphasized.  One of the students had already mastered an attractive cursive penmanship, but all of the students had made an effort to write neatly.  The thank you notes were a pleasant surprise, and we enjoyed sharing their appreciation for a day at FHSU, meeting illustrators and learning about how books are created!  

Protesting Events: Effective or Annoying

Following the 1st game of the 2nd set of the semifinals between Coco Gauff & Karslina Muchova the match was interrupted by protestors for 49 minutes.  Some of you may have been watching.  Did you find it Effective or Annoying, or did you even know what the protest was about? 

Suffragettes Protesting for the Vote.

Sometimes protestors appear at events that they oppose, but other times the protests have little or nothing to do with the event or location of the protest.   Where do these protestors get the right to publicly protest?  The answer is that they are protected by the 1st Amendment; however, the right is not without limits.  It is strongest in locations considered "traditional public forums,' such as streets, sidewalks, and parks.  It may also be exercised by permission of the owner of the property where the protest takes place, and the owner can set rules.  Even on public property, there may be particular rules permits.  The right to protest is a valuable right. 

Clearly the US Open was not public property, but in today's world, the management had anticipated the possibility of protestors and had set aside a particular location.  However, the protestors who interrupted the tennis match were inside the arena when they interrupted the match, shouting about Climate Change and wearing shirts that read "End Fossil Fuels."  An environmental activist group "took credit," with their slogan "no tennis on a dead planet."  Their spokesperson said their purpose was to urge the government to stop approving fossil fuel projects. 

Three of the protestors were easily removed, but the fourth protestor chose to glue his bare feet to the floor of the seating area, requiring medical personal to safely remove him.  During that time, those who had paid to attend the match and those watching on television were interrupted, as were the tennis players.  It may or may not have altered the outcome of the match, a significant financial impact for those two women.  Did the protest accomplish anything productive?  Most people did not even know what the protest was about.  I certainly didn't.  Is it likely that those in the government making decisions about fossil fuels were influenced?

Some might say that the fact that I am posting this blog is proof of success, although that is not my intention.  It is true that they aroused my curiosity, but my research did not discover their purpose.  Instead, I found an article online by someone who missed their intended objective, writing instead about the ecological impact of tennis balls!  According to that article, 330 million tennis balls are produced yearly, with 125 million tennis balls discarded into the trash each year.  The three words on the protesters t-shirts, "End Fossil Fuels," seemed insignificant to their purpose.

According to doctors, "Tennis is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that improves muscular strength, endurance, balance, coordination and agility."  It has become a popular sport, in a nation where we need to encourage exercise.  We dispose of far more indestructible and unnecessary trash than the tennis ball, which actually has a beneficial purpose to our health.  My blog may reach more people than the four protestors at the US Open Tennis did, and although I share the protestors' concern about fossil fuels, I conclude that their protest was more annoying than effective.  What do you think? 

The Story of a Dog...and a few other 4-leged friends

 

 I knew I was in trouble when my husband came into the Duckwall's where I worked during college and asked me how to pay for something with my employee discount...especially when I noticed the little pink cat collar in his hand.  Prince was our first rescued pet, and fortunately, he quickly outgrew the pink collar.  Somehow, we were talked into leaving him at the farm the following summer, and although we regretted leaving him, he became my father's best buddy, at just the time my dad needed a pet.

Lady

I had grown up with pets at the farm, both cats and dogs, but never house pets.  Eventually my husband and I began thinking about getting a dog.  I think we rationalized that a dog could be left outside in the yard and would be easier to take care of than a house cat with a litter box.  Lady, our second rescue, became a house dog almost immediately.  She had been dumped in the middle of nowhere in winter in a cardboard box, with her mother and two other pups, with no food and no shelter.  Fortunately, the man who checked the pump site where they were left arrived soon enough to rescue them.  She was smart, beautiful, gentle, and ready to try whatever we suggested, including riding with us on our motorcycle.

Lady got us through college, the Air Force, living in NYC, Law School, and getting us settled into our careers.  I'm not sure we could have managed without her.

During our marriage we have had 2 dogs and 5 cats, and only one of those pets was a pedigreed dog.  We bought Abbey because she reminded us of Lady, but our careers meant that she was often left alone.  One night, while she was outside, she began barking at a black and white kitten hiding in the bushes.  We rescued him, intending to find him a home, but the home we found was our own.  We named the cat Remington, and after a few days getting acquainted, he and Abbey became pals.

Abbey & Remington

 Black Kitty and Jacob were stray kittens adopted when the mother cat abandoned them.  A neighbor threatened calling the city animal catcher because the pair of kittens were spending too much time at  his bird feeder.  I tried to find them homes, but no one wanted the half-wild kittens.  We were about to move, so the only solution was to take them with us.  They moved from Georgia to North Carolina to  Texas, and finally to Kansas.  They spent days outdoors but nights in the garage, and they seemed perfectly satisfied with that accommodation.  The last of the four finally became an indoor cat, and when she died, we were retired and decided not to get another pet.  We had never liked boarding our pets when we travelled, so we agreed not to have another pet for a while and to enjoy traveling.

Until, one icy cold December after midnight, we were returning from a weekend in Kansas City, and  only a few miles from home we saw a little grey and white kitten sitting by the side of the road.  We stopped, only to discover that he was a full-grown tom cat and he was clearly sick, but we decided to  get him healthy and find him a home.  As you may have guessed, we did.  Ours!

I shared these stories to remind people how wonderful rescued pets can be.  How fortunate Pratt is to have Manager, Alexis Moss and all the others that make the Pratt Humane Society possible.  Even if you don't need a pet right now, you might consider calling your local Humane Society (in Pratt, 620-672-6777) to see how you might help.  For those of you who live out of state, I am sure there are Animal societies near you who would love your help, and who have wonderful animals hoping for someone to love them.

An interesting idea found on Face Book

Banned Book Favorites

 Some classic favorites have delighted children for generations.  In a world where children have so many opportunities to see violence on television and in the news, it seems to me a wonderful fact that many clever books are still beloved by kids.

Those of you who follow my blog know that I have never outgrown my love for collecting children's books, and one of my favorite bookstores devoted to children's books is celebrating 43 years of introducing children to wonderful books.  Books of Wonder was always on our list back in the day when we made frequent trips to NYC, and even now I enjoy their website online, which includes older collectible books, as well as art.

Recently, while I was online looking at children's books, I stumbled upon a website of banned children's books.  I knew that there are current books that some parents oppose, but the discovery that some of my favorite children's classics have been banned was disturbing.

We are not living in the Victorian era.  What children today see on television can be pretty personal, and even worse is the exposure to violence.  Given that exposure, what sort of books are being banned?  For example, what was the Detroit Public Library thinking when they decided that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz had "no value for children of today."  And, why was J.K. Rowling's books, that got children excited about reading, banned in many places for "promoting godless witchcraft."  Perhaps we adults have allowed our imaginations to grow idle, but kids know fantasy when they read it, and it is fun.

Even Alice in Wonderland was disapproved.  Apparently, the smoking of a hookah by the caterpillar upset some adults, even though Alice didn't like the caterpillar, nor his blowing smoke in her face.  Yet, some adults feared that the caterpillar would promote drug use.  Others saw the threat of sexuality in the caterpillar's shape.  What?!  Maybe scholars analyzing the text can find interpretations from their adult perspective, but generations of kids have seen no such things.

Another reason for disapproval of some children's books is the idea of animals talking.  Apparently, in many countries, books that show animals talking are objectionable.  A quote taken from China declares:  "Animals should not use human language, and it is disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level."  Personally, I agree that dogs and cats are very smart, but hard as they may try, they can't quite manage speech.  Those of us who have pets know that they are very good at training us, and they can be trained to understand commands (although cats generally pretend otherwise), but it seems doubtful to me that allowing children to read books in which the animals can talk will make them think animals are on the same level as people.  If they do believe that, it is far more likely that it is because of the devotion their pets have shown them.  A prohibition against books in which animals speak would empty a great many shelves of wonderful books in both homes and libraries.

Maurice Sendak had a special gift of remembering what it was like to think like a child.  He never lost that childhood perspective of remembering how imagination is fun, and the scary stuff is just pretend, especially if your mother's lap is just a few steps away.  Yet, the popular Where the Wild Things Are was widely banned.  

Imagination is essential to childhood. How could children figure out who they are or what they want to be when they grow up if they could not be a fairy princess or cowboy one year and a doctor or a movie star or a scientist or an Olympian or a dog trainer or a tennis pro or an astronaut the next.  Fantasy is only a dress rehearsal to figure out who you really are.   Books are where kids can learn things without having to find them out in ways less desirable.  Books are ways to ask parents and others you trust about things you need to know and find confusing or troubling.  Today's world is more complicated than the world I grew up in, and books are still a safer place to learn about those complicated things than facing them for the first time in complete innocence.  I certainly don't have answers, but banning books that teachers and librarians have read and approved isn't something likely to protect kids.

A Unique Discovery

 I was never one of the "cool" kids in school.   When Elvis became popular, I liked Pat Boone.  When my mother bought me some new fashion, (in one case, pedal pushers), I put them away until the other girls started wearing them.  I wasn't exactly shy, but I suppose I preferred to adhere to what was more traditional.  I gradually gained more confidence over the years, but even today I suppose I am fairly traditional in my tastes...like my love for history and traditional art.  

Tom Waits

That may explain why I missed out on Tom Waits.  My best friend from childhood has always been much 'cooler' than me.  So, it isn't surprising that she was the one to post a quote by Tom Waits on face book that I found interesting.  This is the quote:  We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge, quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness.  We are monkeys with money and guns.  Who is this guy? I asked myself.   And, in contradiction to Waits' dislike of 'the weight of information,' I looked him up on the internet.  

I found that he has called himself a Folk Singer, a Blues Singer, and a Jazz Singer.  He is described as a musician, a composer, a songwriter, and an actor.  Wall Street Journal critic, Jim Fusilli, described him in 2008 as having a library of work "comparable to any song writers in pop today,"   Adding that he is "a keen sensitive and sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden ...[who] creates 3-dimensial characters, who even in their confusion and despair, are capable of insight and starting points of view.  Their stories are accompanied by music that's unlike any other pop history."

That made me even more curious, so I set out to gain more information, apparently breaking another rule of Tom Waits, according to this quote: "Everything is explained now.  We live in an age when you say casually to somebody 'What's the story on that?' and they run to the computer and tell you within 5 seconds.  That's fine, but sometimes I'd just as soon continue wondering.  We have a deficit of wonder right now."  

Only a little embarrassed about defying Waits's dislike of searching for information, I found a website  to listen to his singing.   I was impressed by his musical talent on the keyboard, but his voice sounded like he had been eating rocks all of his life, so gravelly that the words of the song came out like rubble.   But here is the bottom line.  I disagree with much of what he sings and writes.  Sometimes it seems not to make any sense.  But sometimes what he has to say opens a new perspective to consider.  For instance, "The way you do anything is the way you do everything."  Or how about "Memories are like a train...you can see it getting smaller as it goes away..."

Sometimes his words are lyrics in a song.  Sometimes they are simply statements.  Some are long and some are short.  He is a guy with a wife and three kids who likes to keep his personal life separate.  He is a guy who has been around for a long time and doesn't really care if people like him or have never heard of him.  

As for me, I am glad I finally discovered him.  I enjoy reading what he writes more than listening to his songs, and I doubt that I will spend much more time searching for what he has to say, although I might enjoy stumbling on to some of his words.  However, I will share something from Tom Waits that made a lot of sense to me...although I would not have described it as he did.  It may make more sense to some of you with a little gray in your hair.  

Here it is.  "They have removed the struggle to find anything.  And therefore, there is no genuine sense of discovery.  Struggle is the first thing we know, getting along the birth canal, out in the world.  That's pretty basic.  Book store owners and record store owners used to be oracles, in that way; you'd go in this dusty old place and they might point you toward something that would change your life.  All that's gone."

I know what he means...at least what it means to me.  We valued the search more when we had to work for it.  We collected things that we wanted to keep forever because the discovery was precious.  We worked hard for certain things--with study or training and discipline, so that when we won the blue ribbon or the silver cup, we genuinely felt the thrill of victory that told us we deserved it because we had earned it.  And when we did not get the silver cup, we understood that we had done our best but someone else had been better.  Blue ribbons and silver cups for everyone have cheated us of the thrill of knowing we did our best, have stolen the thrill of finding a dusty old book in the back of a store that we had been searching for a very long time, and have left us with a diminishing since of value.    

I'm not so sure about the 'birth canal stuff,' but thank you Tom Waits for sharing your unique way of helping us view the world from a different perspective. 

Are you fed up with TV ads?

 Many years ago, as I was nearing Law School graduation from Baylor University, the President of the University came to our class to discuss the ethical responsibilities we would be assuming as lawyers.  Among the topics he mentioned was the strict limitations on advertising.  A simple ad in the phone book was allowed, but advertising as if you were a merchant was absolutely forbidden.  What I specifically remember was the prohibition against sending a professional greeting card to existing clients, thanking them for their business.  Even what might have been intended as a courtesy was not approved.

A reminder of what ads were allowed years ago.

Boy! have times ever changed!!  I am personally embarrassed by the advertisements of lawyers soliciting business on television, on both local and national channels, from small firms with a few attorneys to law firms with offices in many places.  'Were you injured or sickened by somebody?  Lucky you!  Hire us and we will make you rich.'  Maybe they aren't that obvious, but some of them are close.  It isn't that people with legitimate claims shouldn't bring lawsuits, but some of the ads sound more like carnival hucksters than professional attorneys.  Sadly, it isn't just the lawyers.  The drug companies, the insurance companies, the guys trying to buy your life insurance policies...and so many more are annoyingly common.

Can you believe this old ad?

Most evenings we watch the evening news, and recently we timed the commercials that interrupted the news.  We didn't use a stopwatch, but basically of the 30 minutes of "news," programming, less than 20 minutes was news, with advertisements and promotion of the local news station consuming about a third of the programing.  That evening, there were 17 different commercials plus the local station promotion.  That particular network chose to deliver uninterrupted news for the first 15 minutes, and then bombarded us with commercials and 3 short news briefs jammed between commercials during the remaining time.  The first fifteen minutes without interruption were appreciated, but the number of commercials during the closing minutes was beyond annoying.

When I become annoyed with the current state of commercials on television, I remind myself of the talking stomach advertising Pepto-Bismol and the brasier ad showing a closeup of a woman's chest with the company's bra displayed over her sweater.  Perhaps those of you who remember commercials in the 50s remember some of those ads.  Television ads have always included some that were annoying or ridiculous, but I don't recall the extent of interruptions being as numerous in the past.

Had you forgotten old liquor and cigarette Ads?

Here is the problem.  The places to advertise are disappearing.  Lawyers may still advertise in phone books, but most of us have cell phones and rarely look at a phone book.  Newspapers and magazines are struggling to stay alive because they have diminishing subscribers.  Television is now the best place to advertise.  Advertising pricing is based on the number of people watching, and the price of an ad for the Super Bowl is huge, but other programing is less expensive.  National news has more viewers than local news, but even that is declining. According to the web site, Science Daily, "Nearly a 1/3 of TV ads play to empty rooms."  If you have a business or a product to sell, television is about your best choice, and if short ads on less watched stations are cheaper, repeating the ads to catch the viewers who left the room or hit mute may be your best advertising option.

According to Science Daily, older viewers are more likely to change channels during commercials, while younger viewers just leave the room.  We keep the remote control handy and mute the commercials.  However, from the perspective of businesses, what are they to do, with the decline in newspapers and magazines?  Science Daily says the commercials that viewers are most likely to watch are recreational products, like beer and video games, and the least likely to be watched are drug ads, particularly for treating serious conditions.

Unless you record programs and delete the ads quickly as you watch or you buy ad-free programming, most of us are going to endure way too many ads!  Thank goodness Lady Bird kept our highway bilbords restricted!

Edward R. Murrow, an interesting look back in time

 

Edward R. Murrow

 

 

 

    A few years ago, a local library was selling books it no   longer felt it had room for in their collection.  I bought   Prime Time, The Life of Edward R. Murrow, by Alexander   Kendrick.  At the time, I was busy with the publication of   Prairie Bachelor, and I put the 548-page book aside to read   later, when I had more time.  Recently, I made time to read   it, and once I started, I could not put it down. 

As you may remember, Murrow was a newsman who first made his reputation on radio, particularly during W.W. II, but returned as a newsman for CBS when television was joining radio as a source of entertainment and news.  Some of you may recall his radio news reporting, but others, like me, may recall watching him on our small screen televisions.  He was a highly respected and admired newsman.  

As television gained viewership, and found profitability in selling shows to advertisers, Murrow became increasingly concerned about the direction television was taking, and with his fame as a reputable deliverer of the news, he felt the responsibility to speak out concerning the importance of providing viewers the news.   From the perspective of those deciding how broadcasting time was to be allocated, the revenue received from advertisers of the news was insignificant compared to the money advertisers were willing to pay for Westerns, game shows, and other entertainment.  Their response to Murrow's concern was to tell him that the programing he belittled was what paid for the in-depth news specials he hosted.

The public respect for Murrow did give him some protection to speak out against Senator McCarthy of Wisconsin in the years following W.W. II, as the Senator used television to destroy opponents and gain an audience, although many were afraid to speak out.  Murrow delivered his criticism without the bombastic slanders of McCarthy, but saying, "The line between investigating and persecution is a very fine one, and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly." Ultimately, Murrow stated his concern clearly enough that it could not be ignored.  "His [McCarthy's] weapon was fear.  He was a politically unsophisticated man with a flair for publicity, and he was powerfully aided by the silence of timid men who feared to be the subject of his unfounded accusations.  He polluted the channels of communication, and every radio and television network, every newspaper and magazine publishers who did not speak out against him, contributed to his evil work and must share responsibility for what he did, not only to our fellow citizens but to our self-respect...The timidity of television in dealing with this man when he was spreading fear throughout the land is not something to which this art of communication can ever point with pride."

He was not the only television executive to speak out.  NBC President Silvestor Weaver said, "You can't really have in your hands the power that television has in this time of crisis, and be agreeable to salving the problem by letting it become a jukebox in the corner of the room to keep the kids quiet, and just pile on one crime or Western or game show after another."  

Murrow agreed, and he went public with his concerns when he received the Albert Einstein Award, saying, "If television and radio are to be used for the entertainment of all of the people all of the time, we have come perilously close to discovering the real opiate of the people."

Today, we do have many sources for receiving news.  Murrow had believed that Americans were suspicious of propaganda, and that suspicion would protect them from the harm of people like Wisconsin Senator McCarthy.  He believed that newsmen only needed: "To be persuasive, we must be believable.  To be believable we must be credible.  To be credible, we must be truthful.  It is as simple as that."  Murrow trusted the American people to eventually sort through the nonsense and fabrication and arrive at the truth,  

For those of us with gray in our hair, we may know W.W. II history only from textbooks, and although we might have been old enough to pay attention to Senator McCarthy's humiliation, we probably had our minds on something else at the time.  I am so glad that I finally read Prime Time, The Life of Edward R. Murrow.  I do remember him, although more from his visits with famous people in their homes than with his news reporting.   I do remember the trail of smoke that constantly rose from the cigarette in his hand.  I did not remember so many other things he did in his amazing life until reading this book.  If you are intrigued by this remarkable American, you can still find this book online for a few dollars.  Used hardcover books are more expensive, and mine is not for sale!

P.S.  As a measure of his credibility as a reporter, the man who was almost never seen without a cigarette in his hand did a special news report on the dangers of smoking as research revealed its serious risks, cementing his determination for telling the truth, even about something he was known to enjoy.  He died of cancer, but it was of the brain rather than of the throat.  One lung had previously been removed, but after his death it was found that the remaining lung was clear.  His brain had been riddled with cancer, but it could not be determined whether the brain cancers had traveled from the earlier removed lung.    

Humor from a 19th Century Vice-president

    John Nance Garner was the 32nd Vice-president of the United States.  When asked what he thought of serving in that esteemed office, he is said to have replied that it was "Not worth a bucket of spit."  (Some references suggest that he might have used a cruder word than spit.)

To explain his opinion more specifically shortly after leaving office, he said, "Worst damnfool mistake I ever made was letting myself be elected Vice President of the United States.  Should have stuck with my old chores as Speaker of the House.  I gave up the second most important job in the Government for one that didn't amount to a hill of beans.  I spent eight long years as Mr. Roosevelt's spare tire."

Vice-president Garner does not seem to mind meeting
these Azalea Beauty Queens!

Having discovered John Nance Garner's quotes, I decided to explore a bit of information about former vice-presidents.  The following is what I found:

15 Vice-presidents have become Presidents

8 seceded because of the death of the President

6 were elected after having been the Vice-president

One became President because the former President resigned 

Only one President served as Vice-President & President, 

although he was never elected to either post.

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of Vice-presidential history.  Maybe some of you can even take the challenge of filling in the missing information about just who the 15 Vice-presidents who became President were (or are).  I suspect most of you know who the man was who filled both of the Office of Vice-president and President without being elected to either office.

In earlier years, the role of Vice-president was fairly limited.  Nelson Rockefeller was quoted as saying, "I go to funerals.  I go to earthquakes."  Obviously, judging from Garner's picture, sometimes they got to meet pretty girls!  However, in more recent times, Vice-presidents are generally given more responsibilities.  Perhaps modern Vice-presidents might not agree with Vice-president Garner's description of the job.

Have We Forgotten History?

Recently, a friend sent me an article he thought I would enjoy.  The author of the article is Hugh Hewitt, and his premise is that by neglecting knowledge of history we are unable to make informed judgements about what is happening in present time.  Naturally, since I am a history buff, I was intrigued by his premise.  

Hewitt directed his attention toward young people's knowledge of history, citing recent test results, showing "alarming declines in eighth graders' understanding of history and civics."  His suggestion was to encourage kids to read historical fiction as a way to entice them to enjoy learning history.  I like the idea, if he means reading books with fictional characters but accurate historical references.  As an example, he suggested Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance," pointing out that while Wouk may have invented characters, he told the historical account of W.W. II with accuracy.

I also chose to tell history in my book, Prairie Bachelor, The Story of a Kansas Homesteader and the Populist Movement, using what I considered narrative nonfiction, telling history as a story with real people and real events.  I researched extensively and included foot notes and a bibliography, but I wrote in the style of a story rather than a textbook.  Both Wouk's books and mine were written for general readers, but we shared history as accurately as possible.  Several people who read Prairie Bachelor told me that they were not aware of the populist movement before reading my book. 

Hewitt focused on teaching history to young students, but I fear that both young and old are lacking in historic knowledge.   I enjoy reading history, but there is a lot of history that I do not know, and I certainly agree with Hewitt's statement that, "Without the sense of scale that even a decent grasp of history provides, it is simply not possible to appreciate the difference between what, today, might seem to be a deeply dangerous divided country [without being aware of ] the violent social upheaval of the 1960s, much less of the pre-civil War era."  

However, while his conclusion that awareness of history can show us that we have survived threats in the past, helping us keep current problems in perspective, we must not assume that just because "things worked out then" we need not be concerned about today's problems.   Germany did not have nuclear weapons in W.W. II, and how different the war might have been if Hitler would have had that weapon first. 

A reminder found in Philadelphia 

It is true that every generation will face challenges, and America has survived severe situations.  Yet, just because we survived difficult times in the past must not make us assume that today's threats will eventually be resolved wisely.  Nuclear weapons, global warming, and AI capabilities are obvious examples of things past generations did not confront. 

Hewitt's emphasis on the lessons history has to teach is valid.  I agree.  Ways to teach history to young people are extremely important, but we adults also need to reflect on the lessons to be learned from the past.  Perhaps, instead of a debate, prospective political candidates should participate in a quiz show, answering questions about American history.   It seems reasonable that we voters should take better notice of how well schooled in history and the American Constitution the people we send to State Capitals and to Washington, D.C. really are.  But, of course, before we can judge their answers, all of us may need to brush up a little on our own awareness of history.

Thanks to my friend who suggest that I read Hugh Hewitt's article.