What Have We Learned?

Memorial to W.W. I Soldiers

 My husband and I graduated from college during Viet Nam.  We were about to retire when nine-eleven shocked America.  Today, America is involved in helping those we believe are in the right to defend themselves against others who started war against them. We are not fighting, but we are indirectly involved.  Centuries ago, Plato said "Only the dead have seen the end of war."

The existence of the United States of America began on April 19, 1775, when 700 British soldiers were confronted by 77 minutemen. Both sides thought they were in the right.  Decades later, Winsten Churchill said "War is mainly a catalogue of blunders."  

If we know that what these men who have experienced war concluded, why do wars continue?  John Steinbeck explained it this way:  "All war is a symptom of man's failures as a thinking animal."  While that may be true, it does not offer a solution.  Richard Nixon thought he had the answer, when he said:  "Short of changing human nature,,.. the only way to achieve a practical peace in a world of competing nations is to take the profit out of war."  While that may sound like a solution, aren't most wars fought for some perceived benefit--to acquire land that is valuable in some way, to gain access to a shipping passage, to achieve a benefit of some kind?  His comment seams more of an observation than a solution.

Yet, great minds have warned that we must find a way to halt war.  H.G. Wells said, "If we don't end war, war will end us."  Albert Einstein described the importance of avoiding wars in this way:  "I know not what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

In more recent times, Madeleine Albright said, "I am an optimist that worries a lot. ...I have seen enough examples of altruism and sacrifice to live in astonishment at what humans are willing to do for one another; and enough examples of cruelty to despair at what we are capable of doing to each other.  The contradictions within human nature are inescapable.  Liberty is our gift and our burden, carrying with it both the responsibility to choose and accountability for the choices we make." 

At the end of WW I there was a genuine effort made to end wars, and Woodrow Wilson was a part of it.  He said of the American soldiers, they fought for "the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free."  He would have been saddened by the wars that have followed since then.

To answer my question, What Have We Learned? I have not found an answer.  I don't suppose I should feel embarrassed, since those far wiser than I am, cannot seem to find the answer either.  I suppose that what is important is that we do keep trying to find an answer as best we can. 

 

Looking to the Past as a Reminder

People's Party Political Cartoon  

I strive in this blog to be informational--to share history in particular.  The blog began when I was doing research for my book, Prairie Bachelor, The story of a Kansas Homesteader and the Populist Movement.  I shared things I learned about how Isaac B. Werner staked his claims--  things that mattered to Isaac and still matter today, such as literacy, art, education--and the wider history of our nation, especially how important it is to learn the lessons history has to teach us.    

I wrote this blog several years ago, and for some reason it was never posted.  However, I recently came across it, and thought it was relevant to issues we are dealing with today.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Isaac B. Werner was active in the populist movement of the late 1800s.  Many posts have shared information about that movement and the political parties that evolved during that time to confront the two established parties, which farmers, ranchers, miners, and other laborers found to have been neglectful of the concerns of the common man.  The People's Party, which grew out of this movement, focused on such things as fair sharing of wealth with the laborers whose efforts created it, and limiting the political influence of monopolies, speculators, railroads and other corporations.  Some of the things that those populists advocated have been adopted, such as the use of secret ballots, direct election of Senators, and 8-hour work laws.  

The words of the People's Party Preamble, written by Ignatius Donnelly, include two important priorities:  First, "we seek to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the plain people, with which class it originated."  Second, "We declare that this Republic can only endure as a free government while built upon the love of the whole people for each other and for the nation; that it cannot be pinned together by bayonets; ...and that we must be in fact, as we are in name, one united brotherhood of free men."

The opposition of the People's Party regarding "undesirable emigration" should be noted, particularly their resentment that manufacturers were hiring poor emigrants to work for wages that made even minimal living standards impossible, firing workers who had been paid more because of the cheaper wages and unsafe working environments that desperate emigrants would accept.  The animosity was largely economic. 

The populist movement with its roots in the late 1800s still has things to remind us.   

Today our Nation also seems divided, although there is no third political party involved.  However, perhaps there are lessons we can take from history. 

Sometimes we forget that our Nation has had divisive times in the past, the obvious example being the Civil War.  However, there were other times when the Nation was threatened from within, such as the KKK, and the American Nazis gathering at Madison Square Garden in 1939. Our Forefathers believed in us, and the ability of citizens to protect what they created for us.  There will always be hate groups and politicians like Senator Joseph McCarthy, who spewed misinformation and hate, saying whatever it took to gain or hold office. So far, American voters have managed to live up to the responsibility of electing candidates who will continue to protect our constitution. The protections the Founding Fathers put in place have held.  Unfortunately, not all elected officials chosen by voters have been responsible, as well as some placed in official roles that do not require election.  

What history has shown us is not that preserving the Union is always easy, and this blog is intended to remind us of that.  What is important is that they trusted us to vote, and we must respect that responsibility.  From local offices to the Presidency, our votes count, and our responsibility to vote wisely matters.  I like Donnelly's quote: "We declare that this Republic can only endure as a free government while built upon the love of the whole people for each other and for the nation; that it cannot be pinned together by bayonets; ...and that we must be in fact, as we are in name, one united brotherhood of free men." The challenge of preserving the union requires our vigilance, and our  sense of respect and responsibility to elect people who see themselves as guardians of our precious Constitution.  This blog reminds us that there have been difficult times in the past, but enough voters have selected wise men and women to keep our Constitution safe.  Vote as if your vote mattered--because it does!       

  

Wisdom or Ignorance

A Mother's 100th Birthday with her son

 Often, I will stumble across something that I think might make a good blog post, and I will make myself a note on whatever piece of paper that is handy.  Quite some time ago, I came across the word "Wisdom" and wondered exactly what wisdom is.  I found some interesting definitions and jotted them down.  This morning, I came across that piece of paper with the definitions, and here are some of them:

For children, I liked this definition: It is knowing what is right and doing it.  For adults, I found many definitions, and here are three:  1. The ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight;  2.  Not simply mental knowledge of the truth, but integration of that knowledge into the whole of our lives; and 3.  Knowledge, experience, and deep understanding.

Today, as I was preparing to write this blog I thought about my definitions for wisdom, and wondered what the opposite of wisdom is.  Perhaps, the opposite is Ignorance, I thought.  However, my search for the meaning of ignorance was complicated.  Is ignorance a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness?  I found a long string of synonyms, such as stupidity, rashness, imprudence, illiteracy, and foolishness among others, but some of those meanings seem critical, while others are just a lack of knowledge, education, awareness, or opportunity to learn.  In fact, all of us are ignorant about certain things.

I suppose that what is actually troubling me is how complicated our world is becoming.  It seems impossible to be knowledgeable about everything in today's world, yet we seem to be expected to learn things that once were fairly simple but no longer are.  

More and more, we are expected to communicate not directly with a human being on the telephone, but rather to a machine.  Placing an order, scheduling an appointment, filling out an information form prior to going to the doctor or business may be efficient, but it is often impersonal, confusing, or annoying for the customer or patient.  

My point is, the definitions of Wisdom and Ignorance are changing.  The elderly couple trying to order a subscription online, or fill out a form to buy the basket of fruit they have ordered for friends for years may find it nearly impossible today, leaving them feeling confused and stupid.  That the same couple might be able to roast a Thanksgiving turkey to perfection or rebuild a vintage car.  On the other hand, their grandchildren can navigate a computer in the dark. 

Every generation must have struggled with change, but today we seem also to struggle with values.  Is  my respect for history and the wisdom we can learn from history going out of fashion? Are politeness and courtesy becoming obsolete.?  I hope not.   

 

What is Important?

It is an election year, and if you have a television you have probably had enough of being told who to vote for!  I do think it is important that people vote.  I also think we have a responsibility to take voting seriously.  I am grateful to people in our communities who are willing to take the responsibility to run for school boards, city offices, or even serve on committees that are so important to our communities.  Without those willing to give of their time, we could not have the functioning communities we have.  But this is an election year to choose the President of the United States, and I have been giving that a lot of thought.  What do I think is important in deciding who deserves my vote?

First, the president needs to be a lot smarter than I am!  Can you imagine the responsibility, the constant issues a president must be prepared to handle?  The sacrifice of personal time for yourself and your family, the constant need to be aware that you must consider whatever you say, whatever you wear, whomever you appear with, even in casual situations, for you will be judged.  That is more than most of us can even imagine.  And, none of that is even really about the huge responsibilities of assuming that office.  However, beyond those things, here are some things I think are important to consider in evaluating a candidate for the presidency, and other government offices.

First, I think maturity is important.  Some people mature faster than others, but even the smartest young people need to have experienced life as an adult for a while to learn a few lessons.  By law, our Presidents and Vice-Presidents must be 35, Senators must be 30, and Members of the House must be 25.  In Kansas, the Govenor must be 25, to serve in the Upper House 18, the Lower House 18, Lieutenant Govenor 25, and Attorney General and Secretary of State do not have an age requirement apparently.  I almost hate to include the ages for members of the House for fear some 18 year olds will read this and run for office!

Unfortunately, Maturity is not always about your age.  Courtesy, Respect for the office you hold, and just a politeness for the fact that people thought you would represent them with a sense of dignity seems important to me.  Ignoring traditions, customs of dress, and declining to appear at traditional occasions seem disrespectful of the office you are honored to hold, in my opinion.  

I also believe education and experience are important.  Perhaps I should say education + experience are important.  Just having gone to college does not ensure that you have an education, nor are people who received an education by reading and observing and working necessarily uneducated.  President Truman had very little post high school education, but he served in the military and he read.  It was his opinion that a President needed knowledge of American history, as well as world history, and he read on his own to be educated about those things.  History is difficult to teach to young students, for whom 20 years ago seems ancient, but knowledge of history is important to all of us, and it is essential to presidents.

Knowledge of the American Constitution is essential not only to every office holder but also to every American.  How can we know if those we elect are respectful of our constitution if we haven't read it?  And how can politicians do their jobs effectively if they haven't read it?

Sometimes the education and practice of certain jobs are helpful to politicians.  For many years, most of our presidents had served in the military, and I think that was a good thing.  Today, however, recent presidents have not had that training. Many presidents have been trained in the law, and that can be an asset.  An educated understanding of finance can be helpful, as well as a business management background.  We have also elected Presidents with a background in Education.

These are a few of the things I consider when I vote.  However, there is something else that seems important to me.  Whomever the person who has received the honor of election to office is, he or she should respect the dignity of the office and the honor they have been given by being elected by voters.  Of course, people who run for office must be confident of their abilities, but over confidence and arrogance are not traits that I admire.   

I read a lot of history, and even the best of presidents have had their flaws.  However, some have done remarkably well in difficult times. A few, not too well.  In a world in which our weapons are so horrible, and where the wonders of the internet include the dangers of spreading misinformation that they do, and AI is getting frighteningly capable of surpassing our human minds, we cannot elect presidents that don't measure up.