Point of View

Out and About (Sort of): Politicization of Communion by Howard Freedlander

June 22, 2021 by Howard Freedlander 4 Comments

It’s dangerous to write about religion, but here I go.

The tentative decision by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to place restrictions on the sacred offering of communion to President Joe Biden for his pro-life views on abortion strikes me as patently stupid. It politicizes a religious ritual that exists to provide parishioners of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal faiths an inviolate connection to Jesus.

Some years ago, the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Maryland pointedly criticized then-Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, a longtime Catholic, for his views on abortion. If I recall correctly, the archbishop suggested that parishioners consider whether to vote for O’Malley. I was horrified at the archbishop’s audacious political intervention.

As former Governor Robert Ehrlich was wont to say, “Give me a break.” Said out of frustration, this sentiment echoes my attitude toward unseemly interference in politics. The Catholic Church should concern itself with its shrinking attendance and its views toward married and female priests.

It demeans itself when it feels compelled to punish a public official who dares to support a policy antithetical to church beliefs. It is hubris.

I admit that I have a somewhat jaded perspective. Having attended three Catholic weddings in our family, I chafe at the often-unwelcomed attitude by priests toward the taking of communion by Christians who are not Catholics. It’s a shameful shunning by the Catholic Church, a practice that my wife and I often ignore.

The proposed doctrine to block the Eucharist from politicians like Biden who have pro-life views flies into the inclusive nature of Jesus Christ’s ministry and words. He welcomed everyone, including sinners of all degrees of flawed behavior.

Far from being a student of the powerful Catholic Church, I have always frowned upon its forbidden and foreboding nature, its withholding of the sacrament to those it deems unworthy, its pronouncements about the human condition, such as the marriage of gay couples.

The Catholic Church said little or nothing about the morals and behavior of President Trump. Is the church’s moral compass tied only to abortion, a subject that consumes much too much space in public discourse? I would like to hear the Catholic discuss economic inequality, health care, racism, civility and environmental degradation.

Rather than spending 3-1/2 hours on drafting a document for debate in the fall to determine who should, and who shouldn’t be invited to the altar rail, the Catholic Church should focus on unifying our fractious nation, not further dividing it by arbitrary decisions about the recipients of the Eucharist.

Are Jesus’ teachings simply paid lip service? Is the Catholic Church now measuring and evaluating sin and determining that a political position on abortion or gay marriage or the death penalty warrants exclusion from the holiest act of obedience?

Again, give me a break and smell the sweet odor of change. Perhaps the bishops should seek counsel from Pope Francis, who espouses a far more inclusive Catholic Church than the small-minded majority of U.S. bishops.

Were I an unlikely member of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy, I would urge my colleagues to take a collective breath and confirm the obvious: Joe Biden is a decent, church-going person who is proud of his Catholic faith and openly displays his devotion to his religion.

Praise, not debar him.

His political positions are just that. They are divorced from the church, unrelated to the invitation to every Catholic to enjoy the Eucharistic and its explicit belief in Jesus Christ and his open-arm embrace of all people regardless of their sins.

No exception.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.

Lessons From the Garden by Jamie Kirkpatrick

June 22, 2021 by Jamie Kirkpatrick 1 Comment

Last summer, we had nary a bloom on the hydrangea in our backyard. Apparently, I had pruned them too late in their cycle and so, in a fit of pique, they decided to take the summer off. The wee wife was verklempt. She loves their colors, shapes, and size, and they always look perfect when arranged on the table by our front door. They greeted our guests like those nice old folks who smile and say hello when you enter the local Walmart. We don’t have a Walmart in our little town, but that’s another story for another time.

Anyway, I vowed never to make my pruning mistake again. In my desire to tame the beast, I had literally nipped them in the bud. So I did what I always do when I need to expand my horizons: I googled “hydrangea” and went to school. I got about as far as second grade. By then I had learned that hydrangea are not plants; they’re shrubs. They’re originally Asian, there are several varieties, and they can grow to a height of fifteen feet. All good information, but what about pruning them?

The Google gurus had this to say: “Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer, but no later than August 1. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds.” (Note the words in bold; googles typeface, not mine.) I had not thought to trim my plants—sorry, my shrubs— after they had flowered the previous year, and I had pruned them in late fall or early winter. I was twice chastised. No wonder they had taken the year off!

So, at the end of the summer—last summer—I did absolutely nothing to our hydrangea. I let them be. All fall and into the winter and spring, I watched and worried. Buds appeared on the old wood, but how would they survive the cold, dark days still to come? Nevertheless, I staid my hand and held my breath.

As winter turned into spring and spring to summer, a wondrous awakening began to unfold. There was new growth on old wood, leaves began to unfold, and then, one morning in early June, I saw the first blossom. That first globe was followed by dozens more and suddenly, the deep end of the backyard was in full bloom again. I was giddy; the wee wife was delighted. We were back in the hydrangea business!

But there was just one little problem: the blooms were very pale, not the cornflower or cerulean blue we longed for. So, I dug just a little bit deeper (so to speak) and learned that hydrangea crave acidic soil. Now I knew just enough to be dangerous: the soil in our yard is very base so I went to the local nursery, explained the problem, and was handed a plastic jug filled with crystals. “Shake a little of this around the base of the bushes…”

“Shrubs,” I corrected.

He looked at me. “Whatever. Shake some of this under your shrubs out to the drip line and give them a good soaking.”

“That’s it?” I asked.

“That’s it.”

I was dubious but did as I was told. Within a week, the flowers were getting bluer by the hour and new blossoms were exploding on every stalk. My self-esteem returned; I was master of my domain; most importantly, the wee wife had her welcome flowers back on the hall table.

The moral of this story is whatever you want it to be. But this I’ve learned: sometimes less is more. Trim and prune at the right time. Feed when necessary. And never, ever take those friendly Walmart greeters for granted.

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives in Chestertown, MD. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine.

Two collections of his essays (“Musing Right Along” and “I’ll Be Right Back”) are available on Amazon. Jamie’s website is www.musingjamie.com.

Opinion: “Traitors To Our Nation” by Gren Whitman

June 21, 2021 by Opinion Leave a Comment

The neo-Confederate “Talbot Boys” statue in front of the Talbot County courthouse in Easton, Md., was dedicated in 1916, a half-century after Lee’s surrender to Grant and in the middle of the virulent Jim Crow era.

Atop its granite pedestal, the statue depicts a young Caucasian soldier with “C.S.A.” on his belt buckle. With truculence, he grips a battle flag that’s clearly the secessionist Stars-and-Bars. The pedestal proclaims, “To the Talbot Boys / 1861-1865 / C.S.A.,” and memorializes local men who enlisted in the Confederate army to defend slavery.

It’s just one of many such statues erected in the early 1900s to glorify the Confederacy 50 years after Appomattox. Manufactured by the W.H. Mullins Co. of Salem, Ohio. Easton’s statue had an identical, Mullins-made twin in Lake Charles, La., until that one toppled during a hurricane. That twin of Talbot’s was entitled “The South’s Defenders,” leaving no doubt as to the fervent intent of the Louisianans who put it up.

As the banner at the Juneteenth demonstration at the Easton courthouse succinctly stated, the Talbot Boys were “TRAITORS TO OUR NATION.” American citizens all, they volunteered to fight for the Confederate States of America against the United States of America. They betrayed our nation, pure and simple.

Local apologists for their county’s testimonial to white supremacy and chattel slavery are quick to fire up the gas lamps. You just don’t understand, they say. You just haven’t been taught the true history of this statue. You need an explanation.

They claim that in 1913, a second monument was also planned to honor the Talbot citizens who were loyal to their nation and who fought for the Union. But, they say, funds for this were never raised. They also claim they want to now build a pro-Union monument and erect it on the courthouse grounds, as if so doing would somehow achieve moral equivalency between the CSA and the USA, between slavery and freedom.

Local apologists also propose that a county-wide referendum should be conducted, as if a majority vote to preserve the monument would magically render the South’s slavery and the Confederacy’s treason somehow moral and righteous.

Citing the ACLU’s current lawsuit to have the statue removed, apologists even raise this phantasmic boogeyman, that a “national pressure group will come in to take over local government.” What nonsense!

Our nation is 21 years into the 21st Century. We are past 200 years of slavery and past 100 years of racial segregation. Many Americans are taking steps to ensure our nation doesn’t return to those eras, but instead moves forward to forge a new one. No longer a Black versus White argument, the new civil rights movement has clearly become Blacks-and-Whites-together against those Whites who just don’t want to listen.

Millions of Americans have family going back to the Civil War era. Many have forebears who fought in the war. I am one; two great-great uncles of mine served in the Union Army.

A traitor from Talbot County could have taken aim many times at Capt. May Stacey, at Gaines Mills, or Antietam, or Spotsylvania Courthouse, or Five Forks. My Uncle May’s war diary and letters have been passed down; he fought as a U.S. regular in those battles and others, and by luck and pluck survived the war.

And Lt. Col. Joseph Curtis’ voluminous letters to his mother, Julia Bowen Curtis, my great-great grandmother, have also been preserved. Uncle Joe led his Rhode Island troops in battle at Roanoke Island and at Antietam. It could have been a traitor from Talbot County who shot him off his horse, dead as he rallied his troops through Fredericksburg.

Talbot County’s controversy over its rebel statue is part of the national debate over Confederate relics, a war which the “Lost Cause” is clearly losing again. Monuments such as the Talbot Boys are being removed, one by one, state after state, including Maryland.

State flags have been altered to excise the “Stars and Bars” motif, and schools, streets, and military bases are being renamed. This past winter, Maryland’s General Assembly voted to deep-six “Maryland, My Maryland” as the state song (it attacked Abe Lincoln). Governor Hogan has signed it.

In support of removing the Talbot Boys statue, Maryland’s Sen. Chris J. Van Hollen said, “We have an obligation to build a more perfect union, not honor those who fought to dissolve it.”

Easton’s courthouse lawn — which once served as an auction pen for enslaved people — may soon witness the decamping of the Talbot Boys.

Gren Whitman has been a leader in neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political groups and committees, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations. He is now retired and lives in Rock Hall, MD.

Opinion: Catholic Bishops Engage in Toxic Mix of Religion and Politics by Frank DeFilippo

June 21, 2021 by Maryland Matters 2 Comments

The Roman Catholic Church is the world’s largest precinct organization. Civilization’s oldest Christian religion has 1.33 billion constituents scattered around the globe. They are arranged geographically into 223,129 parishes on the seven continents and other land masses, with more than 17,000 here in America, where Catholics make up the largest religious denomination in the nation.

The parishes, or churches, are clustered in archdiocese/diocese, each one presided over by red-robed cardinals, archbishops or bishops. They, in turn, are autonomous up to the point of accountability to a single man, their patron and spiritual leader, the Pope, who resides at the seat of Catholicism, the eternal city of Rome and within his own tidy piece of heaven, Vatican City.

Maryland is straddled by three archdiocese/diocese — the Archdiocese of Washington, the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Diocese of Wilmington, which brackets the Eastern Shore. Each of the two archdiocese is populated by roughly 500,000 Catholics. There are an estimated 51 million Catholics in America.

In the organizational sense, the Roman Catholic Church is a caliphate, dominated by a single man, who Catholics believe speaks infallibly on matters of faith and morals as church teachings, but on all else speaks the same language as the rest of us mortals, though perhaps less colorfully. Talk about a man with a constituency.

In doctrinal matters, the Pontiff, the church and its hierarchical princes move slower than evolution, if at all. Among the pillars on which the Catholic Church is built is immutability — it rarely, if ever, changes, even over 2,000 years.

Where these second-tier ecclesiastics are not bound by the dogmatic strictures established by Papal decree, they are the local sheriffs in charge of enforcing teachings as well as religious conduct within the church’s stained-glass surroundings, and kind of a moral code of conduct within society in general as part of their pastoral duties.

It is within those brackets of authority that some austere prelates have boundary issues with President Joe Biden, as they have asserted before, and again last week when 260 prelates met virtually for the annual summer conference of bishops.

Biden supports a woman’s right to choose abortion as the law of the land but not the procedure itself. The issue is not Biden the person, but that durable deal-breaker of conservative culture, a matter of life and death to some, and a personal choice for others.

The decision comes at a time when the Catholic hierarchy has major problems of its own, with sex abuse cases involving pedophile priests and a rapidly diminishing pool of churchgoers.

The Catholic Church, and many other religions, teaches that life begins at the moment of conception. And in the extreme, any interference with that moment is the taking of an innocent life, or, well, let’s just say it, murder.

Accordingly, a vocal group of prelates want to deny Biden, and presumably other Catholic pro-choice politicians, the right to communion, the most sacred and private rite within the church’s canon of absolutist rituals.

And under the church’s rules of engagement, they can, individually, prevent the president from participating in the sacrament, the most solemn moment of the celebratory mass, a kind of silent ostracism that would be accompanied by noisy publicity.

However, Pope Francis has stressed to the bishops the need for unity over division and caution in their approach to tampering with the spiritual life of the president.

From the Vatican itself, the signals originating from Rome have been fuzzy and far from direct but appear to be hinting that what’s at stake beyond abortion is the other good stuff that Biden brings to the U.S. presidency and the world and are in line with Pope Francis’ priorities — the Green New Deal, the Paris Climate Accord, the reversal of anti-immigration policies, expanding health care and fighting discrimination and poverty.

Biden finds himself at the toxic intersection of politics and religion. After three days of emotional debate, the bishops voted 168-55 by secret ballot to prepare a teaching document to establish guidelines on the meaning of Holy Communion, a sign of their sharp internal division as well as a possible eventual limit on Biden’s ability to participate in the sacrament, for those who choose to enforce such action.

The issue was unity vs. doctrine. And it appears that Biden needn’t worry about being cut off from communion as long as he’s in Washington.

Prior to the vote, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, was reported to have said that his priests will not deny communion to Biden.

“The choice before us at this moment is either we pursue a path of strengthening unity or settle for a document that will not bring unity but will further damage it,” Wilton was reported as saying.

Biden frequently attends mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in Georgetown, not far from the White House.

The counterpoint to Wilton’s dismissive view was expressed pointedly by Archbishop Francisco Cordileone, of San Francisco, who was quoted as saying: “The eyes of the whole country are on us. If we don’t act courageously, clearly and convincingly on this core Catholic value, how can we expect to be taken seriously on another matter?” Cordileone presides over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D) archdiocese.

Biden is the nation’s second Catholic president, after John F. Kennedy, and a very public Catholic. He attends mass and receives communion every Sunday, no matter where he is. Attendance at Sunday mass is an obligation under church law to remain in good standing. And communion has become more accessible and frequent to many of the faithful with the elimination of the penitent fasting requirement of years ago.

During the campaign, Donald Trump, then president, accused Biden of wanting to “Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment, no religion, no anything. Hurt the Bible, hurt God. He’s against God, he’s against guns.” That’s a direct quote, but don’t even try to parse it.

To which Biden replied: “Like so many people, my faith has been the bedrock foundation of my life. …My faith has been a guiding light for me and a constant reminder of the fundamental dignity and humanity that God has bestowed upon all of us.”

Biden did not come about his position on abortion quickly or easily. His acceptance of the controversial issue has evolved over his more than 40 years in public office. He’s voted both for and against the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion. He supported a referendum of the states to repeal Roe v. Wade and he now supports Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

Another faith-forward Catholic in high public office is Pelosi — third in the line of succession to the presidency — whose views on a woman’s right to choose mirror Biden’s as do her habitual practices of her Catholic faith. (Pelosi attended parochial and upper Catholic schools in her home town of Baltimore.) Presumably she would be subject to the same general denial of communion as the conservative bloc of prelates appears to be suggesting.

Six of the nine Supreme Court justices are practicing Catholics, and five of the six are identified as conservatives although Chief Justice John Roberts occasionally provides a swing vote.

Many recent polls show that a majority of Catholics ignore church teaching and believe that abortion, to one degree or another, should be a matter of individual choice and available to those who want it.

At the same time, polls show that church attendance has declined significantly as have the number of people who identify generally with religious beliefs. The prelates’ decision could further cleave the division between the church’s hierarchy and the faithful.

Abortion has long been a settled issue in Maryland. Following the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill in 1974 that legalized abortion. It was vetoed by Gov. Marvin Mandel (D) for legal insufficiency with the promise to adopt a sustainable law the following year (after he was safely reelected in 1974), which he did.

Maryland’s abortion law has survived numerous challenges over the nearly half century, including a voter referendum in 1992. Two Republican governors, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and the incumbent, Larry Hogan, refused to engage in the abortion debate to placate conservative demands, saying the issue is settled business in Maryland. Hogan is Catholic, as is Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), a supporter of abortion rights.

And most recently, the General Assembly established protections for Maryland’s abortion law against any action the Supreme Court might take to either weaken or repeal Roe v. Wade.

What the unforgiving eminences refuse to recognize or admit is that Biden is the ideal advertisement for churchgoing, what used to be called a “profession of faith.” His actions command attention.

Deep Diving by Ross Jones

June 20, 2021 by Opinion 1 Comment

Is it because I’m and old guy—89 pushing 90 —or have the Lords of Language sneaked some things past me, filling daily speech with so many phrases I don’t recall hearing, even a few years ago.

I am fascinated by new, popular words and phrases that appear with great frequency on the tube, in print media and on digital platforms.

A recent headline in a financial journal hit me right between the eyes. In big, black, bold type the headline proclaimed “Meme Stock Rally Resumes.” What!?

I know what a stock is but a meme stock? Mr. Webster says a meme is “an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.” Today that spreading is enhanced by social media. So it follows that stocks that are highly touted on social media are Meme Stocks. Voila!

And then there is a meme called “ghosting.” Really? You bet. The Urban Dictionary, a cool version of Mr. Webster’s book, says ghosting, among other things, is “The act of suddenly ceasing all forms of communication with someone the subject is dating but no longer wishes to date.” Back in the day a young lady wishing to break up with her boyfriend had the courtesy to ghost him by writing a “Dear John” letter. More recently she may have consulted Paul Simon’s great tune, “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.”

Have you researched a topic lately, examined a subject carefully? Then you must have taken a “deep dive” into a particular subject. Folks seem to be deep diving all over the place these days. Used to be a term for a daring plunge into the Bay.

On the other hand, if one does not wish to dive deeply there is always the possibility of “unpacking” something, or getting “into the weeds” to discover more about a subject.

Now if you still have not been able to gain all the information you want you can probe even more deeply by “drilling down.” But the phrase conjures up the none too pleasant sound of a jackhammer at work or perhaps a visit to the dentist. Not good.

Some other things we are doing these days:

We all seem to be “on a journey.” Not sure where we are going or when we will return, but there we are.

We no longer write, call or contact someone. We “reach out.” Or, if we are anxious to receive a prompt reply, we can up the volume and give a “shout out.”

Have you noticed how many times the phrases “lean in” or “leaning in” come up these days? Seems to have several definitions: “To make an effort, or work hard, show determination or embrace or experience something fully.”

And how about “pivot” or “pivoting?” How often have we heard pubic officials or tv commentators use these words during the pandemic? We never changed course; we always “pivoted.”

Then there are tropes. I don’t recall hearing about tropes when I was a kid It’s a figure of speech that moves the meaning of a phrase from literal to figurative. One trope we all know is “Take time to smell the roses.”

When a person is hired for a new job these days they are not introduced to the company. Nor do they go through an orientation as they once did. Today they are “onboarded.” As in Welcome Aboard, I guess.

Let’s wind up this venture into some current phrases with a homework assignment.

“23 Skidoo” was a popular saying in the 1920s. There is a good story associated with it. Just pivot, do a deep dive, or maybe reach out to a friend or Mr. Google to learn more about it.

Ross Jones is a former vice president and secretary emeritus of The Johns Hopkins University. He joined the University in 1961 as assistant to President Milton S. Eisenhower. A 1953 Johns Hopkins graduate, he later earned a Master’s Degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

June 19: A Day to Remember the Job’s not Done by Tom Timberman

June 20, 2021 by Tom Timberman 1 Comment

On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law Congressional legislation establishing June 19, “Juneteenth”, as an annual national holiday. It commemorates Union General Gordon Granger’s 6/19/1865 issuance of General Order #3, declaring that “All slaves (in Texas) are free”. Fourteen House Republicans voted against Juneteenth, mirroring earlier, similar opposition.

President Reagan’s 1983 proposal that the country celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday every January, was not supported by some Senate Republicans. Nonetheless, the date was successfully added to America’s list of official holidays. Some states refused to recognize it until 2000. However, Mississippi and Louisiana were alone, in merging MLK and Robert E. Lee Day.

Juneteenth has been celebrated for many, many years largely by African American communities in different states, following their own local traditions. 2021 marks the first time the commemoration has gone national. Unfortunately, the 21st Century’s strange domestic political fragmentation leaves the reaction of the 23 states totally controlled by the Republicans, unknown.

The fact there is any doubt, 158 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 156 after the ratification of the 13th Amendment, underscores the reality that racial equality in America is a work in progress. This point was painfully reinforced on May 31st, 2021 when the US celebrated Memorial Day, while also noting the centenary of the Tulsa Massacre of some 300 Blacks by whites.

The United States has lived through eighteen months of tragedy and trauma caused by a deadly pandemic (over 600,000 died), continuing murders of African Americans by white police, peaking on May 25, 2020, when a white officer knelt on the neck of a Black man, George Floyd, suffocating him. A bystander’s video went globally viral.

Outraged Black and white Americans demonstrated peacefully in cities across the country, attracting the attention of white supremacists and similarly disposed armed militias. The result was more death, injury, and destruction. The Trump Administration deployed anonymous federal law enforcement agents, aggravating the violence.

And then on January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters rose in insurrection to block Congresses’ ceremonial confirmation that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were the new President and Vice President of the United States.. With confederate flags flying, thousands of Trump supporters invaded the US Capitol. Five people died and over 150 police officers were hospitalized. Despite the assault, the winners of the 2020 election were announced.

All Americans should loudly celebrate and enjoy their newest national holiday. However, in the weeks and months to come, no one should believe that June 19th represents the date when slavery’s legacy has disappeared from the United States. It has not.

Tom Timberman is an Army vet, lawyer, former senior Foreign Service officer, adjunct professor at GWU, and economic development team leader or foreign government advisor in war zones. He is the author of four books, lectures locally, and at US and European universities. He and his wife are 24 year residents of Kent County.

Letter to the Editor: Celebrate Juneteenth but Remember Serious Issues Remain

June 18, 2021 by Letter to Editor 2 Comments

The Federal proclamation of Juneteenth as a National Holiday is but another step toward America’s resolution to deal with its dark history of Racism. While we pause to recognize the late arrival of the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas let us also remember there still remains issues of voter suppression, the passage of federal anti-lynching laws, inequity across the digital landscape, unfair sentencing guidelines, and school-to-prison pipeline that all lie in the shadows awaiting the arrival of their delayed announcement of freedom.

We may “celebrate” but we are not asleep and we will not forget that the struggle is real and still continues.

Rev. Ellsworth L. Tolliver
Ward 3 Councilman

American Myths by Al Sikes

June 17, 2021 by Al Sikes Leave a Comment

“We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.” Representative Ilhan Omar

Countries, all of them, have their myths and narratives. They are hard-wired and deeply felt. Like all myths many of them were shaped by the winners of military and political battles.

America’s overarching story begins with brave people crossing a vast ocean to escape religious persecution and to find opportunities freed from the over-lords of society and commerce in the countries they left. As the stories of America unfolded, it became clear this was not a timid group.

Over time, battles and wars were fought, first with the indigenous people and then the colonial powers, to seize and hold land and to escape the British over-lords. The Revolutionary War was crucial and won and its creative aftermath was profound.

It is, of course, human nature to overlook or understate the predatory nature of victories or commercial successes. Winston Churchill, looking back, said of his time as Prime Minister: “For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history myself.” Churchill was, among other things, a historian.

In America, something remarkable occurred. Among the winners were a few who had superb minds and could write and lead. They were not perfect men, but created the most profound and hopeful set of founding documents in the history of the world. They wrote the future; most importantly the end of human slavery and more generally human subjugation. While the Civil War was still decades away, it was inevitable as was the civil rights movement, one hundred years after Appomattox. Most regrettably, slavery existed, and Americans took way too long to right the wrong.

Knowing imperfection in humanity and in their own lives the Founders aspired to break free—to write a set of statements and rules that would lead to a better nation. Briefly, and incompletely, the documents included the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the conclusion of The Federalist Papers in 1787 and in that same year our Constitution. I must add the Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution in 1791.

As with all things human there has been push back. The Founders have been attacked—their imperfections used to criticize their creation. Yet, it is not possible to attack the creators without attacking their creation and ultimately the nation’s stories. It must be remembered that political battles and the trade-offs they always require had to be won for the thirteen states, fundamentally different in many ways, to form a union in the first place.

I use words like myth and stories because when we choose to glorify people and their accomplishments the default position is to edit out the errant moments. Those devoted to America’s story, for example, do not want George Washington or the second founder, Abraham Lincoln, cut down to size.

History, of course, begs to be re-visited. After all, if much of history is at least influenced by the winners, seeds of skepticism are organic. So, reexamine we should.

But, as we read stories of Thomas Jefferson’s slaveholding or Alexander Hamilton’s pride dying in a duel or Franklin Roosevelt’s internment of Japanese-Americans, we need to keep at least one thing in mind; the best of us are human and humans are imperfect.

Today America’s overarching story, the one that materializes in speeches, parades, songs and a flag, is being attacked. The creation that guaranteed that a free people could engage in the messy business of governance is said to be wanting. Implicit in these attacks is that there is an alternative, a utopia, if we can just subordinate this or that group of people. Explicit is that our deep division is ammunition; foreign enemies use our unrelenting attacks on each other as a part of sophisticated propaganda machinery.

As those who have internalized America’s narrative are attacked, they of course, counter-attack. This is the state of politics at any time and especially today. Dystopia not utopia comes to mind.

The Left in America sees political opportunity. One of its flawed assumptions is that once people of color (POC) are in the majority a new utopia can be built. They should keep in mind that a large share of POCs came to America or chose to stay here not to cancel its culture but to thrive in it.

The Right, more likely to resist re-visiting history, is schizophrenic. The hero of the moment, to many, Donald Trump, bears no resemblance to the heroes of America’s most creative and constructive moments. At any given moment, in a democratic republic, bridging differences is necessary, hard work, and can only succeed with a modicum of humility and reciprocal good will.

So here we are, in a century that offers artificial intelligence and robots to get things right and to do so quickly. Maybe we should step aside; replace our inadequacies with robots. But then somebody is going to have to write the software.

Utopians all, let me suggest a better way forward. Why don’t we quit screaming at each other and recognize the utter futility of lasting success while digging rhetorical trenches.

Finally, if I had that handy “magic wand” often featured in children’s stories, I would use it on the election process. The foundational stone in America’s cathedral is democracy—a belief in the ultimate wisdom of a majority of the servants, not the over-lords. There is much work to do to make our every two year expression at the polls better informed. Yes, better informed.
_______________________________

In earlier columns I have alluded to the possibility that “rank choice voting” has the potential to improve the outcomes of our election process. And even the staging.

This form of voting, ranked choice voting, is now used in Alaska and Maine and will soon receive a fiery baptism in the Mayoral primaries in New York City. The New York City test will be daunting given the number of candidates, complexities and rivalries and still existing Covid restrictions on political gatherings. Regardless, trial and error and adaptation have always been central to America’s progress. We should pay attention.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.

Silver Linings by Angela Rieck

June 17, 2021 by Angela Rieck Leave a Comment

“I am glad that I am old.”

It was an odd and surprising comment from my 80+ year old friend. She is the most upbeat and positive person that I know. She has triumphed over adversities throughout her life by focusing on the silver lining. To her, behind every dark corner is a bright opportunity. She has been my role model.

My friend is also a lifelong Republican with solid Midwestern values who recently abandoned her party when Trump became its leader.

“I don’t want to live in the world that we are leaving,” she continued. “There is so much anger here, I am heartbroken that women will probably lose their right to choose, I can’t understand the rise in white supremacy.”

She continued. “I was a Rockefeller Republican, fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I didn’t think that my party’s core values of independence would allow them to take away women’s rights or curtail voting. We now have the worst of both parties, socially conservative Republicans and fiscally irresponsible Democrats.”

She sighed. “But most of all, it is the environment. I would not want to live in the world that is coming; climate change, population explosion, it may already be too late.”

We never discussed politics and after the conversation, I felt somewhat fearful. This was a person who could find a silver lining when she was told that she was going to lose her eyesight!

Looking for something to take my mind off our conversation, I turned on a NOVA program about electric airplanes.

It may not be widely known that airplanes are among our worst polluters…even creating cirrus clouds to increase the greenhouse effect. However, this program featured entrepreneurs who are creating innovative solutions to solve the problem. From electric helicopters that average citizens can drive, to small electric planes that can deliver packages and people; there are a myriad of ideas and innovations. Other innovators are proposing hybrid solutions to reduce emissions; while another team is adding electric fans to reduce the wing size to save fuel. Still another company has been working for 13 years to produce hydrogen powered planes whose waste emission is water. And finally, NASA is creating a blueprint for lanes for small planes, helicopters, and hybrids to fly alongside commercial aviation. Most of the innovators are US based companies.

These innovations are years away. The planes look like the early cars, funny looking vehicles that can be remotely piloted or carry a small family without endangering themselves or the environment.

And once again, science and entrepreneurship are trying to rescue us…and after the COVID 19 vaccine, I have faith that there is no problem that science and these young entrepreneurs can’t solve.

Then I was reminded of something that my grandfather said. “Always bet on this country.”

We are a nation of innovators with a strong independent and confident streak. Yea, I’ll bet on this country, too.

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Nine Questions for Mid-June by J.E. Dean

June 16, 2021 by J.E. Dean Leave a Comment

One day last week it was so hot that I thought it might be August. We’ve already had too many of those hot, humid days that make excursions outside unpleasant. And mosquitos and ticks seem to be having a banner year as well.

All that kept me inside a few days. Quiet days at home offer an opportunity to reflect on what you might call “the human condition.” In my case, I lean towards the negative. I’m a worrier. A glass half-empty type guy. This being the case, it is often better to look forward rather than backwards. Often, I do so by asking myself questions.

This week, a few questions popped into my head. Some were quite serious. Others were not. And still others were “neutral,” not reflecting my political or social preferences but rather reflecting my personal interests.

Here are nine questions that I asked myself last week:

Is the pandemic really winding down? I read about the “Delta Variant” of the coronavirus that started in India and is now the dominant strain in the U.K. Is it coming here? If it does, will we take three steps back before taking another step forward?

Is Joe Biden doing a good job as president? Half the people I talk to say yes, often with enthusiasm. The other half don’t agree. They continue to tell me that Biden has dementia. (If the President’s occasional verbal lapses are solid evidence of dementia, I have it, too.) They suggest he is a puppet of either Kamala Harris or Jill Biden. This split in perspectives suggests that we don’t yet have a clear answer. Let’s wait and see if the economy continues to recover, whether inflation raises its ugly head, or whether Biden does something obviously wrong.

Are we in for a period of inflation? The big question seems to be whether inflation is coming and, if it does, how bad will it be. My personal guess is that we are in for higher inflation than the Fed or White House is willing to admit. I also fear that it will be difficult to slow down inflation if it takes root. Please note, I am not a professional economist. If you are and know the answer, please share it with the rest of us.

Why are there so many crazies serving in Congress right now? In answer to this one, let’s set aside Mr. Harris. (I hope the First District does this permanently in the next election.) Instead, let’s focus on other “colorful personalities” in Congress. Here’s a partial, bipartisan list: Matt Gaetz (accused sex trafficker), Paul Gosar (far-right dentist), Ilhan Omar (anti-Semite squad member), Lauren Boebert (gun nut), Louie Gohmert (forest service should change earth’s orbit), Jim Jordan (considered to be the most obnoxious member of Congress), Elizabeth Warren (many will disagree, but read all her “plans”), Steve Cohen (check out a few videos of his wildest House speeches on YouTube), and, of course fist-pumping Senator Josh Hawley and Cancun-visiting Ted Cruz. Let me stop there. Why can’t Americans send more sane people to Congress?

Are people really turning off Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN? The ratings of these and other news outlets I call “Opinion News” are down. President Trump was right—he was making them money by giving them someone to either cheer on or condemn each evening. Biden, by contrast is boring. Are people really switching to channels offering old episodes of Cheers, Mr. Ed, and Friends?

Is ex-president Trump really going insane? Some comment that he was already there a long time ago, but what about those reports of him crashing weddings at Mar-a-Lago, wearing his pants backwards (he wasn’t, but it sure looked like it), and suggesting that he will be “reinstated” as President later this summer? Is the Trump era over? If it is, why are most Hill Republicans still loyal to him?

Why are people quitting their jobs or thinking about it? This has been in the news the last few days. It appears that some people who have been working from home for the last year don’t want to go back to an office. Instead, they want a new job. I’d say “good luck” to that but am at a loss as to the thought process of quitting a job when unemployment remains high, and the economy overall remains unsteady.

Is the federal government about to disclose that, yes, earth has been visited by aliens? This question arises out of the recent flurry of UFO sightings. I saw one the other day in Talbot County, but it was “unidentified” only to me. It was a military jet on what appeared to be a joy ride over the Chesapeake Bay. How will we react if reports of UFOs prove to be true? Do you remember that Twilight Zone episode where friendly aliens come to earth and offer earthlings free trips to their home planet? The episode ends with scientists translating a book one of the aliens was carrying around which turns out to be a cookbook!

I hope the weather improves this week so that I can get outside, ride my bike, kayak, or do something other than engage in idle speculation. Wish me luck.

J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and occasionally goldendoodles.

Sections

More