32 Comments

When I think of stealing from the dead, I think of my uncles and step-grandfather who all saw combat in World War 2. I think, too, of the finest thing I have ever read about the dead, a letter from Abraham Lincoln. I have it memorized:

Dear Madam,

I have been shown a statement in the files of the War Department of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless any words of mine that would attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln

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I listened Steve and watched, I usually prefer to read your essays. At first I thought that maybe this was going to be what you posted earlier, I soon became aware that some of it was the same but not much, I'm glad I watched it all. My father and his brothers were combat vets as am I, there is a unique burden that we as survivors have all carried. I found the Life editorial to be deeply deeply moving. I hope to live long enough to see the realization of our bright shining city on the hill and it's beacon for all to come join us, but if I don't, I'm 78, perhaps my children or grandchildren will see it. I know that I'm not unique in this hope, there are a lot of us. Our founders, as flawed as they were, bequeathed to us the most brilliant hope for all mankind, we are not going to throw it away.

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Good words Dick. Thank you for writing this. I hope I live long enough too.

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You are a national treasure

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Thanks so much for now offering the "transcript" button. I process the written word more easily than listening to audio. Although, I do love listening to Steve!

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Leaves are falling all around

It's time I was on my way

Thanks to you I'm much obliged

For such a pleasant stay

But now it's time for me to go

The autumn moon lights my way

For now I smell the rain

And with it pain

And it's headed my way

Ramblin On Zeppelin

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More like the prince of darkness and evil.

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Some voted for Traitor Trump, who wanted to be A dictator. I hope they realize who they voted for and become true patriot. I won't expect that to happen with the Corrupt MAGA MORONS. Just never give up fighting for Democracy! As a Vietnam combat veteran, I will never give up!

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I get that Joe Rogan is scared. And Joe Rogan enrages me because Joe Rogan is an asshole with a platform that he has built by drilling down every single lofty and nebulous concept to one stupid sentence uttered by him to share his “experience’. Fuck that. Why is Biden allowed to decide what happens in Ukraine in this moment? A “dying former president’? Because, Joe, Biden is the commander in chief NOW. The one who has carried all of this while you and some weird dude in a shiny outfit sit in your studio pontificating. I can’t wait until Joe Rogan’s guy Trump takes over. Trump is itching to push some nuclear buttons, and he has big plans to invade Mexico and turn the military out into American streets locked and loaded against the American public. And if we’re really lucky, the military will be led by a Christian Nationalist who is also a rapist and who is itching to cause a civil war. Thinks it will be “cleansing”. Hegseth wrote all about his civil war aspirations in his “book”. This is all so sickening. We are in so much trouble and it will take decades to climb out of the ugly abyss we self~selected on 11/5/24.

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Musk thinks civil war is "the answer", too. How grand.

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I'll be happy to 'crown' him. :D

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WB Yeats: "The Second Coming" (1919) seems to portend the 2nd administration of D. Trump:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

We must "gird our loins" and stand strong!

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Happy Thanksgiving ! To everyone ! Our purpose is freedom but with that freedom must come responsiblity for our choices . They must be informed . When I think of all the people down here in Florida that voted for Trump I wonder how they justify there choice. I am struggling with my anger towards them. I met a young woman recently on a flight from NY to Florida. She is a very nice woman . I could see on her computer that she was reading about Trumps picks. She told me her and her husband are very involved with there church. I figured they voted for Trump. Anyway we didn't talk about the election we talked about our dogs. When I got off the plane I was glad I met her. I thought maybe I can feel kind towards my neighbors . I don't have to be friends with them or do anything with them but maybe I can run into them without wanting to rip there heads off. So far I haven't achieved this but I haven't ripped there heads off either. On another note I am going to put my energy into trying to get the house back in two years. If we can do that it would go a long way to stopping the king in his tracks.

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Keep it going Steve as I write you have 29 hearts and 4 comments. People have to awaken you are helping the only way for all of us is to raise those number for you and us. The US constitution in a Bible is gross illegal and will be taken apart from the scammer publisher.

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Well you did it Steve, your words made me cry. I have saved many of those old Life magazines that my parents subscribed to. Now I have to go find them. I admit I was very angry with you when you bashed Joe Biden after the debate. I even tried to unsubscribe but I had just paid the annual subscription. I was so sure that Harris would win. I donated, wrote postcards to voters in swing states. I was certain that my fellow Americans would come to their senses and defeat DJT. I travelled by plane to spend the election with my close Dem friends. We had champagne on ice. Well we all know how the story ended. I can’t remember in my entire lifetime feeling so ashamed of my fellow Americans. Yes I’m still feeling down but not hopeless. I’ve stopped watching all TV news which has actually helped. Your words mean a lot. Thank you Steve.

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Where is the transcript button?

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It is on the right to like and button.

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Also unable to find transcript button.

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I'm on a mobile device. There's no "transcript button"

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