Her Master is a woman. She commands an American warship, a 44-gun United States Class heavy frigate, personally named by George Washington. She was designed by an American genius from Philadelphia and built by New Englanders in a Boston shipyard. Her bow has sliced through all the Earth’s oceans, across four centuries of time.
Very well stated about the Supreme Court: "It represents a type of judicial tyranny and societal engineering that is as radical and foolish as it is destabilizing. "
And the six dark-robed tyrants are just getting started. It takes a special mix of radical thinking and arrogance to undo decade upon decade of settled law. That they may pave the way for state legislatures to decide which presidential candidates win their states rather than the will of voters is a coup in the making.
As a Canadian, the border between our countries feels more porous, more assailable, than ever before. And so I worry, as a citizen of the world and as a neighbour. Hoping and wishing that democracy and its institutions will prevail. Thank you for this post; may its fervency be shared by many.
Thank you, Steve. This is the first piece of writing that has inspired me this weekend and brought me to tears in doing so. I'm glad you are continuing to speak up; we need your voice right now.
This article is an example of how a great writer can take a moment in our collective calendars, like July 4th, and tell a story both educational and up lifting with the grace and beauty of a bird drifting on a current of air. Thank you Steve Schmidt.
We must forge both the faith in democracy and the strategic countermeasures for the assault today. While an important symbol, The USS Constitution does not engage in present day counterstrike‘s because it is weighted by the past world view it was created by. 
The January 6 committee, gravely aware of the potential benefit to democracy of the hearings, is conducting its self admirably.
The public generally is not.
Democracy has been the deer in the headlights to the Republican plan including creating red states, and radicalizing the Supreme Court.
It has not been a secret. It has happened in front of us all. We appear to need a new battle plan, a new weapon to defend the Constitution. Whatever it is, it surely includes educated voters, and voting.
But the plan and the weapon must be both surgical and simultaneously broad.
With the January 6 committee I can begin to see glimpses here and there of a hopeful plan, precision strikes combined with a broader response from the forces of the law. I pray your voice becomes part of the surgical rout of the authoritarian cancer .
I'm a Brit living in the US, and your story gave me goose bumps - such a wonderful way to put it all - I adore Galleons, Clipper ships etc of all kinds, and love the guts of the people who stood up for their freedoms. So sad to see how this country is now endangered by stupid morons who do not appreciate what they have. So hard earned by brave men, yet they are prepared to throw it all away because they think sharing their freedoms with 'those others' somehow reduces their own status. Thanks for this Jul 4th reminder of all that courage & what it really means to all the little people who enjoy that status today ! I will try to capture the Boston ship's movements on the 4th !
Bravo Steve! Your article on this amazing United States warship describes the vessel and our American Republic in historical context. May she long sail and endure!
Im older. I’ll die soon. I’ve spent my life in service to our people. Doing medicine here and abroad. Involved actively in our political life; usually on the losing side. I’ve been of the Left for 50 years. The older I become, the more radical I emerge.
Justice - economic and political - fairness, decency, the operationalization of which results in strong unions, strong communities, tax-funded education, healthcare, housing….basically a country and government that cares for its people. All it’s people. And the planet on which we depend.
None of this is happening. In fact, the last 50 years has shown - to my eye - a progressive deterioration.
Will we get better? I’ve no idea. I appreciate Steve’s romantic view- I say this with complete respect - of our country. Maybe one day we’ll be worth such a soft, romantic view.
But not now. Sadly, not now.
This 4th of July, I’ll remember some of the patriots that founded our country. Thomas Paine especially. And the Native Americans who were exterminated. And the Mexican War, the Spanish-American- Cuban war, the Philippines. Chile, Guatemala, Irán, Nicaragua, El Salvador. Iraq….
I’ll remember the hope in our country that was FDRs administration. I’ll remember the southern racists he put up with that took ethnic justice off the table.
I’ll remember - I’ll be thinking intensively - of our christo-fascist Supreme Court who just condemned women to death or second class status. The same SCOTUS who stripped the EPA - and other agencies - of their power to function. In the EPAs case, to save our planet.
I’ll be thinking about failure. About how my generation tried to stop the illegal war against VietNam, tried to make our world better. More just. We failed.
I’ll be thinking of the first time I was called what is euphemistically termed the “N-word” by some idiot. Was he blind? I was just a brown kid. I’ll remember - I often remember these days - being in the shower with a really stiff scrub brush. Trying. To. Scrub. The. Brown. Off.
I’ll be thinking of my dad - a Chief on the USS Yorktown; my mom - a Coast Guardswoman; my Uncle Tom - who returned from the Pacific campaign changed. And not for the better. My Uncle Joe, who married an Africa American woman after leaving the farm in North Dakota and who was not welcome in Williston.
Mostly I will be thinking of our kids and grandkids. Of how it could have been different. Of our people. They - we - deserve so much better.
This really stirred my patriotism. I served on a boomer in the 1970’s, and have never lost my respect for the boat or for those who serve in them. They were some of the best days of my young life. Thank you for helping me recall those days, Steve.
I’m just scared. I’m old. Hopefully I’ll be dust before the nightmare takes shape. Fight for what’s right.
Fire the Supreme Court. This can’t be allowed to continue. Vote Blue.
You failed to mention the new Master's name.
She is Cmdr Billie J. Farrell.
Really wonderful. Everything I love in a written piece; history, new information, style, honesty
.
Very well stated about the Supreme Court: "It represents a type of judicial tyranny and societal engineering that is as radical and foolish as it is destabilizing. "
And the six dark-robed tyrants are just getting started. It takes a special mix of radical thinking and arrogance to undo decade upon decade of settled law. That they may pave the way for state legislatures to decide which presidential candidates win their states rather than the will of voters is a coup in the making.
This is one of the most patriotic statements ever written imho.
It makes me weep.
If I ran things, it would be read at every July 4th celebration coast to coast tomorrow!
I'm nobody, so instead I'm just going to print it out and mail it to John Roberts.
(I won't bother with Mitch McConnell as he wouldn't understand it and doesn't care anyway.)
Well done, SS. Well done.
As a Canadian, the border between our countries feels more porous, more assailable, than ever before. And so I worry, as a citizen of the world and as a neighbour. Hoping and wishing that democracy and its institutions will prevail. Thank you for this post; may its fervency be shared by many.
Stunning writing as always Steve. Thank you.
Thank you, Steve. This is the first piece of writing that has inspired me this weekend and brought me to tears in doing so. I'm glad you are continuing to speak up; we need your voice right now.
This article is an example of how a great writer can take a moment in our collective calendars, like July 4th, and tell a story both educational and up lifting with the grace and beauty of a bird drifting on a current of air. Thank you Steve Schmidt.
We must forge both the faith in democracy and the strategic countermeasures for the assault today. While an important symbol, The USS Constitution does not engage in present day counterstrike‘s because it is weighted by the past world view it was created by. 
The January 6 committee, gravely aware of the potential benefit to democracy of the hearings, is conducting its self admirably.
The public generally is not.
Democracy has been the deer in the headlights to the Republican plan including creating red states, and radicalizing the Supreme Court.
It has not been a secret. It has happened in front of us all. We appear to need a new battle plan, a new weapon to defend the Constitution. Whatever it is, it surely includes educated voters, and voting.
But the plan and the weapon must be both surgical and simultaneously broad.
With the January 6 committee I can begin to see glimpses here and there of a hopeful plan, precision strikes combined with a broader response from the forces of the law. I pray your voice becomes part of the surgical rout of the authoritarian cancer .
I'm a Brit living in the US, and your story gave me goose bumps - such a wonderful way to put it all - I adore Galleons, Clipper ships etc of all kinds, and love the guts of the people who stood up for their freedoms. So sad to see how this country is now endangered by stupid morons who do not appreciate what they have. So hard earned by brave men, yet they are prepared to throw it all away because they think sharing their freedoms with 'those others' somehow reduces their own status. Thanks for this Jul 4th reminder of all that courage & what it really means to all the little people who enjoy that status today ! I will try to capture the Boston ship's movements on the 4th !
Bravo Steve! Your article on this amazing United States warship describes the vessel and our American Republic in historical context. May she long sail and endure!
Thank you. I needed this.
Interesting.. and much food for thought
Im older. I’ll die soon. I’ve spent my life in service to our people. Doing medicine here and abroad. Involved actively in our political life; usually on the losing side. I’ve been of the Left for 50 years. The older I become, the more radical I emerge.
Justice - economic and political - fairness, decency, the operationalization of which results in strong unions, strong communities, tax-funded education, healthcare, housing….basically a country and government that cares for its people. All it’s people. And the planet on which we depend.
None of this is happening. In fact, the last 50 years has shown - to my eye - a progressive deterioration.
Will we get better? I’ve no idea. I appreciate Steve’s romantic view- I say this with complete respect - of our country. Maybe one day we’ll be worth such a soft, romantic view.
But not now. Sadly, not now.
This 4th of July, I’ll remember some of the patriots that founded our country. Thomas Paine especially. And the Native Americans who were exterminated. And the Mexican War, the Spanish-American- Cuban war, the Philippines. Chile, Guatemala, Irán, Nicaragua, El Salvador. Iraq….
I’ll remember the hope in our country that was FDRs administration. I’ll remember the southern racists he put up with that took ethnic justice off the table.
I’ll remember - I’ll be thinking intensively - of our christo-fascist Supreme Court who just condemned women to death or second class status. The same SCOTUS who stripped the EPA - and other agencies - of their power to function. In the EPAs case, to save our planet.
I’ll be thinking about failure. About how my generation tried to stop the illegal war against VietNam, tried to make our world better. More just. We failed.
I’ll be thinking of the first time I was called what is euphemistically termed the “N-word” by some idiot. Was he blind? I was just a brown kid. I’ll remember - I often remember these days - being in the shower with a really stiff scrub brush. Trying. To. Scrub. The. Brown. Off.
I’ll be thinking of my dad - a Chief on the USS Yorktown; my mom - a Coast Guardswoman; my Uncle Tom - who returned from the Pacific campaign changed. And not for the better. My Uncle Joe, who married an Africa American woman after leaving the farm in North Dakota and who was not welcome in Williston.
Mostly I will be thinking of our kids and grandkids. Of how it could have been different. Of our people. They - we - deserve so much better.
Happy 4th Steve, and all who read this.
This really stirred my patriotism. I served on a boomer in the 1970’s, and have never lost my respect for the boat or for those who serve in them. They were some of the best days of my young life. Thank you for helping me recall those days, Steve.