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To me, no other nation gives us an example of how to do this today than Ukraine. I am always impressed to see how political differences and divisions melted away to advocate for and fight for the real issue: their sovereignty, their liberty, their freedoms and their country. They have not gotten sidetracked on political power grabs, vainglory and sideshows. With unity of purpose, so much can be accomplished.
I remember an old tale I learned as a child. Someone was having a discussion with a wise person about performing large tasks. He was asked to bring a bundle of sticks. When brought before him, he was then asked to break the bundle. The person tried and tried to but couldn’t - it was a huge bundle. Now he was told to separate the bundle into individual sticks and break each one. That was easy. The end goal was that the bundle was broken in half. Now this could simply be a story of how to approach large tasks in piecemeal. But it’s significance to unity was apparent to me. We are always stronger when united like the bundle. Our enemies will have a hard time destroying us like the inability to break the bundle as a unit. But separate folks by fear and division - then the task becomes much easier picking off each twig. In the end, you have broken the bundle. It’s sad that people don’t see how we are today happy to be broken up into factions with no unity or common purpose. Alas, even the threat of losing our democratic republic now becomes possible. We should take Ukraine’s example and fight for the important things: our freedoms, our ability to choose our leaders, our constitution and rule of law where the rich and powerful must be as accountable as any individual, and our democratic republic is preserved. These things are the foundation where all other issues are built on. Abraham Lincoln knew that the preservation of the Union was so important, he made it his priority. May we have the same wisdom today.
Anyone who isn’t a white male has been in a civil war. And our right to“ pursuit of happiness “ has been impinged by Republicans since Reagan.
 If women don’t have rights, there is no democracy. What should be screaming headlines and conversation from now to election day is how women’s rights are under siege. Yes there are so many other issues and difficulties to tackle but if you take women out of the equation, democracy is lost.
Womens rights surely, but pretty much all rights that don’t conform to white nationalist, Christian evangelical and/or strict constructionist views. Scary.
It's just that scotus started a new war against women. But don't worry... they've already signaled they will take away everyone's rights. I believe LGBTQ rights are next... and we'll just keep going from there.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt
I strongly feel that the road to 'American happiness' will require accountability by those who attacked our Democracy....then maybe forgiveness, but the free for all assault on America has to stop! We're being run roughshod over at this time by wanton liars and takers. Yes, something better must ultimately be modeled, along with accountability for lies and crimes in the U.S.A.
Thank you officer Perez, and all of those who have selflessly served the good of the whole and may we be propelled by you to pick up the flag and to keep moving forward, together. Thank you, Steve, for a beautiful piece of writing today.
Kindness and patience are a resilient but exposed flame 🔥. We pass it from one citizen, from one generation, to another carefully and solemnly.
Every human being seeks first to hear the Word and then speak it without malice.
Steve, I hear the Word coming from you.
I would also recommend anyone interested in reforging community in America to read the new book “Persuaders,” by Anand Giridharadas. There is still much hope in our country to draw moral strength in this struggle for the American Soul we find ourselves engaged in now.
I'll echo everyone else here: what a beautiful piece you've written for us, of such simple but deep eloquence, tying together such delicate threads of different color (including those black&white chimneys and the chestnut brown hued old Officer Perez).
You've really gotten to the heart of so many problems today here and abroad-- the selfish taking of the humans acting like predatory locusts. What an apt metaphor!
Assuming one day all these exquisite essays are going to be compiled into a book, i'll point out two typos: "It made be [me] think" and "horses [horse's] back." If i lived in the Eastern Time Zone and could be awake just before you post these essays, i'd be happy to be your pro bono proofreader :-)
I loved this piece on our NYC retired police officers. Beautifully written. Yes, as American's we should have each other's backs. Unfortunately, I believe it will take generations for us to get back to that given Trump, DeSantis and the like, added to Q conspiracists, and the ever present badly led White Christian Nationalists.
The Underground Railroad shipped human cargo at night. It was the best The North could offer. Humans traveled under cover, hidden and fed, clothed and saved, dealing with our colonial founders’ collective shame, one slave, and one slave family segment at a time. Not many made it.
Southern slave owners fought as their property was stolen from them. They would kill to keep. They would sell for a price.
Today, Southerners fight underhandedly to disenfranchise color, having slept with or raped the dark daughters and other victims of their sexual exploitation for generations.
The women of color were prostituted to create more property - of a lighter color, said to be worth more to some - sold on the auction block, one was located centrally, downtown, in each neighborhood that would, post the Civil War, become a Sundown Towns, of which there were hundreds. Auctioneers moved from town to town, busy.
Russia simply enslaves and ships, brands and breeds. Ukrainian women are more desirable. Like forbidden fruit.
Trump admires Vladimir Putin. Tucker the Fucker may run if Trump, charged, tried, and convicted is jailed with home arrest.
It’s always about white supremacy.
We knew better.
We did not want to know.
Abe Lincoln was elected with 37%, as I recall. He was not welcomed to Washington. His cross country coach and train were threatened. He walked quite a bit.
Our deep Red and deep Blue national stain became again visible as President Obama’s terms were darkened by birther Trump Republican racist attacks unchallenged and unchecked in the party of Lincoln, today’s Republicans, with habits firmly formed by Southern Democrats called Dixiecrat, racists of an era that holds sway over the racial consciousness of the white community of ambivalent haters fearing their future world will suffer as their country becomes increasingly unstable and balanced at the hands of the tolerant ethical masses hoping, praying for better.
Officer Perez was warmly patted and thanked by Steve as he questions the access journalists that seduce with their charm seeking ratings, questioning not. They’re everywhere. Clyde’s daughter leads. She’s trying now, post seduction, to clean it up.
When The Fourth Estate cannot read the arc of history and falls in with Tucker the Fucker and a racist from Australia, the gauntlet is down. We are properly challenged.
Our team must rally. We have work to do, now.
Vote. Carry them all to the polls and feed them, give them water.
Take the girls to a better state, even to Canada or Cuba or Sweden... anywhere they want to go, risk it all. We’re in deep trouble again. Help them.
Today’s Underground Railway will have millions offering. Openly.
Let’s roll.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Vote and ask what you can do for your country and for its citizens that need you.
Help. Help.
Read the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
Let Us Pray. And vote.
Vote. Vote. Vote.
For your children, the child of every color and party.
No child is born to hate. Children ask for our love.
I was just talking with a friend the other day about 9/11. We both sadly felt that if it were to happen today, there would be no sense of unity as took place 21 years ago. Things are that broken........
In ‘68 John Lindsey a silk stocking gop became mayor of nyc during the most chaotic of times.
What he did, in one action changed America forever.
Given racial strife, crime, riots, assassinations the mayor enacted open enrollment. It meant any high school grad could walk into any of the cities 14 colleges. Prior you needed an A- average and 1200 on the boards. These schools since the depression produced some of the most accomplished people of the era.
The state legislature reacted by raising fees from $200 annual to 3,000 getting the result of “keeping the blacks and browns out”
This method spread to all 48 states and the RESULT was poor black brown and WHITE kids couldn’t get a free public college education anywhere in. America
This yielded a vast red middle America, kids that could have gone to Michigan state, Ohio state and 48 others were locked into ignorance and poverty for last 50 years.
Bernie is called a socialist and worse, but he is right on one thing ever state resident with decent grades should be able to go to that state’s university FREE as did kids from the 1900’s to 1970’s
Stunning visuals of the farm, the horses and our country. Kindness doesn't seem to matter much any more - but sometimes it does - think of the New Yorkers coming to aid the migrants being shipped here by those ridiculous governors of Texas and Florida. We take care of those that need it. We need to come together once again - and we can only do that if MAGA is defeated and Trump is indicted.
I think that the hatred and rage felt (and expressed) by so many in MAGA springs from fear. These are white people who are terrified of becoming a minority in this country. (Perhaps afraid that once they are a minority, they will be treated as they have treated minorities in the past?) I believe that by far the most important issue for them is immigration of millions of non-whites.
Thank you for the beautiful images of your visit. I am so pleased to think of those lovely animals at rest after their careers of service. I also appreciate the call to service for each other. Tim Ryan is one of the politicians who understands service. Cheri Beasley in North Carolina and Val Demings in Florida are two more. Steve has shown us some horrible candidates, but I am heartened by so many others. I can't keep track of all of the candidates in the midterms but I'm hopeful that we are all supporting these men and women who are trying to serve us.
On a different note, probably because of the horses, I caught myself starting to use terms that put these elections into games. Races, ahead or behind ... these are not horse races. I don't like it from news folk, but maybe I can understand it a little better.
Another brilliant, heartfelt and insightful piece, Steve. One to be appreciated. One to be pondered. One to be absorbed. One to inspire. There is so much here that I will simply leave it at that for today, and review some of the responses. Thank you for your zero dark thirty postings.
Perhaps an attitude of gratitude is the antidote to the MAGA grievance mindset. Lovely article and am glad the remaining horses are living their best possible lives under excellent care. 9/11 was horrible, and everyone stepped up to meet the challenge.
There is hope. I just returned from a periodic visit to Colonial Williamsburg (one of the donor society meetings). There was interest across those participating for a return to civil discourse, civility in public life. There was considerable discussion on supporting civics education and the unique role CW plays in presenting the American Story. Against a backdrop of MAGA White Supremacy, CW sees its role as introducing a broader discussion of the founding of the United States by presenting an inclusive vision of Native Americans; enslaved and freed African Americans; and, the Colonial-era leaders that we know so well. The national divisions were discussed, and to survive as the US, we need to move beyond grievance to gratitude.
One other note, during lunch my husband and I were asked by others if we were in DC on 9/11 ( in my case yes, in my office on the National Mall). They did not ask if about 1/6/21 (yes, again I was on the Hill in my office). They wanted to discuss the unity of 9/11, not the horror of 1/6. There is a search for unity, and from that I have hope.
To me, no other nation gives us an example of how to do this today than Ukraine. I am always impressed to see how political differences and divisions melted away to advocate for and fight for the real issue: their sovereignty, their liberty, their freedoms and their country. They have not gotten sidetracked on political power grabs, vainglory and sideshows. With unity of purpose, so much can be accomplished.
I remember an old tale I learned as a child. Someone was having a discussion with a wise person about performing large tasks. He was asked to bring a bundle of sticks. When brought before him, he was then asked to break the bundle. The person tried and tried to but couldn’t - it was a huge bundle. Now he was told to separate the bundle into individual sticks and break each one. That was easy. The end goal was that the bundle was broken in half. Now this could simply be a story of how to approach large tasks in piecemeal. But it’s significance to unity was apparent to me. We are always stronger when united like the bundle. Our enemies will have a hard time destroying us like the inability to break the bundle as a unit. But separate folks by fear and division - then the task becomes much easier picking off each twig. In the end, you have broken the bundle. It’s sad that people don’t see how we are today happy to be broken up into factions with no unity or common purpose. Alas, even the threat of losing our democratic republic now becomes possible. We should take Ukraine’s example and fight for the important things: our freedoms, our ability to choose our leaders, our constitution and rule of law where the rich and powerful must be as accountable as any individual, and our democratic republic is preserved. These things are the foundation where all other issues are built on. Abraham Lincoln knew that the preservation of the Union was so important, he made it his priority. May we have the same wisdom today.
My first read of the morning finds me needing your beautiful, aspirational post. Thank you!
Beautifully said, thank you
Thank you for that true and beautiful message.
WOW…gratefully thank you …
You added positively To My Day:)
Anyone who isn’t a white male has been in a civil war. And our right to“ pursuit of happiness “ has been impinged by Republicans since Reagan.
 If women don’t have rights, there is no democracy. What should be screaming headlines and conversation from now to election day is how women’s rights are under siege. Yes there are so many other issues and difficulties to tackle but if you take women out of the equation, democracy is lost.
Womens rights surely, but pretty much all rights that don’t conform to white nationalist, Christian evangelical and/or strict constructionist views. Scary.
It's just that scotus started a new war against women. But don't worry... they've already signaled they will take away everyone's rights. I believe LGBTQ rights are next... and we'll just keep going from there.
that's who they are.
so, yes... Scary.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt
I strongly feel that the road to 'American happiness' will require accountability by those who attacked our Democracy....then maybe forgiveness, but the free for all assault on America has to stop! We're being run roughshod over at this time by wanton liars and takers. Yes, something better must ultimately be modeled, along with accountability for lies and crimes in the U.S.A.
Thank you officer Perez, and all of those who have selflessly served the good of the whole and may we be propelled by you to pick up the flag and to keep moving forward, together. Thank you, Steve, for a beautiful piece of writing today.
Kindness and patience are a resilient but exposed flame 🔥. We pass it from one citizen, from one generation, to another carefully and solemnly.
Every human being seeks first to hear the Word and then speak it without malice.
Steve, I hear the Word coming from you.
I would also recommend anyone interested in reforging community in America to read the new book “Persuaders,” by Anand Giridharadas. There is still much hope in our country to draw moral strength in this struggle for the American Soul we find ourselves engaged in now.
I'll echo everyone else here: what a beautiful piece you've written for us, of such simple but deep eloquence, tying together such delicate threads of different color (including those black&white chimneys and the chestnut brown hued old Officer Perez).
You've really gotten to the heart of so many problems today here and abroad-- the selfish taking of the humans acting like predatory locusts. What an apt metaphor!
Assuming one day all these exquisite essays are going to be compiled into a book, i'll point out two typos: "It made be [me] think" and "horses [horse's] back." If i lived in the Eastern Time Zone and could be awake just before you post these essays, i'd be happy to be your pro bono proofreader :-)
Thank you and thank you, too, for the generous offer! Edits made.
Shouldn’t I, I’ll and I’d be capital I ?
Correct, Melanie. I've / i've gotten in the spiritual habit of de-emphasizing this self. :-)
In formal writing, i stick with the conventional use of "I."
I loved this piece on our NYC retired police officers. Beautifully written. Yes, as American's we should have each other's backs. Unfortunately, I believe it will take generations for us to get back to that given Trump, DeSantis and the like, added to Q conspiracists, and the ever present badly led White Christian Nationalists.
The Underground Railroad shipped human cargo at night. It was the best The North could offer. Humans traveled under cover, hidden and fed, clothed and saved, dealing with our colonial founders’ collective shame, one slave, and one slave family segment at a time. Not many made it.
Southern slave owners fought as their property was stolen from them. They would kill to keep. They would sell for a price.
Today, Southerners fight underhandedly to disenfranchise color, having slept with or raped the dark daughters and other victims of their sexual exploitation for generations.
The women of color were prostituted to create more property - of a lighter color, said to be worth more to some - sold on the auction block, one was located centrally, downtown, in each neighborhood that would, post the Civil War, become a Sundown Towns, of which there were hundreds. Auctioneers moved from town to town, busy.
Russia simply enslaves and ships, brands and breeds. Ukrainian women are more desirable. Like forbidden fruit.
Trump admires Vladimir Putin. Tucker the Fucker may run if Trump, charged, tried, and convicted is jailed with home arrest.
It’s always about white supremacy.
We knew better.
We did not want to know.
Abe Lincoln was elected with 37%, as I recall. He was not welcomed to Washington. His cross country coach and train were threatened. He walked quite a bit.
Our deep Red and deep Blue national stain became again visible as President Obama’s terms were darkened by birther Trump Republican racist attacks unchallenged and unchecked in the party of Lincoln, today’s Republicans, with habits firmly formed by Southern Democrats called Dixiecrat, racists of an era that holds sway over the racial consciousness of the white community of ambivalent haters fearing their future world will suffer as their country becomes increasingly unstable and balanced at the hands of the tolerant ethical masses hoping, praying for better.
Officer Perez was warmly patted and thanked by Steve as he questions the access journalists that seduce with their charm seeking ratings, questioning not. They’re everywhere. Clyde’s daughter leads. She’s trying now, post seduction, to clean it up.
When The Fourth Estate cannot read the arc of history and falls in with Tucker the Fucker and a racist from Australia, the gauntlet is down. We are properly challenged.
Our team must rally. We have work to do, now.
Vote. Carry them all to the polls and feed them, give them water.
Take the girls to a better state, even to Canada or Cuba or Sweden... anywhere they want to go, risk it all. We’re in deep trouble again. Help them.
Today’s Underground Railway will have millions offering. Openly.
Let’s roll.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Vote and ask what you can do for your country and for its citizens that need you.
Help. Help.
Read the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
Let Us Pray. And vote.
Vote. Vote. Vote.
For your children, the child of every color and party.
No child is born to hate. Children ask for our love.
Really appreciate your thoughtfulness
Especially as I just returned from
Helping counsel a family whose child just died from Covid…children just ask for our love …and protection 💜
In sorrow. Warm regards.. the loss of a child is the worst loss. Sandy
Sandy thank you..had two sons and one died when he was 26 needed
Heart transplant….that is when knew God had given me the gift of being able to do Hospice counseling and pastoral care…you are one of God’s
angels that walk the earth amongst
Us to be so empathetic :) blessings
"Let's roll." Thank you!
Moving visuals.
Change the word we to I and read it again.
That is where we begin…..that is where I begin.
I was just talking with a friend the other day about 9/11. We both sadly felt that if it were to happen today, there would be no sense of unity as took place 21 years ago. Things are that broken........
For what it’s worth:
In ‘68 John Lindsey a silk stocking gop became mayor of nyc during the most chaotic of times.
What he did, in one action changed America forever.
Given racial strife, crime, riots, assassinations the mayor enacted open enrollment. It meant any high school grad could walk into any of the cities 14 colleges. Prior you needed an A- average and 1200 on the boards. These schools since the depression produced some of the most accomplished people of the era.
The state legislature reacted by raising fees from $200 annual to 3,000 getting the result of “keeping the blacks and browns out”
This method spread to all 48 states and the RESULT was poor black brown and WHITE kids couldn’t get a free public college education anywhere in. America
This yielded a vast red middle America, kids that could have gone to Michigan state, Ohio state and 48 others were locked into ignorance and poverty for last 50 years.
Bernie is called a socialist and worse, but he is right on one thing ever state resident with decent grades should be able to go to that state’s university FREE as did kids from the 1900’s to 1970’s
Stunning visuals of the farm, the horses and our country. Kindness doesn't seem to matter much any more - but sometimes it does - think of the New Yorkers coming to aid the migrants being shipped here by those ridiculous governors of Texas and Florida. We take care of those that need it. We need to come together once again - and we can only do that if MAGA is defeated and Trump is indicted.
I think that the hatred and rage felt (and expressed) by so many in MAGA springs from fear. These are white people who are terrified of becoming a minority in this country. (Perhaps afraid that once they are a minority, they will be treated as they have treated minorities in the past?) I believe that by far the most important issue for them is immigration of millions of non-whites.
Thank you for the beautiful images of your visit. I am so pleased to think of those lovely animals at rest after their careers of service. I also appreciate the call to service for each other. Tim Ryan is one of the politicians who understands service. Cheri Beasley in North Carolina and Val Demings in Florida are two more. Steve has shown us some horrible candidates, but I am heartened by so many others. I can't keep track of all of the candidates in the midterms but I'm hopeful that we are all supporting these men and women who are trying to serve us.
On a different note, probably because of the horses, I caught myself starting to use terms that put these elections into games. Races, ahead or behind ... these are not horse races. I don't like it from news folk, but maybe I can understand it a little better.
Another brilliant, heartfelt and insightful piece, Steve. One to be appreciated. One to be pondered. One to be absorbed. One to inspire. There is so much here that I will simply leave it at that for today, and review some of the responses. Thank you for your zero dark thirty postings.
Perhaps an attitude of gratitude is the antidote to the MAGA grievance mindset. Lovely article and am glad the remaining horses are living their best possible lives under excellent care. 9/11 was horrible, and everyone stepped up to meet the challenge.
There is hope. I just returned from a periodic visit to Colonial Williamsburg (one of the donor society meetings). There was interest across those participating for a return to civil discourse, civility in public life. There was considerable discussion on supporting civics education and the unique role CW plays in presenting the American Story. Against a backdrop of MAGA White Supremacy, CW sees its role as introducing a broader discussion of the founding of the United States by presenting an inclusive vision of Native Americans; enslaved and freed African Americans; and, the Colonial-era leaders that we know so well. The national divisions were discussed, and to survive as the US, we need to move beyond grievance to gratitude.
One other note, during lunch my husband and I were asked by others if we were in DC on 9/11 ( in my case yes, in my office on the National Mall). They did not ask if about 1/6/21 (yes, again I was on the Hill in my office). They wanted to discuss the unity of 9/11, not the horror of 1/6. There is a search for unity, and from that I have hope.
Thank you for this beautiful article Steve, and thank you Officer Perez and all unsung heroes.