Thank you Greg for this fact filled emotionally charged reminder of how one man’s transformation has positively affected our lives. Memorial Day-is really not as I often have thought only a weekend affair of too many cars, parties and barbecues plus the kick off of summer, but really is a reminder of the greatest gift, to literally give your life for freedom. It’s a time to reflect … that old word from another century?..what can I give to maintain freedom for not only myself, but for you and you and every one around me to live
unshackled by a tyrant. That is the question I have each day now as life hurries on with chores-family- health concerns and the seeming demands on my time. As I write this response I’m thinking of being in Ukraine, or Gaza or being a woman in Afghanistan. The contrast is staggering. But we’re now in extreme danger of becoming like too many Russian citizens, forever in bondage as Putin smirks knowing just how to manipulate the greedy stupid narcissistic bloviated idiot and his gang of psychopaths in DC.
I dislike ending on that reality. But it is ours now. Not surreal, not a nightmare. But a fact that I or you could be taken from your house or snatched on the street for whatever fabricated lie or reason. On Memorial Day tomorrow I will go to a cemetery here and Reflect on heroes like
John Logan and on Freedom and celebrate my best friend’s 86th Birthday with super delicious ice cream cones, and wish you could be with us Greg. Maybe another time when all of us breathe in relief that the cowardly monster in chief is gone one way or another.
Thanks, Samani. It's hard to wrap one's head around...we are clearly hurtling towards dictatorship, and a lot of the country either has no idea or doesn't care. Meantime, we have to keep going, keep living...we can't let the MFer also rob us of our joy. So: eat your delicious ice cream, enjoy the birthday party, and reflect. We have been here before, albeit in a different form, and we shall prevail.
Logan’s opening of his heart and mind, accompanied by action, is the epitome of the hero’s journey. The picture of him and his family radiates courage.
Thank you Greg for your thoughtful writing. This piece is especially powerful as it reminds us that yes we can change our hearts and minds if we choose to. The show Friday was excellent, the writing prompt, John Brown: so much loved my country that…! Let’s never forget the men and women who gave their all in defense of our freedoms. 🙏
Quick question did you have Isabelle Wilkerson on your pc? I’m reading her fantastic book on the migration of Black Americans to escape Jim Crow laws in the south. The Warmth of Other Suns. Powerful!!
Beautifully written Greg. I learned a lot today with this so am passing it on to my boys(your generation)who, I’m certain, see tomorrow as a welcome day off.
I first heard about ‘Decoration Day’ from YOU. And as a flower-lover, myself, it made the timing of Memorial Day even more poignant.
All my life my motto has been: STAY CURIOUS.
And I get to quench that in nearly every post of yours I read. An alchemic blend of history, context, culture, humor, and current events/sentiments.
“That is a model for how to live. What John Logan teaches us, ultimately, is that it’s never too late to change ourselves for the better. Indeed, it is our moral obligation to do so.”
Greg, I read everyone under the sun that I can find these days. Anyone who speaks with clarity, honesty and decency about our present rebellion, soon to be, if not already, as cataclysmic as the Civil War. This essay was the best thing I have ever read about us, in this day. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your words and the story of John Logan. I am ashamed to say I did not know him. We all should finally listen to the “better angels of our nature” as he did.
Today really hit home with me because of something that hit home with me last night in the worst possible way. I have Facebook but never post and rarely read. Yesterday I happened to see a post from a college friend/acquaintance from FIFTY about the emoluments clause and Trump’s new plane. He just quoted the constitution really, no histrionics at all.
Two other friends/acquaintances, again, FIFTY+ years old, launched into long impassioned screeds defending this, Trump and everything Trump. I mean LONG posts. These are 70+ year old men who attendee. Small Christian college with me. “Fine upstanding Godly men” I am sure all would say——just like John Logan before his “change of heart” and just like all those fine Confederate Christians of Logan’s day. They are so blinded, so deceived, so insane honestly. It made me physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.
Keep up your amazing work. We truly need a miracle………
Helen, people are not living in objective and unequivocal reality—AT ALL. Trump does and says things every minute of every day since 2015 that these two guys would NEVER in a million years do or say. Our country is INSANE, and my pathetic “evangelical “ Christian brethren the most INSANE. We are stark raving mad and I do not know what to do about it…….cult members for sure, and the worst I have ever seen. Millions and millions of zombies…….
One of the awful consequences of this whole Trump thing is how it has torn asunder families, friends, workplaces, other groups...it's always so disheartening to see someone you love and who objectively does not stand for what Trump does sing his praises or defend him. Especially when they claim to be good Christians! It's certainly chilled some relationships of mine, and I know my mom, in particular, struggles with it and feels gaslit a lot. (Hi, Mom.)
A memorable and spirit-enriching read, as well as the podcast, and access to your Prevail library. All were shared today on LinkedIn. Thank you for all your gifts.
Sorry I am so sloppy. I mean these people I talked about were all in college with me in the early 1970’s so we are all early seventies in age, not fifties. It was truly frightening to read how deluded people are.
Have spent part of the morning reading this out loud to my husband who remembered hearing “Decoration Day,” used when he was young. This was an antidote to waking and falling into the pit of obsessing about what I could say to a maga family member, coming up with the usual nothing but the usual actual headache. As I was reading this out loud, I was thinking how it’s pieces like this that put me back together to take care of the mundane things that we all have to do, so we can think the big thoughts to get us through this. It seems like each Sunday piece is another nutrient for these times. As I was reading this I asked what would give a man the openness to think? Then I see a comment above from The Timeline “be curious.” Just read about an IQ study on kids as they went through school; early on huge number declared “genius level.” As the grades progressed…that dropped until it was just a tiny percent. For what a study like that is worth, notably it concluded out educational system dumbs us all down. Happy thought today that so many dead who fought for us living here are being honored by your curiosity and discipline that brings us into a state of attention and appreciation…... Much thanks for that. 🙏
I don't have the energy, honestly, to proselytize for truth with MAGA people, whether they're friends or family or coworkers or whatever. If people want to know what I think, and learn the truth, my opinions are easy enough to find. My hope is that one by one, they will all wake up when they're ready -- usually when something Trump does screws them over personally. Too many people have no empathy, and are TAUGHT to have no empathy by MAGA. They have to have the evil touch them personally before they do anything to fight it, or even acknowledge it. I just pull away, quietly. That is the consequence of supporting the monster...good people walk away.
I think the methodology of testing for genius is flawed...
Yes 100%. So I’m starting to post on Substack (also on ghost I think simultaneously for obvious reasons) so when people I know personally present all this confusion/contradiction/ etc. I can just point/send them here; to what I write, addressing my personal life experiences that they might know about me plus facts and….already, I feel a tremendous tremendous release of a huge burden just by posting 2 posts, experimenting with how that feels for me. Posting something that is simply authentically my life experience and research, (finally making good use of that) has released a lot of fear for me….I was determined to locate where this fear, in me personally, was triggered. The last chapter of The Painted Bird (Kosinski ) woke me up to how all these MAGA confusions thrown at me daily caused me to take refuge in my Trauma as an escape from being silenced or overwhelmed, instead of my actual authentic responses to where we are all at. So I’m posting on this instead of stuffing it in because it’s an impossible task explaining it to people in real time. There’s too many of them my good God. You know, just existing in this chaos is such a huge learning curve. It’s like we are drowning. Instead of reaching out for whatever trash there is in the river so we can hang on…if we hang out together long enough, eventually we learn to swim and save ourselves and keep yelling “swim swim” to people around us and find our way but together. For those of us with bad knees, swimming tops marching anyway. Prevail; what an amazing word that.
I’m always learning something new with each of these posts. They also encourage me to look for more relating to the subjects. Thanks much all your works!
Maga is popular because trump has brought to life a terrible dream still held by people, mostly in the South, that “The South shall Rise again”. The effete trump & his often effete supporters (of $trumpet) could never fight a physical battle. Hegseth should take to heart Logan’s speech & read it himself to the public. Thanks for a wonderful story about Brotherly love & the epiphany Logan had fighting alongside his fellow African Americans. Enjoy your Memorial Day!
To your point, I think Trump taps into this bizarre need so many people having of needing to be special, chosen, elect, whatever you want to call it. People with low self regard need to be made to feel superior to [insert group of "other" here]. It's disgraceful and transparent, and I wish it were not so effective.
As we celebrate Memorial Day—my mother, born in 1911, also called it Decoration Day—I am pleased to learn that it was originally established by someone of the moral courage demonstrated by John Logan. His about-face on human rights with respect specifically to Blacks and enslaved people was truly remarkable. Your comment, “This is the kind of energy we need right now in our political leaders—and which is sorely lacking,” sparks this reaction: Logan remarkably reversed his convictions about what was right, but they were [wanting the ability to use italics here] convictions about what was right! These “Republicans” currently in power don’t have any convictions at all about what is right. They have sold their souls to remain in power.
Thanks, Earl. Yes, you make a great point. The Repubs -- and, to be fair, a lot of the Dems as well -- blow with the wind. No convictions. No souls. Zombies.
Again my Sunday begins with another informative and enlightening piece from you.
Just erased a long post about the importance of passion, Logan a prime example, he a passionate racist then antiracist. My point was about how we who are pro the Union need to be passionate about preserving Democracy, as you Greg are. The post turned into a meaningless word salad.
Only one thing to say, God Bless America and God bless those who have fought to preserve it, alive or buried.
Thanks, Old Man. Sometimes it helps to write it all out, even if it comes out word salad-y. Plus, if your word salad is tossed enough, you get to give the commencement address at West Point! ; )
My mom said that in church yesterday the chorus sang "God Bless America." I don't ever remember them doing that before, although I suppose it's a Decoration Day tradition.
Profound and Beautiful Essay. Thank you Greg.
Thanks, Sara!
Thank you Greg for this fact filled emotionally charged reminder of how one man’s transformation has positively affected our lives. Memorial Day-is really not as I often have thought only a weekend affair of too many cars, parties and barbecues plus the kick off of summer, but really is a reminder of the greatest gift, to literally give your life for freedom. It’s a time to reflect … that old word from another century?..what can I give to maintain freedom for not only myself, but for you and you and every one around me to live
unshackled by a tyrant. That is the question I have each day now as life hurries on with chores-family- health concerns and the seeming demands on my time. As I write this response I’m thinking of being in Ukraine, or Gaza or being a woman in Afghanistan. The contrast is staggering. But we’re now in extreme danger of becoming like too many Russian citizens, forever in bondage as Putin smirks knowing just how to manipulate the greedy stupid narcissistic bloviated idiot and his gang of psychopaths in DC.
I dislike ending on that reality. But it is ours now. Not surreal, not a nightmare. But a fact that I or you could be taken from your house or snatched on the street for whatever fabricated lie or reason. On Memorial Day tomorrow I will go to a cemetery here and Reflect on heroes like
John Logan and on Freedom and celebrate my best friend’s 86th Birthday with super delicious ice cream cones, and wish you could be with us Greg. Maybe another time when all of us breathe in relief that the cowardly monster in chief is gone one way or another.
Thanks, Samani. It's hard to wrap one's head around...we are clearly hurtling towards dictatorship, and a lot of the country either has no idea or doesn't care. Meantime, we have to keep going, keep living...we can't let the MFer also rob us of our joy. So: eat your delicious ice cream, enjoy the birthday party, and reflect. We have been here before, albeit in a different form, and we shall prevail.
Logan’s opening of his heart and mind, accompanied by action, is the epitome of the hero’s journey. The picture of him and his family radiates courage.
Thank you for telling his story.
Thanks, Teri. He's an inspiring guy whom I knew very little about before Saturday.
Thank you Greg for your thoughtful writing. This piece is especially powerful as it reminds us that yes we can change our hearts and minds if we choose to. The show Friday was excellent, the writing prompt, John Brown: so much loved my country that…! Let’s never forget the men and women who gave their all in defense of our freedoms. 🙏
Quick question did you have Isabelle Wilkerson on your pc? I’m reading her fantastic book on the migration of Black Americans to escape Jim Crow laws in the south. The Warmth of Other Suns. Powerful!!
Thanks, Christine. No, I did not, but I will check out the book.
Beautifully written Greg. I learned a lot today with this so am passing it on to my boys(your generation)who, I’m certain, see tomorrow as a welcome day off.
Thanks, SPW. I also see today as a welcome day off. : )
I first heard about ‘Decoration Day’ from YOU. And as a flower-lover, myself, it made the timing of Memorial Day even more poignant.
All my life my motto has been: STAY CURIOUS.
And I get to quench that in nearly every post of yours I read. An alchemic blend of history, context, culture, humor, and current events/sentiments.
“That is a model for how to live. What John Logan teaches us, ultimately, is that it’s never too late to change ourselves for the better. Indeed, it is our moral obligation to do so.”
Thank you. 🙏🏻
Thank you! When we stop being curious, when we stop trying to improve ourselves, we die. It's really that simple.
It was supposed to be bad weather all weekend, and it's absolutely gorgeous out today.
100%. 🔎🧩
Stellar gardening weather in the DC area too, for, you know… tending to those choicest of flowers…🌼😉
Greg, I read everyone under the sun that I can find these days. Anyone who speaks with clarity, honesty and decency about our present rebellion, soon to be, if not already, as cataclysmic as the Civil War. This essay was the best thing I have ever read about us, in this day. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your words and the story of John Logan. I am ashamed to say I did not know him. We all should finally listen to the “better angels of our nature” as he did.
Today really hit home with me because of something that hit home with me last night in the worst possible way. I have Facebook but never post and rarely read. Yesterday I happened to see a post from a college friend/acquaintance from FIFTY about the emoluments clause and Trump’s new plane. He just quoted the constitution really, no histrionics at all.
Two other friends/acquaintances, again, FIFTY+ years old, launched into long impassioned screeds defending this, Trump and everything Trump. I mean LONG posts. These are 70+ year old men who attendee. Small Christian college with me. “Fine upstanding Godly men” I am sure all would say——just like John Logan before his “change of heart” and just like all those fine Confederate Christians of Logan’s day. They are so blinded, so deceived, so insane honestly. It made me physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.
Keep up your amazing work. We truly need a miracle………
I am so sad for you Rick A. I too have old friends of 50 years, who are Trump cult members. I want to cry everyday.
Helen, people are not living in objective and unequivocal reality—AT ALL. Trump does and says things every minute of every day since 2015 that these two guys would NEVER in a million years do or say. Our country is INSANE, and my pathetic “evangelical “ Christian brethren the most INSANE. We are stark raving mad and I do not know what to do about it…….cult members for sure, and the worst I have ever seen. Millions and millions of zombies…….
Thanks, Rick. I appreciate hearing that.
One of the awful consequences of this whole Trump thing is how it has torn asunder families, friends, workplaces, other groups...it's always so disheartening to see someone you love and who objectively does not stand for what Trump does sing his praises or defend him. Especially when they claim to be good Christians! It's certainly chilled some relationships of mine, and I know my mom, in particular, struggles with it and feels gaslit a lot. (Hi, Mom.)
A memorable and spirit-enriching read, as well as the podcast, and access to your Prevail library. All were shared today on LinkedIn. Thank you for all your gifts.
Thanks so much, Beverly.
Sorry I am so sloppy. I mean these people I talked about were all in college with me in the early 1970’s so we are all early seventies in age, not fifties. It was truly frightening to read how deluded people are.
I knew what you meant. This is happening everywhere, to all kinds of people, and it's so so heartbreaking.
Have spent part of the morning reading this out loud to my husband who remembered hearing “Decoration Day,” used when he was young. This was an antidote to waking and falling into the pit of obsessing about what I could say to a maga family member, coming up with the usual nothing but the usual actual headache. As I was reading this out loud, I was thinking how it’s pieces like this that put me back together to take care of the mundane things that we all have to do, so we can think the big thoughts to get us through this. It seems like each Sunday piece is another nutrient for these times. As I was reading this I asked what would give a man the openness to think? Then I see a comment above from The Timeline “be curious.” Just read about an IQ study on kids as they went through school; early on huge number declared “genius level.” As the grades progressed…that dropped until it was just a tiny percent. For what a study like that is worth, notably it concluded out educational system dumbs us all down. Happy thought today that so many dead who fought for us living here are being honored by your curiosity and discipline that brings us into a state of attention and appreciation…... Much thanks for that. 🙏
Thanks, Jackie.
I don't have the energy, honestly, to proselytize for truth with MAGA people, whether they're friends or family or coworkers or whatever. If people want to know what I think, and learn the truth, my opinions are easy enough to find. My hope is that one by one, they will all wake up when they're ready -- usually when something Trump does screws them over personally. Too many people have no empathy, and are TAUGHT to have no empathy by MAGA. They have to have the evil touch them personally before they do anything to fight it, or even acknowledge it. I just pull away, quietly. That is the consequence of supporting the monster...good people walk away.
I think the methodology of testing for genius is flawed...
Yes 100%. So I’m starting to post on Substack (also on ghost I think simultaneously for obvious reasons) so when people I know personally present all this confusion/contradiction/ etc. I can just point/send them here; to what I write, addressing my personal life experiences that they might know about me plus facts and….already, I feel a tremendous tremendous release of a huge burden just by posting 2 posts, experimenting with how that feels for me. Posting something that is simply authentically my life experience and research, (finally making good use of that) has released a lot of fear for me….I was determined to locate where this fear, in me personally, was triggered. The last chapter of The Painted Bird (Kosinski ) woke me up to how all these MAGA confusions thrown at me daily caused me to take refuge in my Trauma as an escape from being silenced or overwhelmed, instead of my actual authentic responses to where we are all at. So I’m posting on this instead of stuffing it in because it’s an impossible task explaining it to people in real time. There’s too many of them my good God. You know, just existing in this chaos is such a huge learning curve. It’s like we are drowning. Instead of reaching out for whatever trash there is in the river so we can hang on…if we hang out together long enough, eventually we learn to swim and save ourselves and keep yelling “swim swim” to people around us and find our way but together. For those of us with bad knees, swimming tops marching anyway. Prevail; what an amazing word that.
I’m always learning something new with each of these posts. They also encourage me to look for more relating to the subjects. Thanks much all your works!
Thanks so much!
Some Sunday. Some week in the future. I will make it through Sunday Pages without crying.
Thank you Greg. Sincerely.
Thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful essay Greg. I learn so much from you. Tomorrow I will remember the real reason for Memorial Day. 🙏 🇺🇸
Thanks, Helen. It's all so sad. But today the sun is shining bright, and I'm going to enjoy it.
Maga is popular because trump has brought to life a terrible dream still held by people, mostly in the South, that “The South shall Rise again”. The effete trump & his often effete supporters (of $trumpet) could never fight a physical battle. Hegseth should take to heart Logan’s speech & read it himself to the public. Thanks for a wonderful story about Brotherly love & the epiphany Logan had fighting alongside his fellow African Americans. Enjoy your Memorial Day!
Thanks, Amy.
To your point, I think Trump taps into this bizarre need so many people having of needing to be special, chosen, elect, whatever you want to call it. People with low self regard need to be made to feel superior to [insert group of "other" here]. It's disgraceful and transparent, and I wish it were not so effective.
Enjoy yours too!
As we celebrate Memorial Day—my mother, born in 1911, also called it Decoration Day—I am pleased to learn that it was originally established by someone of the moral courage demonstrated by John Logan. His about-face on human rights with respect specifically to Blacks and enslaved people was truly remarkable. Your comment, “This is the kind of energy we need right now in our political leaders—and which is sorely lacking,” sparks this reaction: Logan remarkably reversed his convictions about what was right, but they were [wanting the ability to use italics here] convictions about what was right! These “Republicans” currently in power don’t have any convictions at all about what is right. They have sold their souls to remain in power.
Thanks, Earl. Yes, you make a great point. The Repubs -- and, to be fair, a lot of the Dems as well -- blow with the wind. No convictions. No souls. Zombies.
Greg
Again my Sunday begins with another informative and enlightening piece from you.
Just erased a long post about the importance of passion, Logan a prime example, he a passionate racist then antiracist. My point was about how we who are pro the Union need to be passionate about preserving Democracy, as you Greg are. The post turned into a meaningless word salad.
Only one thing to say, God Bless America and God bless those who have fought to preserve it, alive or buried.
Thanks, Old Man. Sometimes it helps to write it all out, even if it comes out word salad-y. Plus, if your word salad is tossed enough, you get to give the commencement address at West Point! ; )
My mom said that in church yesterday the chorus sang "God Bless America." I don't ever remember them doing that before, although I suppose it's a Decoration Day tradition.