I want to share a timely piece published yesterday, by Heather Cox Richardson…
…a professor of American history at Boston College, specializing in the American Civil War, Reconstruction, and the American West. She previously taught history at MIT and at Amherst.
She also writes what she calls “Letters from an American” six days a week on the US political scene. She takes notice of history, which many people don’t! (It’s highly recommended and free–though contributions are welcome.)
“Today, Americans across the country marched for voting rights.
Robin Ellis 
Thank you, Robin, for sending your and Ms. Richardson’s posts.
I, too, grew up listening my mother’s “South Pacific” cast recording and, among other lessons, it informed that that “You have to be carefully taught to hate” others who are “different” – I rejected that lesson!
Something that continues to amaze and sicken me is the Republicans’ continuing campaign to limit voting rights. It’s been bad enough that Dark Money influences our “costly” elections – with help from a conservative Supreme Court. The only cause can be that systemic racism is still alive and all too well.
But there is still Hope that “We shall overcome some day” by staying vigilant and active…
Excellent piece, and it only adds to my worry over the future of this country. I have called and written my elected representatives. All I can do is to urge people to get out and vote next year. Yes, it’s an off-year election. But it is important. Please, please, please vote.
I start my day with her. It is the first email I read. Thanks for helping others find her! She gives the facts and context in this crazy alternate facts world.
Thank you, Robin, for this timely post. I, too, was a fan of Arizona Highways as a child. My grandmother had a subscription (also to the Illustrated London news!), and I used to linger over each of the rich pictures of the desert. We lived in rural North Carolina, and Arizona looked like paradise to me. And South Pacific! Love the original Broadway soundtrack. Your father sounds like a wonderfully wise man.
Heather is a national treasure. I read her daily missals and know many others who do likewise.
Also enjoy your food posts, cookbooks, and other insights into life in rural France. Life is still beautiful.
Best wishes to you both,
Jane Cheshire-Allen Mill Valley, CA
Sent from my iPad
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I start every morning with HCR’s newsletter and my coffee or tea. It was lovely to see it repeated here. Thank you!
Thank you very much for this piece. It is a very troubling time in the US; a troubling time in our history.
Dear Sir
My views are different.
But I will say this, without getting into party politics which I avoid: the fillibuster remains almost the last ditch to an out of power party in a winner take all spoils system both local state and federal, and both parties have long known that. They each know that out of power status is only the next election cycle away.
All the best
Gerald Meaders
Just a footnote:
We, here in the US, even have a spoils system intraparty, and even at the local election level.
I was only one of innumerable victims of such a system, even among Democrats, and even at the local, not state or national level.
All the best,
I too am worried about the future of this great country, but from a different point of view than that of Ms. Richardson. She must realize that while she is busy calling Republicans “extremists”, many conservatives view the policies that she champions as equally extreme, albeit in the opposite direction.
That being said, I know beforehand when I open your posts that they are likely to have a liberal leaning. That does not discourage me from enjoying your witty and charming observations of life in rural France, as well as your wife’s lovely photographs. I love to cook, am a huge fan of both Poldark series and a devoted cat lover. So perhaps we have more in common than not? I hope so! 😄
I am a proud Republican!
Make America Great Again 🇺🇸
Build Back Better😡
Oh, my dear sweet. It’s best if you stay out of US politics, there are so many agendas and untruths on so may sides. I follow you because of your artistry and your health endeavors, not opinions on government agendas. I hold no fierce alliance to either side so rest assured this is a non partisan response. I only care about you and yours as a family and you’re great impact in the world of arts & health. Great blessings to you & yours. You are such an inspiration with your great talents & gifts. Thank you for being you.
P.S. I probably shouldn’t say this but your original Poldark cannot be touched by any remake. You brought this complicated character to life in a manner no other can compare. While the new version is entertaining yours is encapsulating. It draws the viewer in to the point that every word, motion, expression cannot be missed, fearing the loss of the heart of the story.
My apologies. I did not mean this to be such a long message. I could not help but to express my love & admiration for such a gifted story teller.
Blessings to you & yours.
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My husband and I both subscribe to her. She’s pretty amazing. I always feel so much better informed once I read her. I also subscribe to Dan Rather’s “Steady,”
Which I also recommend.
I follow Heather Cox Richardson and she makes so much sense. So sad to see some of the retrograde decisions trying and actually going ahead in the USA. Thank goodness for this woman who tells it as it really is. We need more like her everywhere.
Thanks for posting. During the dark days from the previous administration I’d read Prof. Richardson’s comments every day and appreciated how she would break things down and put them in perspective. It eased my mind quite a bit.
I am a proud MAGA Republican living in “Communist” California. Hopefully, we can recall Governor Newsom and elect Larry Elder. For decades we have been ruled by one party: Democrats. Every year the quality of life declines. Once an absolutely beautiful state, and prosperous, now people are fleeing. California has become a Third World Country . . ., the very rich and the very poor. There are few Middle Class left, ,which is a bad thing. Who will pay for all the welfare programs, and state government retirement benefits? Newsom claims we have a budget surplus. Not true! California owes more than $1 Trillion in unfunded government retirement benefits. (Ref. article in Sacramento Bee in July 2021.)
We have DAs who refuse to bring charges against lawbreakers. Further, politicians have made it nearly impossible for law enforcement to do their jobs. They’ve even passed a law making teenage prostitution legal, so the police cannot arrest the pimps who are horribly abusive. Walgreens, a drugstore chain, was forced to close 13 stores, due to rampant shoplifting. I could go on and on, but I believe you get my drift. I’ve probably said too much. I doubt if my comments will be printed. But that’s okay. At least the one who moderates the comments will know what went wrong in California. I refuse to be silenced by the “Left.” I still believe in free speech.
Linda in Southern California
Hello, Linda.
It’s evident that our friend, Robin Ellis, stirred up a can of worms that has long-been open and festering with his recent post.
I read your comments, Linda, and understand your frustration, even though I have “moderate” Democrat beliefs. I don’t think it’s constructive to call those we disagree with “Communists” – or “Anarchists” – or any other pejorative. If any nation is to survive, its people have to find common ground and work together to solve their problems – real and imagined.
That said, you’ve listed your concerns and I wonder how California – and our country – will proceed toward solutions or collapse…
Thank you, Douglas, for this and for your first comment. Sane sense and welcome.
I read Heather’s essays each day. She can illuminate what is important in all the “noise” we are bombarded with each day. ❤️
As always Robin, what you posts makes me stop and think. I’ll be checking out HCR’s postings. I’m always up for someone who realizes one should study history to avoid the similar current pitfalls. .. Living La Vida Moderare ..
As always Robin, what you post makes me stop and think. I’ll be checking out HCR’s postings. Thank you.
so true … and so discouraging … as a native Californian I know this creeping authoritarianism feels a bit more remote, but 2024 will be determinative. 2024 is also the year I plan to retire … I’ve almost resigned myself to retiring abroad because my country seems like it’s going the way of Germany nearly a century ago. I’m so sad for this!
Dear Douglas,
Sorry I offended you when I referred to California as “Communist” California,
Perhaps you would prefer “Socialist” California. My objective was to wake up Robin’s readers who believe the propaganda. (Oh, dear. I probably offended you again. Sorry.) In any event, Socialism leads to Communism. That is a given. A man whom I know (Dumitri “Mit” Sandru) escaped from Communist Romania. I highly recommend his books, especially to you moderate Democrats: Escaping Communism; Freedom Trumps Socialism. Also, please listen to his interviews. (Ref. excerpt from his email to me.) Mit resides in Southern California, and is VERY concerned about the direction California is going, as well as what the Democrats in DC are doing to America.
Best wishes,
Linda in Southern California
Excerpt:
. . . . I had interviews with John Rush at http://www.klzradio.com, Don Smith Show at http://www.donsmithshow.com, Annie Ubelis at https://www.blogtalkradio.com/southernsense/2021/08/20/is-this-a-descension-into-the-communist-states-of-america
Hello Linda,
I wasn’t offended by your remarks. I would like to point out that Socialism does not ” lead to Communism.” There are many socialist governments – notably in Scandinavia – and many more countries employ socialist policies, like Social Security in the USA and beyond. And it’s noteworthy that the citizens of those countries do not suffer from a lack of freedom – except, perhaps, the self-imposed freedom to think for themselves.
It is unfortunate that Americans have become confused by the differences between socialism and communism, a misunderstanding which goes back almost a century but was inflated by the “Red Scare” of the late 1940s and 1950s.
I haven’t yet, but plan to give a listen to the links you provided.
Regards,
Douglas
I always look forward, or perhaps dread, if the news is awful, to reading her each day. She lives in Maine, not too far from us. In a similar vein, I follow Robert R. Hubbell’s commentary which is also excellent.
Douglas,
I was distracted by events here in California and did not
reply to your most recent response in which you claim that Scandinavian countries are Socialists. Not true! Please read the article published in “Life in Norway/” (Ref. excerpt and link below.) Thanks!
Linda in Southern California
. . . . That’s pretty much what Marx and Engels came up with in the 19th century. If you’re looking for a country that matches this definition, your search won’t take you to northern Europe. The simple fact is that Scandinavian countries are not, by any reasonable definition, socialist. . . . . (Ref. link below.)
Scandinavian ‘Socialism’: The Truth of the Nordic Model – Life in Norway
Linda,
I suppose one can always find “alternative facts” if one knows where to look. I have no interest in dissecting ism labels; it’s the outcome of ideas that interests me, and as I first indicated, there are elements of socialism in many nations’ governance.
Cheers,
Doug