Very moving and so true. Recently, after it snowed, I confess that I complained because the internet was down for 2 days. Love your newsletter. It’s the thing I most look forward to in the inbox.
David Brooks wrote for the Atlantic a while back noting the decline of belief in the American Dream. How do we educate our fellow citizens who have stumbled from the path? I am a young man, same demographic as the post liberal integralists mentioned here. But I agree with the likes of Nordlinger and Reagan. How can we persuade people who don’t believe in the American Dream to believe again?
In regards to the self-destruction of a prosperous democracy, a final nail in the coffin of the Mongol warrior ethos was 1/3 of the men joining celibate Buddhist monasteries. "Ah, this ruling the world stuff is dull, I am going to focus on meditation".
1. My paternal grandfather was born before the Wright brothers flew. He lived to see Americans fly in space.
2. During the Depression he was a high school principal. He had to fire married female teachers who had husbands with jobs. Single female teachers kept their jobs only if they were supporting their parents.
3. HOW THE WEST WAS WON on TV this past week. The ending voiceover about history: "What they dreamed we live. What they lived we dream."
Exactly. I’ve been doing a deep dive into family history, and what I’ve learned about circumstances that pushed and pulled my ancestors to the US come down to the same thing: they wanted opportunities, and they all worked their butts off, whatever that looked like-usually farming. We have a few Depression stories as well, maybe not as serious. We (Gen-X, give and take a generation and onward) have too much time on our collective hands. One would think the 250th celebrations and rehash of how our country came to be would wake people up.
Great essay, Jay. Knowing our history of those who preceded us is crucial. My origin story is different, yet much the same as yours: great grandparents and grandparents who had little but raised families on the proverbial shoestring; parents who made it through the depression only to be confronted with a World War. I'm a leading-edge boomer (born 1946) who graduated from college in the annus horribilus of 1968 into the face of the draft and the Vietnam War (ended up in the Navy). As it always has, the world stumbles on: the waste of Vietnam, Watergate, the Iran hostages, the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, October 7, and now Iran... Despite the naysayers and doomsters, it is the families like yours and mine and so many others that keep the flame of this grand experiment that is the USA alive and, I hope, thriving for our children and grandchildren.
This one really hits home, JN. It was truly wonderful to consume.
I was born in the same year as your birth.
My parents were born in the Thirties: The Dirty Thirties.
They grew up in the type of poverty few today could imagine, let alone endure.
They worked and saved, and worked and saved, and worked and saved. When they bought their first business, they were in their fifties. They moved my grandparents in with us.
They took everything they had, borrowed the funds at 17 per cent interest, and started working again. When they refinanced at 10 per cent, they thought they had won a lottery.
A few years ago, I read a passage from a National Review article. I am sorry I cannot remember the author. He wrote, "my dad once told me that, during the Depression, no one had money: there was none. Today, everyone has money, but it doesn't buy anything."
In Canada, we are going through an introspective process of sorts. In the process, many are discovering that apathy and unaccountability are far greater threats to our continued existence than illiberalism, superpower hegemony, or a disturbed international order.
My point of saying this, is that your consummate essay captured all of these thoughts for me, wrapped them up, and delivered them to my digital doorstep.
I believe people only appreciate things that they have earned and not what they have been given. The abundance that western civilization has created and continues to create was given to post-WWII generations (more so the greater the distance), so there is a lack of appreciation for it’s existence let alone the desire to understand why it works.
I also believe the greatest food for the soul comes from helping others. We stopped feeding our souls when we started worrying about “am I happy?” I don’t think my parents (from Kalamazoo!) ever spent a moment worrying if they were happy and were more comfortable in their own skin and more appreciative of what they had and the family they built than anyone I have ever met.
Very moving and so true. Recently, after it snowed, I confess that I complained because the internet was down for 2 days. Love your newsletter. It’s the thing I most look forward to in the inbox.
Thx a ton, Jesse.
well, now. wasn’t that just wonderful
Many thx, DL.
David Brooks wrote for the Atlantic a while back noting the decline of belief in the American Dream. How do we educate our fellow citizens who have stumbled from the path? I am a young man, same demographic as the post liberal integralists mentioned here. But I agree with the likes of Nordlinger and Reagan. How can we persuade people who don’t believe in the American Dream to believe again?
This is one of your best Jay! And that's saying a lot.
Thank you, JG.
In regards to the self-destruction of a prosperous democracy, a final nail in the coffin of the Mongol warrior ethos was 1/3 of the men joining celibate Buddhist monasteries. "Ah, this ruling the world stuff is dull, I am going to focus on meditation".
1. My paternal grandfather was born before the Wright brothers flew. He lived to see Americans fly in space.
2. During the Depression he was a high school principal. He had to fire married female teachers who had husbands with jobs. Single female teachers kept their jobs only if they were supporting their parents.
3. HOW THE WEST WAS WON on TV this past week. The ending voiceover about history: "What they dreamed we live. What they lived we dream."
Thank you, Dave.
Exactly. I’ve been doing a deep dive into family history, and what I’ve learned about circumstances that pushed and pulled my ancestors to the US come down to the same thing: they wanted opportunities, and they all worked their butts off, whatever that looked like-usually farming. We have a few Depression stories as well, maybe not as serious. We (Gen-X, give and take a generation and onward) have too much time on our collective hands. One would think the 250th celebrations and rehash of how our country came to be would wake people up.
Could not have said it any better.And the live for Nazis?? WTF is that ??
Say a prayer for them all
Great essay, Jay. Knowing our history of those who preceded us is crucial. My origin story is different, yet much the same as yours: great grandparents and grandparents who had little but raised families on the proverbial shoestring; parents who made it through the depression only to be confronted with a World War. I'm a leading-edge boomer (born 1946) who graduated from college in the annus horribilus of 1968 into the face of the draft and the Vietnam War (ended up in the Navy). As it always has, the world stumbles on: the waste of Vietnam, Watergate, the Iran hostages, the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, October 7, and now Iran... Despite the naysayers and doomsters, it is the families like yours and mine and so many others that keep the flame of this grand experiment that is the USA alive and, I hope, thriving for our children and grandchildren.
Wonderful, Craig. Thank you.
Reminded me of The Progress Paradox by Gregg Easterbrook which came out about 20 years ago. Great piece by Jay and great book by Easterbrook.
Thank you, Mark! I need to get that book.
Thank you for this, Jay. Even those of us who see the world much as you do occasionally need reminders like this lovely essay.
Thx so much, LF.
THIS
This one really hits home, JN. It was truly wonderful to consume.
I was born in the same year as your birth.
My parents were born in the Thirties: The Dirty Thirties.
They grew up in the type of poverty few today could imagine, let alone endure.
They worked and saved, and worked and saved, and worked and saved. When they bought their first business, they were in their fifties. They moved my grandparents in with us.
They took everything they had, borrowed the funds at 17 per cent interest, and started working again. When they refinanced at 10 per cent, they thought they had won a lottery.
A few years ago, I read a passage from a National Review article. I am sorry I cannot remember the author. He wrote, "my dad once told me that, during the Depression, no one had money: there was none. Today, everyone has money, but it doesn't buy anything."
In Canada, we are going through an introspective process of sorts. In the process, many are discovering that apathy and unaccountability are far greater threats to our continued existence than illiberalism, superpower hegemony, or a disturbed international order.
My point of saying this, is that your consummate essay captured all of these thoughts for me, wrapped them up, and delivered them to my digital doorstep.
Thank you for sharing.
Many, many thanks.
I believe people only appreciate things that they have earned and not what they have been given. The abundance that western civilization has created and continues to create was given to post-WWII generations (more so the greater the distance), so there is a lack of appreciation for it’s existence let alone the desire to understand why it works.
I also believe the greatest food for the soul comes from helping others. We stopped feeding our souls when we started worrying about “am I happy?” I don’t think my parents (from Kalamazoo!) ever spent a moment worrying if they were happy and were more comfortable in their own skin and more appreciative of what they had and the family they built than anyone I have ever met.
Thank you, RM.
Bravo!
Thx, TP.
Outstanding.
Thank you, Cynthia.
That is precisely the word for which I was searching.
Glad I could help.