I am reposting a tribute I wrote upon the passing of N. Scott Momaday. His writing and wisdom have long inspired me. In his memoir A Man Made of Words, and in the Pulitzer- winning novel, House Made of Dawn, Momaday reflects on how his writing evolved and about living on Earth at this time in history. The post includes videos of Momaday reading his work to students. This time in American history I believe he gives us sound wisdom to follow. Listen in to an iconic American writer and long-seer by clicking on the post above. See if you agree with me that is wisdom is the antidote for an age of destruction.
In America the Law is King
Quote by Thomas Paine in Common Sense
Numerous laws have been broken or called into question by the current people play-acting as administration. It might be comical if not so detrimental to so many Americans and families abroad who were receiving medical and educational assistance from the real government of the U.S.A. Never has there been assembled a less capable cabinet.
But, the main distraction in the Oval Office, pulls attention away from the real danger in our midst: Project 2025, carried out at the direction of Russell Vought and Steven Miller. A third force is the Heritage Foundation which describes the assault on the U.S. government as the “Golden Age” (Kevin Roberts, President of said foundation, on Meet the Press last week.)
Project 2025 is the Trojan Horse for ideological imposition on the citizens of this country. That ideology is Christian Nationalism. I cannot describe how much of America’s lifeblood is pouring into this battle in thousands of communities across our nation where citizens are fighting back.
Through Executive Orders and in the One Big Beautiful Bill moving now through the House of Representatives, our democracy is being replaced with an autocratic regime which seeks to impose its values and prejudices on all the rest of us. White male dominance is at its core.
Cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, loss of funding to farmers, veterans, disabled individuals, and heinous deportations of lawful immigrants are just part of the sludge choking the veins of America.
I recommend reading The Project by David Graham to understand the blueprint of the MAGA Republican plan.
This is a Rilke moment.
Rainer Maria Rilke read by Joanna Macy
Pronouncements are not laws. Still …
Trump’s gusher of executive decrees cannot conceal that he has been spectacularly inept in effectuating many of his objectives, nor can they mask Congress’s fecklessness. It has passed only 5 bills this year, several of which merely express disapproval of regulations.
We have a do-nothing Congress, a president claiming bizarre, unlimited powers to pursue revenge, but—thank goodness—judges across the country who appear determined to protect our constitutional system from Trump’s predations. If it rediscovers its constitutional responsibilities, Congress might tip the balance in favor of the rule of law. ~ The Contrarian, May 5, 2025
At the same time, this fact should not relieve us of the citizen imperative that is before everyone of us. In my own city and region, DEI policies in public schools are on the block with many school boards already voting to end this policy; citizens are losing jobs and food security is rising as USDA and USAID have weakened food programs such as SNAP and farmers’ markets that they depend on to stay in business. Veterans have lost jobs and services; healthcare is being withdrawn or removed altogether.
Disinformation abounds. Public education and higher education are threatened with loss of funding if they do not comply with executive orders coming down in a steady stream, day to day. A chill has fallen over press staffs in our local media for fear of retribution or loss of income. It is all illegal yet, overwhelmed and generally underfunded even in a democratic space, these key institution for a strong democracy are failing. Some are forming alliances to resist the threats from a rogue leader and administration, but we need more and better coordinated mass action.
The Weekend Show: Project 2025 Discussed with David Graham, Author of The Project.
Americans Show Up
The country is awakening as they understand the impact of MAGA movement Republicans in Congress on Americans. Live on YouTube today is a gathering of people on the Capitol steps to educate and advocate for the American citizens and democracy.
Go to FRAC.org to take action on food policies that will affect millions of American families and the farmers and food producers who support them.
The history of how America has come to authoritarianism …
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower
This is one of the clearest explanations of how America has come to this constitutional crisis as understood in our history. The discussion afterward is rich for understanding current forces at work such as virtual politics (fake stories).
How Saturday night dealt with disinformation!
The American Revolution: Then and Now!
Heather Cox Richardson delivers address at Old North Church in Boston.
Start at 1: 18:00. From the Old North Church in Boston at the 250th Anniversary on the eve of the ride of Paul Revere et al to warn colonists of the coming British army. *In her final words she is speaking directly to all of us today.
Dismantling: America’s fate?
“A sound nation is built of individuals sound in body and mind and spirit. Government dares not ignore the individual citizen.” ~ Dwight Eisenhower, Address at a Rally in the Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio, 10/1/56 [AUDIO] Eisenhower Library
Senator Chris Murphy addresses the assault on three pillars of our democracy: 1) a free press; 2) university freedom of speech; 3) intimidation of lawyers.
19 minutes: The Best 19 you’ll spend today. Sen. Murphy defines The Moment.
Share this address far and wide. Everything we hold dear is on the block.
When You Are Down and Out, Turn to Art, Beauty and Love
Who so loves, believes the impossible. ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
One of my favorite Sunday morning Treasures is the arrival of The Marginalian in my email box. This vibrant publication is the work of Maria Poplova who weekly researches a topic and then finds all the associations in literature and science that impinge on it. Indeed, there have been days when I just followed links through a topic and found myself in a world of magic and mystery.
I think this is the topic of this post today as I was reminded to look up from my focus on the anthill of politics in America to the broad heavens above and the depths of the human heart. Rx: I highly recommend you subscribe.
A second influence today is a Substack writer, Elizabeth Wainwright, a young mother and writer from England. On March 27 she posted the most beautiful and profound writing “following bees, starlings, coral, Mary, and justice.”
Songs for a new world. Plus, Writing. She begins with this line:
“I have been thinking about community, and the non-human world, and Mary mother of Jesus, and change, and new life.”
I have learned and relearned through Elizabeth what it means to live a committed life, to follow your heart no matter the consequences and to be forever a Traveller or Storyteller.
Is Everything We Love for Sale?
When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. ~ Aldo Leopold, The Land Ethic
Trump is now siting public lands, lands which belong to all of us, our National Parks, refuges and places where we recreate, hunt, find inspiration – as resources for sale (oil, minerals, etc.).
Here is a short but informative interview by Heather Cox Richardson with Wes Siler about what is at risk.
In the quote below the title of this post, I provide a link to the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Wisconsin which continues the legacy of Leopold, one of America’s most brilliant writers about land as a community to which we belong. A park ranger, a scientist, a professor and a hunter – Leopold has given Americans a treasure of wisdom about managing public lands and about how we value and understand the natural treasures which give us life.
In 2013, I attended the Land Ethic Leader training at the Foundation. Inspired, I returned to my home in Pensacola, Florida and gave presentations about the Land Ethic and what we can learn from it. IT IS THE ANTIDOTE TO TRUMP’S IDEA THAT LAND IS A COMMODITY TO BE BOUGHT AND SOLD.
“Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient. A thing is right when it tends to perserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
Aldo Leopold, A Land Ethic
Susan Feathers 