Category: Observations

From Lincoln’s address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum, Springfield, January 27, 1838

On November 7, 1837, Elijah Parish Lovejoy, a Presbyterian minister, journalist, newspaper editor, and abolitionist, was killed by a pro-slavery mob while defending the site of his anti-slavery newspaper the St Louis Observer.  Lincoln was deeply concerned by the event and the lynching of a freedman in 1836.  This speech was from the time he served in the Illinois state legislature in Springfield ( 1834-1842 )where he shaped his skill as a public debater.

The Lyceum  talk was titled:  “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions”.^[1][2] In this speech, Lincoln warned that mobs or people who disrespected U.S. laws and courts could destroy the United States. He went on to say the Constitution and rule of law in the United States are “the political religion of our nation.”

How then, shall we perform it?  At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? . . .Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow?  Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest;  with a Bonaparte for commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected?  I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us.   It cannot come from abroad.   If destruction be out lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.  As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

Editor’s comment:

This excerpt is from a lecture by Dr. Ronald C. White (BA, UCLA; PhD Princeton University) an independent scholar and authority on Abraham Lincoln. He is the author of Lincoln in Private: What His Most Personal Reflections Tell Us about Our Greatest President.

His book is based on 111 private notes Lincoln wrote to himself which provide insights  into his personal, religious and  intellectual journey as a politician and statesmen. 

Lincoln’s words are timeless, especially as we face  our political divisions today.  They were transformative when first prepared.  They feel even more profound today.

Ronald White’s complete lecture can be heard here.

This is the first of five examples of Lincoln’s thoughts and insights from a lecture described at the end of this post.

When Lincoln first announced as a Candidate for Political Office, March 15, 1832 at the age of 23, the custom was to announce one’s candidacy in the newspaper  which would then be followed by letters of recommendation.

This first public declaration shows Lincoln’s character.  It also is an example of  how each of us might consider our own ambition.

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition.  Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. 

How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.  I am young and unknown to many of you.  I was born and have ever remained in the most humble walks of life.  I have no wealth or popular relations to recommend.

This excerpt is  from a lecture by Dr. Ronald C. White (BA, UCLA; PhD Princeton University) an independent scholar and authority on Abraham Lincoln. He is the author of Lincoln in Private: What His Most Personal Reflections Tell Us about Our Greatest President.

His book is based on 111 private notes Lincoln wrote to himself which provide insights  into his personal, religious and  intellectual journey as a person, politician and statesmen. 

Lincoln’s words are timeless, especially as we face  our political divisions today.  They were transformative when first prepared.  They feel even more profound today.

Ronald White’s complete lecture can be heard here.

There is a temptation for current generations, with their additional perspective, to feel morally superior to prior ones.

For example in June of this year, Cornell University removed a bust of Abraham Lincoln and a plague of the Gettysburg Address from the University library “when someone complained.” Cornell even holds one of the five original copies of the Address in Lincoln’s own writing.

It is true that continual efforts are necessary for achieving America’s aspirational goals of greater equity and freedom for all its citizens.

However previous generations  had  timeless insights about America’s political experiment that are still vital today.

As the January 6th House Committee holds another hearing this afternoon,  I want to share an analysis  that is profoundly prescient of the actions of President Trump.

Lincoln was an Illinois state legislator in 1838 when he gave a speech to The Young Men’s Lyceum titled titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions”^.[1][2]

He warned of the dangers  of a tyrant taking over the US political system from within. This excerpt  could easily define what happened on January 6th, 2021.

It is to deny what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And when they do, they will as naturally seek the gratification of their ruling passion as others have done before them.

The question then is, can that gratification be found in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others? Most certainly it cannot. Many great and good men, sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion or the tribe of the eagle.

What! think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Never! Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. It sees no distinction in adding story to story upon the monuments of fame erected to the memory of others. It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief. It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction; and if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves or enslaving freemen.

Is it unreasonable, then, to expect that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time spring up among us? And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs.

Distinction will be his paramount object, and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm, yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.

To counter this internal threat, Lincoln concluded that there was a need to cultivate a “political religion” that emphasizes “reverence for the laws” and puts reliance on “reason—cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason.”

This is how the House Committee’s hearings on the January 6th insurrection is fulfilling Lincoln’s call to action 184 years earlier.

(by Jim Blaine)

Annually, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) recognizes an exceptional credit union leader with the Herb Wegner Individual Achievement Award. Can’t think of anything less challenging than being asked to write a nomination letter on behalf of Ralph Swoboda for this honor.

What a waste of time! Really, the selection is just too obvious, a real no-brainer, an eyes-closed slam dunk. And, in a moment, I’ll tell you why that’s so. But first, a bit about Ralph for those who don’t know…

Won’t bore you with the details of Ralph Swoboda’s  credit union career. You can get off of your Tik-Tok for a moment and Google-up Ralph’s remarkable record. Ralph’s reach was international; but of most importance, Ralph Swoboda was to American credit unions what Winston Churchill was to England during the Second World War. Ralph Swoboda led CUNA – and credit unions – through two crucial, turning points, when nothing was certain, the odds were long, and everything was at risk.

You see, Herb Wegner, the charismatic, visionary leader of CUNA in the late 1970’s – for whom the Award is named, understood the future power and potential of credit unions – what they could become. But, that future required great change – new standards, new laws, new systems, greater accountability.

Mom and pop credit unions were on the verge of moving from being post office/factory floor “cigar box cooperatives” to Main Street, USA. Not all credit unions were prepared for this change, not a few were unhappy with the prospect!

Herb Wegner needed someone he could trust without reservation to advise him along this difficult path – to make sure his vision became a reality. Ralph Swoboda was the man Herb Wegner put his trust in when he hired Ralph as his General Counsel at CUNA.

And, after Herb Wegner’s untimely death, Ralph – in several executive roles and eventually as CUNA CEO – did guide credit unions skillfully across that dangerous, inflection point and into the future. Much of what credit unions are today rests on foundation stones and bridges engineered by Ralph Swoboda.

But, like Churchill in England after WW II, in 1994 CUNA sent Ralph packing! Change again was at hand and Swoboda was not as certain of the long-range impact of this next evolution.

The sea-change was in CUNA moving from being a hardscrabble, smoke-filled backroom, vibrantly passionate, states-rights democracy toward a highly centralized, DC-based, political monocracy. Ralph had won the big war, but had lost the last battle! Perhaps Ralph had become too old fashioned, too quixotic, too stubbornly Ukrainian…? Time will tell.

Lastly just for the record, Ralph Swoboda was also a man of great personal charm and presence, but not of the classical sort. Ralph was not exactly a person of well-coifed, smooth-skinned, impeccably dressed and manicured good looks. He was more into the all-natural, slightly rumpled, “came as I got up” style.

He always sported a riotous shock of vigorously unruly hair, flopping around a pair of oversized glasses – the kind the smartest kid in the class always wore. His grin was impish, frequently verging on the devilish. Ralph liked to laugh and it was a full-throated, rough-edged kind of laugh, aged by years of multi-pack-a-day Marlboros. Ralph was a bit Irish at the bar, with good endurance and always fun to be around.

But what Ralph liked best was to talk…and talk…and talk…in encyclopedic depth…especially about credit unions. As a great storyteller, Ralph told the cooperative story from the heart, he made it real, as if he meant it…which all knew he did!

So, what about that Selection Committee decision? Well folks, who did Herb Wegner trust more than anyone else? That person was Ralph Swoboda, who Wegner hired as his chief advisor, his general counsel, his “don’t let me fail in this effort” friend. Ralph Swoboda proved worthy of Herb Wegner’s trust.

Herb Wegner saw the light, Ralph Swoboda made it shine.

What’s to decide? You’re going to question Herb Wegner’s judgment?

Nah… I’m sure you’ll do the right thing!

(Editor’s note:  A history of Ralph’s contributions at CUNA is at: The Cooperative Leadership of Ralph Swoboda (1948-2021)

Entering the July 4^th weekend, my wife and I were looking to have an evening out and see a live stage show.

Our choice was Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man.  Opening night had been delayed by several days because of Covid within the crew; tickets were easy to find on the Friday before the holiday.

We looked forward to the familiar story of Professor Harold Hill trying to con an Iowa town into believing he could create a boy’s band with uniforms and then skip out with the cash.

The musical’s songs are now familiar to all generations including Seventy-Six Trombones, Ya Got Trouble, Marian the Librarian, The Wells Frago Wagon, plus two barbershop quartets of men and women singing Lida Rose and Goodnight Ladies.

As one reviewer stated about the production on opening night: Professor   Hill is a high-octane opportunist with a jaunty strut and an eye for all exploitable human weakness, Caverly’s Hill is so raffishly charming it’s no wonder River City falls for his racket — except for the librarian Marian Paroo .

Hill sells his con in the opening number: Watch his delectable sneer when he compares pool to horse racing (that devil’s sport!). Spot how he deftly weaves the evocation of a pool cue’s motion into his spiel. Relish the assessing glance he sneaks at his enthralled dupes. Hill is effective because he’s a brilliantly calculating showman — but also because he revels in his own hoax.

The Impossible Surprise

We did not know, until scanning a review,  that this production would be by a cast of deaf and hearing actors.   Professor Hill signed all of his songs while his companion, Hill’s old friend Marcellus Washburn, sings most of Hill’s songs, including the exuberant “Seventy-Six Trombones.”

Half of each barbershop quartet is hearing.  All use American sign language with  two parts backed up by singers at the side of the stage.

All of the “dialogue” whether spoken or signed is projected on screens along the top and back of the stage.

The theatrical experience was extraordinary.  American Sign Language is communication with hands, arms and face.   All of the deaf actors performed their lines with the same expressions and physical movements as if they were speaking.

It was not the static signed interpretation one might see in newscast alongside the main speaker.  These people were performing their characters integrated fully into the play’s action.

For me one of the memorable moments was the opening dance number of the second act Shipoppi.  Harold dances with Marion, and actress who both signs and sings.  How did he keep the dance rhythm? Harold didn’t miss a beat, even without hearing!

A Takeaway

When we had read  that the production would include both deaf and hearing actors, we were skeptical.

But the experience was magical.   The story and songs are the same presentation of a salesman’s flimflam hustle testing an Iowa town’s hard earned down-to-earth integrity.

To see deaf actors in leading roles and singing actors signing gave the production an exuberance that seemed deeply genuine not merely theatrical.

(photo by Teresa Castracane)

It is ironic that the show’s lead role, the huckster Harold Hill, had to overcome his character’s own moral failures while navigating his real human deafness in playing the part.  In doing so, he gave the role a double meaning it would normally lack.

I could not help but think of a parallel to some of the experiences credit union people convey.   Yes, they believe in what they do and want their institution to do well.

But the really great ones do more by showing that the meaning underscoring each relationship is that everybody does matter.  Harold Hill’s character played by a deaf actor became about much more than a play.

Or as one character states: “I couldn’t make myself any plainer if I’see a Quaker on his day off.”

(This is the final of three posts about my 60th high school reunion visit to Indiana)

Buildings in downtown Rensselaer and parks are covered with 41  professionally painted murals.  The above picture (by Moberg) of the town’s name includes a landscape of Indiana. Most of the paintings are completely unrelated to the town itself.  They are public art by a group of professional artists from the US and overseas.

Most murals are painted on the backsides (alleys) of buildings.  They present a whole new  dimension for this small farming community of 6,000.

How the Project Started

The initiative was spearheaded by Ryan Musch a local restaurant owner, member of  the Prairie Arts Council, and a part time photographer-artist.  He had worked with fellow council member Bob Lewis (who died in 2014) to develop the idea.

In 2016 with the support of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation he invited  public artist Cameron Moberg to complete an initial work  next to his business.

Cameron lives in San Francisco. He is a  Pastor and a self-taught artist who fell in love with the trade as a child. His color deficiency, combined with his love of the 80’s, has influenced his use of vivid colors as they are the only colors he can truly see.

In this 2014 video (before his Rensselaer project) he raps about his purpose of working with kids and painting murals to give hope.   He hopes his public art will show that there is something bigger than us; something bigger than what we can create.

The reaction to Moberg’s initial creation below was so positive that Musch drew up a 35 page business plan to use art to transform the community and to make Rensselaer a destination for visitors.

A  2019 article An Amazing Public Art Walk   showed the success of this joint vision: This art initiative was possible thanks to the curator,  Cameron “CAMER1” Moberg, who wanted to give Rensselaer an “inspiring identity” that would help its tourism, along with Ryan Musch, co-owner of eMbers (a local event venue, bistro and craft bar) who assisted in coordinating the project. Cameron came up with the initiative to bring in four of his friends, whom are all world-renowned muralists, to paint the town (literally).

Disaster Strikes-The Effort is Reborn

But in the summer of 2019 disaster struck.  A block long fire destroyed downtown buildings and some of the murals.

In 2020 the project was restarted with a Go Fund Me site seeking broad public support.  Musch  described the benefit  in this public fundraising as  enhancing the quality of life:

A creative environment nurtures creative thinking. Public art is for everyone. It’s a benefit for a community as EVERYONE can participate in some capacity. Over 100 adults and children picked up a can of spray paint and participated. EVERYONE that wants to participate, gets to participate. The REN ART WLK once again, is for EVERYONE.

This colorful initiative has brought a new look and spirit to this traditionally conservative community.

The Renn Art Walk web site has a map showing all the murals with  photos and artist’s names updated through 2021.  It lists the foundations, businesses and individual supporters of the works.

The history of this mural public art enterprise describing the eleven works added in July 2021 and them working backwards in time can be read at  Rensselaeradventures.blogspot.

Now take a short art walk to view some of the paintings in this public gallery.

On the entry mat below is how one Rensselaer business greets its customers.  A spirit inspired by having art all around.

(This is the second of three posts from my 60th high school reunion this June)

Most Rensselaer residents do not live there to seek fame and fortune.  They value  the intimacy of  community, relationships going back generations and the shared experience of earning a living through one’s own skills.

The Saturday morning local Framer’s Market illustrates these common motivations.

It opens every Saturday from 7:30-11:30.  Each participant pays $10 for a parking space size stand on the County Courthouse square.  Or one can pay $40 for the entire season.

The Market is self-managed (a coop model) with  a two-page Policy and Vendor contract.  The purpose reads:  The Framer’s market is to provide a retail business outlet (not wholesale) for local growers/producers of goods or to market their products. Established retail businesses are ineligible under Market policies.

There is an annual Call Out meeting in early spring to approve the policy and  contract which each vendor signs.  All must be full time residents of Japer County or an adjacent county, be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult.

The Market Master is Brandy Luttrell who monitors the operations each Saturday, collects the $10 fee and insures the rules regarding signage, cleanliness, sales tax and booth locations are followed.   Prior to becoming the Master, Brandy was herself  a vendor.

The Local Vendors

Stephanie Davisson’s booth was the first in line the Saturday we visited.   She grows and sells flowers,  Lavender Lane cachets both dried and fresh.  But this is just one of her many local endeavors.

She is the choral instructor at Rensselaer High School.   Another responsibility is the Youth Leader and church organist on Sundays at the First Presbyterian Church.

Her Rensselaer roots go back generations.  Her father-in-law is Terry Davisson who was my sister’s classmate in 1961. He was accepted at West Point but left after his father died.  He played football at St. Joe’s and tried out for the Dallas Cowboys.   I was next to him at left end when he was on offense as left tackle. On defense the coaches positioned him opposite the other team’s toughest player whether that was as a lineman or linebacker.

Terry died in an auto accident  in 1977 at the age of 34. RHS established an annual football memorial scholarship award which reads: In honor of Terry Davisson former Rensselaer athlete, teacher and coach for his desire to instill in young people the dedication to live up to their potential, now matter what their potential was. 

Local  Offerings

The Adam’s family booth is two sisters.  They sell seasonal produce from their 5 ½ acre farm to earn money in the summer.   They also raise rabbits, ducks and chickens for eggs, goats for milk and other occasional  small livestock.  The girls do the farming as the parents both have full time jobs.

One booth sells  frozen meat.  The price list shows  the marks  of inflation!

Working while waiting for sales.

A local wood carver.

Baked goods and jellies are numerous.  I bought a bread loaf, biscotti and dandelion jelly.

Homes for birds including one in denim.

The morning’s end.

This brief Saturday commerce event is a microcosm of the larger town. We bought our share of local goods, but what we remember most was the conversations.   People are enthusiastic about this opportunity to show and sell their handiwork, and talk.

Tomorrow: Transforming Rensselaer with public art murals.