it is better to have ring of freedom in your ears than in your nose
The Bears and the Monkeys.
In a deep forest there lived many bears. They spent the winter sleeping, and the summer playing leap-bear and stealing honey and buns from nearby cottages. One day a fast-talking monkey named Glib showed up and told them that their way of life was bad for bears. “You are prisoners of pastime,” he said, “addicted to leap-bear, and slaves of honey and buns.”
The bears were impressed and frightened as Glib went on talking. “Your forebears have done this to you,” he said. Glib was so glib, glibber than the glibbest monkey they had ever seen before, that the bears believed he must know more than they knew, or than anybody else. But when he left, to tell other species what was the matter with them, the bears reverted to their fun and games and their theft of buns and honey.
Their decadence made them bright of eye, light of heart, and quick of paw, and they had a wonderful time, living as bears had always lived, until one day two of Glib’s successors appeared, named Monkey Say and Monkey Do. They were even glibber than Glib, and they brought many presents and smiled all the time. “We have come to liberate you from freedom,” they said. “This is the New Liberation, twice as good as the old, since there are two of us.”
So each bear was made to wear a collar, and the collars were linked together with chains, and Monkey Do put a ring in the lead bear’s nose, and a chain on the lead bear’s ring. “Now you are free to do what I tell you to do,” said Monkey Do.
“Now you are free to say what I want you to say,” said Monkey Say. “By sparing you the burden of electing your leaders, we save you from the dangers of choice. No more secret ballots, everything open and aboveboard.” For a long time the bears submitted to the New Liberation, and chanted the slogan the monkeys had taught them: “Why stand on your own two feet when you can stand on ours?”
Then one day they broke the chains of their new freedom and found their way back to the deep forest and began playing leap-bear again and stealing honey and buns from the nearby cottages. And their laughter and gaiety rang through the forest, and birds that had ceased singing began singing again, and all the sounds of the earth were like music.
MORAL: It is better to have the ring of freedom in your ears than in your nose.
Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems Illustrated by James Thurber, New York, Harpers, 1940.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that the Federal Reserve Bank said today that:
The GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the first quarter of 2025 is -2.8 percent on March 3, down from -1.5 percent on February 28. After this morning’s releases from the US Census Bureau and the Institute for Supply Management, the nowcast of first-quarter real personal consumption expenditures growth and real private fixed investment growth fell from 1.3 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, to 0.0 percent and 0.1 percent.
Bills do come due and a fall of GDP from -1.5 to a -2.8 in five days is rather stunning.
This is the New Liberation, twice as good as the old, since there are two of us.
be dizzy now turn your head upside down see how world looks upside down
Spring is when the grass turns green and glad. Spring is when the new grass comes up and says, “Hey, hey! Hey, hey!” Be dizzy now and turn your head upside down and see how the world looks upside down. Be dizzy now and turn a cartwheel, and see the good earth through a cartwheel.
Tell your feet the alphabet. Tell your feet the multiplication table. Tell your feet where to go, and, and watch ‘em go and come back.
Can you dance a question mark? Can you dance an exclamation point? Can you dance a couple of commas? And bring it to a finish with a period?
Can you dance like the wind is pushing you? Can you dance like you are pushing the wind? Can you dance with slow wooden heels and then change to bright and singing silver heels? Such nice feet, such good feet.
Lines Written for Gene Kelly To Dance To by Carl Sandburg as published in The Complete Poems of Carl Sandburg (revised and updated).
Dancing feet?
Such good feet?
Spring is when the grass turns green and glad.
Spring is when the new grass comes up and says, “Hey, hey! Hey, hey!”
Spring is when the new grass puts so much pollen in the air that I am dizzy now and I turn my head upside down and see how the world looks upside down and can’t breath and think my head is going to explode.
these are simple things dignity, independence, their children, that’s all
The Reuters News Agency compiled a list of social media reactions to a meeting between the President of Ukraine and the current president of the United States.
It is a fairly impressive list.
There are folks who won’t care, who feel this was brought on by an aggressor nation of Ukrainians bent on taking over Russia.
There are folks who will say ATTA BOY DONNY.
As Huck Finn said, “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better.”
Here are the Reponses.
ZELENSKIY ON X “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
In a social media post on Saturday:
“It is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets about it, neither during the war nor after. It is important for people in Ukraine to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world.”
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU ON X “Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace.”
GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ “No one wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine! That is why we are jointly seeking the path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON TO REPORTERS IN PORTUGAL: “Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so. We, that is the United States of America, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese and many others. And we must thank all those who have helped and respect those who have been fighting since the beginning. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children and the security of Europe. These are simple things, but they’re good to remember at times like these, that’s all.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI “Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation. Not of its power or influence, but of the principles that founded it, first and foremost freedom. A division would not benefit anyone. What is needed is an immediate summit between the United States, European states and allies to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together in recent years, and those that we will be called upon to face in the future. This is the proposal that Italy intends to make to its partners in the coming hours.”
SPOKESPERSON FOR BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER “He retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE “We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, because this is the struggle of a democratic nation versus an authoritarian regime led by Vladimir Putin, who clearly has imperialistic designs, not just on Ukraine, but throughout that region.”
CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MELANIE JOLY ON X “Canada remains committed to providing the necessary assistance to ensure Ukraine’s security, sovereignty, and resilience.”
DENMARK’S FOREIGN MINISTER LARS LOKKE RASMUSSEN ON FACEBOOK “It’s a punch in the gut for Ukraine. … There must be room for robust conversations – even between friends. But when it happens in front of rolling cameras like that, there is only one winner. And he sits in the Kremlin.”
FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA’S SECURITY COUNCIL, ON TELEGRAM “A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office.”
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN ON X “Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President. “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”
MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT MAIA SANDU ON X “The truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine defends its freedom – and ours. We stand with Ukraine.”
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ ON X “Ukraine, Spain stands with you.”
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN ON X “Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!”
NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE IN STATEMENT TO TV2 “What we saw from the White House today is serious and disheartening. Ukraine still needs the US’s support, and Ukraine’s security and future are also important to the US and to Europe. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has strong support in Ukraine, broad support in Europe, and he has led his people through a very demanding and brutal time, under attack from Russia. That Trump accuses Zelenskiy of gambling with World War III is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from. Norway stands with Ukraine in their struggle for freedom. We hope that the Trump administration also understands the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
CZECH PRESIDENT PETR PAVEL ON X “We stand with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its efforts.”
DUTCH PRIME MINISTER DICK SCHOOF “The Netherlands continues to support Ukraine. Especially now. We want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started. For Ukraine, for all its inhabitants and for Europe.”
ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARGUS TSAHKNA ON X “The only obstacle to peace is (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s decision to continue his war of aggression. If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine. Estonia’s support to Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step up.”
POLISH PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK ON X “Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.”
GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE “Yesterday, once again, a clear line was drawn between the war party and the peace party. I am referring not so much to the debate between Trump and Zelenskiy, but to the subsequent reactions to this debate. President Trump and his peace efforts were condemned one after another by people responsible for allowing a bloody war and callously sacrificing Ukraine and the lives of thousands of Ukrainians.”
GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE GERAPETRITIS U.S. support in the conflict in Ukraine is necessary, although Europe still needs to upgrade its own defence infrastructure, the minister said.
SWISS PRESIDENT KARIN KELLER-SUTTER ON X “Switzerland remains firmly committed to supporting a just and lasting peace, while condemning Russia’s aggression against a sovereign state.”
JOHANN WADEPHUL, DEPUTY OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY-GROUP IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT, THE PARTY OF INCOMING CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, ON X “The scenes from the White House are shocking. How can you stab the president of an invaded country in the back like this? Free Europe will not betray Ukraine!”
ITALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MATTEO SALVINI, LEADER OF THE FAR-RIGHT LEAGUE PARTY ON X “Aim for PEACE, stop this war! Come on @realDonaldTrump”.
Reporting by Kate Entringer, Jason Hovet, Andreas Rinke, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Nerijus Adomaitis, Ron Popeski, Krisztina Than, Ana Cantero Rios; Editing by Howard Goller and Richard Chang.
US Cemetery in Normandy – They died for our freedom today
courage and faith in living maintain reservoir of human feeling
The Addison Gallery of American Art has a gallery of photographs titled, “Harlem Heros.”
One photograph is of Sarah Victor.
Famous for a time and to some, Sarah Victor was the pastry chef at the Algonquin hotel.
In his book on managing the hotel, Frank Case wrote about Sarah.
When she died all the papers featured obituaries and the dignified Times saw fit to print a two-column picture with a story. She was a devout Catholic and at her funeral, although it was a cold winter morning and the hour an early one, the church was filled with mourning friends, both black and white. If any of you have a Sarah in your home, treasure her; you will never get another.
In the Addison Gallery of American Art, below the photo of Sarah, there is the following text written by Richard Wright from his book, “Twelve Million Black Voices” where he writes:
We go home pleasantly tired and sleep easily, for we know that we hold somewhere within our hearts a possibility of inexhaustible happiness … We take this feeling with us each day and it drains the gall out of our years … Some say that, because we possess this faculty of keeping alive this spark of happiness under adversity, we are children. No, it is the courage and faith in simple living that enable us to maintain this reservoir of human feeling …
The full text reads …
We go home pleasantly tired and sleep easily, for we know that we hold somewhere within our hearts a possibility of inexhaustible happiness; we know that if we could but get our feet planted firmly upon this earth, we could laugh and live and build. We take this feeling with us each day and it drains the gall out of our years, sucks the sting from the rush of time, purges the pain from our memory of the past, and banishes the fear of loneliness and death. When the soil grows poorer, we cling to this feeling; when clanking tractors uproot and hurl us from the land, we cling to it; when our eyes behold a black body swinging from a tree in the wind, we cling to it. . . .
Some say that, because we possess this faculty of keeping alive this spark of happiness under adversity, we are children. No, it is the courage and faith in simple living that enable us to maintain this reservoir of human feeling, for we know that there will come a day when we shall pour out our hearts over this land.
Neither are we ashamed to go of a Saturday night to the crossroad dancehall and slow drag, ball the jack, and Charleston to an old guitar and piano. Dressed in starched jeans, an old silk shirt, a big straw hat, we swing the girls over the plank floor, clapping our hands, stomping our feet, and singing:
(12 Million Black Voices: A folk history of the Negro in the United States, Viking, New York, 1941).
The courage and faith in simple living that enable us to maintain this reservoir of human feeling.
DEI my ass.
If you watched the scene today in the Oval Office and you were proud …
opportunity to contribute enormously to cause of freedom
According to Wikipedia, “Why We Fight is a series of seven propaganda films produced by the US Department of War from 1942 to 1945, during World War II. It was originally written for American soldiers to help them understand why the United States was involved in the war, but US President Franklin Roosevelt ordered distribution for public viewing.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Frank Capra, daunted but impressed and challenged by Leni Riefenstahl’s 1935 propaganda film Triumph of the Will, worked in direct response. The series faced various challenges, such as convincing a noninterventionist nation to get involved in the war and to become an ally of the Soviet Union. Many entries feature Axis powers’ propaganda footage from up to 20 years earlier, recontextualized to promote the Allies.
Also according to Wikipedia, Mr. Capra had a meeting with General George Marshall discuss plans for the movies.
Mr. Capra writes in his autobiography, The Name Above the Title: An Autobiography )New York: Macmillan, 1971) that General Marshall said to him: “Now, Capra, I want to nail down with you a plan to make a series of documented, factual-information films—the first in our history—that will explain to our boys in the Army why we are fighting, and the principles for which we are fighting. … You have an opportunity to contribute enormously to your country and the cause of freedom. Are you aware of that, sir?”
Documented, factual-information films …
That will explain to our boys in the Army why we are fighting …
and the principles for which we are fighting …
You have an opportunity to contribute enormously to your country …
You have an opportunity to contribute enormously to the cause of freedom …
The cause of freedom.
Isn’t that what this Country was all about?
Maybe we need to watch these movies again.
I don’t think the idea of making a contribution to the cause of freedom is much on anyone’s mind today.
