Chapter 80.9: Back to the Future, Forward to the Past

Every now and then, I actually poke around through the emailed newsletter I receive from the Council on Foreign Relations. Given the significant transition we are facing as a nation, I found the latest issue particularly interesting. In it is a link to an essay written by Dean Rusk, then a trustee with the Rockefeller Foundation and in less than a year of this essay being published, the U.S. Secretary of State.

In the essay, which is very long, he makes prescient observations on the status of the United States at that time and where he envisioned it going. But I was caught also by one of his simplist observations: "To the rest of the world [the president] embodies the dignity and sovereignty of the Federal Union and has much to do with the image of America projected beyond our borders. He leads our solemn observances and sets the tone of our national life. Whether we move with zest and confidence in our public and private affairs or plod along in apathy or bewilderment turns in large part upon the morale which flows from the White House."

In light of what America has seen over the past 28 years (i.e. since President Reagan), Rusk's words should be instructive for president-elect Obama. One of the things I like about Obama is how smart he is and that he is able to use that intelligence to convey confidence. I don't doubt that Sen. McCain is intelligent and I honestly don't doubt that President Bush is intelligent, though I think his arrogance and that of Vice President Cheney have brought shame to the United States that will take years to wash clean. But neither Bush nor McCain — and not even President Clinton when he was so embattled — left me feeling confident.

We need President Obama to continue to instill confidence in Americans of all stripes if we are to succeed during what promises to be one of the most challenging economic periods of our history. Right now, Web sites are filled with speculation about what an Obama presidency will mean for investors, what it will mean for health care, even what it means for Sen. Joe Lieberman. I'm sure some of the points noted in these pieces are accurate, and I'm sure that some will prove to be wrong or misguided. The facts will play out and like the Roshomon effect, will depend on perspective in order to convey a semblance of truth.

Perspective is important to a leader. What Americans need now is to believe in the power of that office for good once again. After eight years of President Bush's ideologically driven decisions that left half the nation unguarded and President Clinton's self-centered dalliances that sullied the office, I hope that President Obama can restore confidence in America's place in the world, in our leadership, and in our goodness.

It is a lot to ask of any leader — probably too much. And I'm sure there'll be times when he fails; he's human. But damn, we need a leader now.

Chapter 77.5: Thoughts on Independence Day

The other day, I read a great editorial from a somewhat unexpected source: William Kristol.

I'd not considered the idea, for example of reading the full Declaration of Independence aloud on July 4th, though it's not only perfectly appropriate, but perhaps something that should become customary.

William Kristol is not someone I read with regularity. I don't think of myself as inherently conservative, though I see some conservativism within me -- mostly on the financial side. Rather, I consider myself a moderate, though I tend to vote Democratic. Still, Kristol's piece is more about America as a political entity rather than as looking at it as either liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican.

As Kristol writes: "...the declaration itself notes, 'all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.' The people are conservative. Liberty sometimes requires the bold leadership of a few individuals."

In general I agree.

A friend of mine who is a consultant for nonprofit organizations once told me that his basic formula finds that the number of leaders within a group (even a group of leaders) is effectively equal to the square root of the total number.

That makes Thomas Jefferson's experience even more amazing. If the recent John Adams biopic on HBO is to be believed — and it was based on David McCullough's well researched history of the man — then Jefferson was not the most likely person to write the Declaration. Indeed, he appeared to be mostly standoffish and unengaged. Yet this man became the third president of the United States, to say nothing of his standing as the second vice president, serving in John Adams' administration.

And it helps identify this country as a wonderful aberration in history: A country that believes enough in the people to encourage even those who might not see the greatness within themselves to stand up and voice their conscience. God Bless America. Happy Fourth, everyone!

Chapter 75: A Decade of Publishing?

While I was home yesterday, enjoying a planned, post-birthday day off, an unexpected package arrived. I didn't recognize the sender, which was based in Michigan, and I assumed it was a birthday gift that someone had neglected to mention.

But when I opened the box, I realized that this was something different -- albeit not at all inappropriate for the time. Inside, tucked within poppable blister wrap, was Ireland and the Americas, the three-volume encyclopedia of all things Irish-American. Aside from arriving the day after St. Patrick's Day, why is this significant? Because three of the entries were written by me!

While it often takes years between a finished draft and actual publication of a novel, that is certainly the case with encyclopedias, which need to be fact-checked and carefully scrutinized. After all, they'll sit on library shelves for decades. I wrote these entries at least three years ago -- it may have even been in late 2004.

I was originally asked to write about the Irish-American influence on baseball. For those who aren't aware, Irish Americans (and several American Irish) were the first superstars of baseball. Michael "King" Kelly was once the wealthiest player in the game (making less than what many of today's superstars make per inning), and there was a reason why it was Mighty Casey who was playing for Mudville in Ernest Thayer's famous poem. It's the same reason "Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake." These guys were Irish.

Alas, Mighty Casey eventually struck out, but not before the Irish Americans started to dominate the managerial ranks. I wrote another entry about Irish-American managers, and one about Ned Hanlon. Hanlon was both a successful manager and credited with several innovations that fans take for granted today. I offered to write about Hanlon's proteges, John McGraw and Connie Mack, but they were already written.

But back to my original point, this has been a wonderful week already. I've marked another decade of life with a newly published work, and before the next ten years are out I hopefully will have a couple novels published. And soon the 2008 baseball season will begin. I can hardly wait!

Chapter 60.7: The 300; New Liberal Arts

Ok, this will be a disjointed post because I seem to be citing a recent movie (that I haven't seen) and combining it with a phrase that in that context makes no sense. So let me explain: this is my 300th post since starting this blog in 2004. More than some people, a lot few than many others. Self-congratulation is now over.

As for "the new liberal arts," that comes from an interesting post I saw at MIT Online, a publication at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The writer, who is from the university's class of 2007, discusses social entrepreneurism and the importance of the priveleged to give something back to sociey -- not simply make buckets of money. And he recounts an alumnus who told him "Engineering is the liberal arts of the 21st century."

What an interesting comment; it might even be true. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the state of education -- particularly math and science -- is at a dangerous low in this country. I've spoken with people from Microsoft and the former governor of a major manufacturing state as well as others who have similar concerns, and they believe that American students -- and their parents -- have no idea how poor their math and science skills are.

The liberal arts comment points to how broadly necessary those skills are and will become. Technology is at the heart of nearly everything we use today -- this computer I'm typing on, the cash register at the coffee shop where you bought your cup this morning, the blinking voice mail like reminding your co-worker that she's ignoring a client -- and our future is spending it on their hand-held game or their cell phone, oblivious to irony.

We are far from a tipping point, unless it's already tipped to the negative. Getting through to the kids will not be easy. And it's entirely possible they don't care and will blame us for letting their world fall apart. It's not enough that we've taught them to read; we need to help them learn how to think. That requires math and science as certainly as it requires art and literature.

Chapter 55: Happy New Year!

An absolutely incredible story popped up onto the New York Times while I was skimming headlines. The story is about two unrelated Missouri boys who were found after having been abducted 4 and a half years ago. Safe and sound, but silent at the news conference, one of the boys sat with his parents apparently looking very happy to be home.

There are so many questions that pop into mind that it would take a month to ask them all, and then more time to follow up the answers. I can only assume that there'll be a book to come out of this and then a movie, but the most important thing is that two families have their sons back.

I can only imagine the despair those parents must have lived through for all those years. Were they hopeless at times? They apparently created a foundation that works to help other families in similar circumstances. It's amazing how a random action can completely alter one's life plan. What will this do for those people? Will they redouble their efforts to help other families? Will they devote their their time now to their reunited family? It's for them to determine, and there will be no wrong answer. Good luck to both families and to all those who have suffered through years of unanswered questions.