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Heather, I want to thank you for your scholarship, compelling Letter lessons and deep concern for our country.

Peter Ralston, I gasped at first sight of 'Easting'. It is captivatingly beautiful. Thank you.

Yesterday’s Letter ran deep: the 13th and 14th amendments, the Dred Scott decision, Reconstruction, a lot to absorb. Along with reviewing it again, I won’t be able to stop myself from drifting into thought about how bizarre and frightening it is in America.

Stories of gun violence are nonstop. Climate catastrophes are continuous, along with the climate deniers. Some members of the family, neighbors and people in the news believe weird stuff. Governors, elected representatives and television personalities are saying things and doing stuff that can literally kill us. The deep cleavage in our democracy has been driving us further apart. I know it’s Sunday morning and who wants to hear this? I’m sorry; there is no place to hide because this crazy talk is in our minds even though we don’t believe a word of it.

This afternoon, without looking I came across an interview telling readers about what two old White men are cooking up. There could not have been a more down to earth wakeup call

‘It’s the Bernie and Joe show.’

‘At 79, Bernie Sanders is a man on a mission, laser-focused on a list that represents trillions of dollars in government spending that he deems essential.

‘He has changed the whole debate in the nation’s capital. He is the guy trying to yank his party back to its working-class roots and steer President Biden in a bolder, more progressive direction.’

‘Mirabile dictu: A president and senator who are both pushing 80, men who were underestimated and dismissed for years in Democratic circles, are now teaming up to transform the country. It’s the Bernie and Joe show’

‘Sanders passionately believes that the only way to undo the damage done by Donald Trump and Trumpism is by showing that government can deliver, that good policy can overcome dangerous conspiracy theories and lies.’

“It’s absolutely imperative if democracy is to survive that we do everything that we can to say, ‘Yes, we hear your pain and we are going to respond to your needs.’ That’s really what this is about. If we don’t do that, I fear very much that conspiracy theories and big lies and the drift toward authoritarianism is going to continue. You got all these folks out there who are saying, ‘Does anybody pay attention to me?’ (The NY Times)

That’s all you’ll get from me of the Bernie and Joe show. For more, please read his interview with Maureen Dowd, link below. Bernie is the best news in my book. I hope that his spirit, determination and plans for America light your fire.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/opinion/bernie-sanders-interview-maureen-dowd.html

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My thoughts about President Biden's executive order on getting businesses to be competitive makes me think that Biden presidency is not only in the model of FDR but also of Teddy Roosevelt with his monopoly busting. So, I'm expecting the next thing he does in the Teddy vein will be the revival of our National Parks and even deeding the Black Hills back to their rightful Native American owners.

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Ahhh so beautiful. Here in Wales on the Cambrian coast life and Art flow together seamlessly each day. This morning there is mist over the sea, dragons breath, and a dark grey line at the horizon. I feel I could walk to the edge of the world and look down at a glorious future. A new heaven and a new earth. A Dog barks, a hawk is finding a thermal far above the sea and the train toot toots traveling north at speed. I curl up in my azure duvet covered with pink and gold birds and Tink the cat sleeps in sleek blackness on her leopard blanket at my feet. From the wall I expect the girl in the Picasso print, ‘Girl with Chair’ to speak. Monet or Klee, Rembrandt or Warhol, what painting do you live in? What do they say to you?

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Where, oh where did we go wrong? Where is the nation that was able to pull itself out of a world-wide depression during the thirties (true, WW Two helped), defeat the forces of fascism during the forties, derail world-wide communism during the last half of the twentieth century, and was able to provide its citizens with the highest standard of living in the world,, a thriving economy and more liberty and equality (although that is still a work in progress) than ever before? Where did we go wrong?

This weekend, conservative Republicans are gathering in Dallas at their CPAC convention, at which the former president will speak. He and other speakers will talk about a stolen election, a claim disproven by all election authorities and courts, dismiss the January 6 invasion of the Capitol by terrorists intent on stopping the formalization of the election results in the Electoral College as a mere visit by tourists and talk about getting the former president back in the White House in 2024 or sooner. Where, oh where did we go wrong so that such dangerous nonsense has achieved even a smidgen of credibility?

I will tell you how those who are against democracy in the United States and against a citizenry enjoying equal rights under the law regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation found a way.

In my opinion, they started by pinpointing areas of dissatisfaction among separate groups of Americans and over the past half century, unified them under one all-encompassing banner. Dissatisfaction with something or other has always been part of American culture but never before have all of the dissatisfied been united as they were through the words of William Buckley, the candidacy of Barry Goldwater, the emergence of the Tea Party, the salesmanship of Ronald Reagan and culminating with the election of Donald Trump to the presidency.

Some were frustrated by the disappearance of traditional hands-on jobs and their replacement with technology, with the replacement of the Rust Belt with Silicon Valley. Some were annoyed by the growing presence of recent immigrants and eventually their children among the work force, the professions and society in general. Similarly, there were those who for a variety of reasons, objected to racial equality and were still, at least in their minds, fighting the Civil War. Some were dissatisfied with the government’s assuming the role of maintaining a safety net for those who were on the lower rungs of the economy’s ladder. Government regulations designed for the welfare and protection of ordinary citizens from questionable financial and business practices were opposed by others, usually in the private sector. There were those who saw a communist or socialist conspiracy behind every door that was being ignored. Others were dissatisfied with the ease with which a woman could obtain an abortion. Some objected to the redefinition of family structures, to include new sexual choices. And there were those who, despite the First Amendment, saw the United States as a Christian country and wanted to keep it that way. Regulation of the possession of weapons by private citizens was seen by others as an incursion into their freedom. Dissatisfaction with our educational system flourished, particularly among those who lacked confidence in science, and among those who disliked their children going to desegregated schools. Unionization of workers was seen by others as somehow un-American. The list of causes of dissatisfaction went on and on.

Standing alone, these groups made a lot of noise, but really did not exert much power. But united in their various dissatisfactions, augmented by carefully cultivated media outlets, they became a potent force. They first manifested their strength in local and State elections, and continue to do so, and soon their power spread into national politics. And that is where we are today.

This is where we went wrong. This is why so many Americans believe the “Big Lie” in regard to the 2020 election promulgated by the party which has mobilized these many sources of dissatisfaction into one massive anti-democratic group, masquerading as patriots dedicated to ‘saving’ our country and way of life.

What can be done about it remains in the hands of voters. The battle against these anti-democratic forces must be fought primarily in elections for State legislators and officials, governors and members of Congress. The presidency counts but not so much as these other offices do. This is where the dissatisfactions mentioned above manifest themselves, separately or unified into what is today’s Republican Party.

And in answering the question I started with, that is where we went wrong! We failed to recognize that all politics are local. So is dissatisfaction with something or other.

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Absolutely beautiful image. Thank you. I was also pleasantly surprised to see your new book on audible for release on 11/23/21. I live in Hood River and commute to Portland, OR four days a week. Needless to say I listen to many audiobooks while driving. I have listened to all of yours and look forward to your latest book

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Thank you Heather for letting me reminisce about the wonderful days I've had in Maine. Like going out to Machias Seal Island to watch the Puffins. Climbing the Beehive in Arcadia National Park. Eating the finest clam chowder I've ever had at Schoodic Point. Kayaking along one of the inlets near Brunswick photographing eagle nests. Driving up to LL Bean in the middle of the night to shop for Christmas presents.

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Biden has replaced the fear mongering of the former guy with boldness delivered in straight-talking fashion. Personally, I'm loving all this winning. Just because you can't get what you want be thankful for the things you do get you really need.

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There is nothing like the New England ocean. I remember housesitting for a friend in Rockport, MA, right on the water, and waking up to the sunrise over the ocean, and falling asleep to fog horns. It's beautiful. Your friend's photo brings back good memories. Thank you.

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Heather and Peter both, thank you for sharing your amazing talents with us. The beauty and gravitas of the words and images that are shared to this community are priceless.

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Merrily merrily merrily merrily

Life is but a dream… :-)

At least until Monday.

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So glad for you, to have a beautiful respite spending time on the water.

Rest well. Not only have you earned it. You teach us so much in so many ways, and modeling balance, giving yourself permission, is an important dynamic for us to witness and do for ourselves. Bless you.

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It looks like I need to spend some time on the east coast. My only visit there was 30 years ago, and I was turned around180 degrees the entire time. That is a fabulous photo.

I am in the midst of a birthday week celebration* in Central Oregon; so completely different that the coastal valleys that are my normal stomping grounds. I am going to explore Smith Rock and Crooked River Gorge today after spending the entire day Friday on a pontoon boat at Lake Billy Chinook (a lake formed by Round Butte Dam of the Metolius, Crooked, and Deschutes Rivers),

* We tend to celebrate our grouped family birthdays this way. My wife (July 6) and her sister (July 13) are the stars this week. Last May, we celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday, and in March, we celebrated my two nieces (March 25 and 27) and me (also the 27th; my niece was born on my 40th birthday). The girls and I choose the coast, my inlaws choose Central Oregon. It is fun.

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Absolutely beautiful!

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Pure joy... thank you Dr. R and photographer Ralston....

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Thank you Heather for providing this lovely peaceful summer photo. (It's a real beauty.) It gives balance to all the huge unthinkable things we worry about—I'm grateful for the equilibrium that you provide with your amazing sense of the American story. And the peaceful summer moments that show up. So very important that we can see beauty when it touches us.

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So lovely.This photo reminds me of the book I used to read to my son called One Morning In Maine.

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