History

Sweet Freedom

/ Denis Wilhelm / Leave a comment

I must admit that when I was in high school, I didn’t pay much attention to U.S. history. The Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, the Continental Congress, George Washington, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, seemed like so much, I don’t know, old stuff, history if you will.

I guess I missed the point. In my defense, I was much more interested in what was happening during the 1970’s. As soon as school was out, I could cruise around in my mom’s four-door 1968 Corvair. I would roll the windows down, drive a little too fast and pretend it was a Corvette. With the AM radio blasting, I could blow off the stink of all those history classes. It was sweet freedom!

Current events dominated the nightly news and my life. The raging war in Vietnam, civil rights and women’s rights were frequent topics of news coverage, magazine covers, and heated family discussions. We baby boomers were booming! We were beating the drums of freedom, liberty, social justice, equality and change. I didn’t want to learn about old times; I was ready for new times.

Freedom. Liberty. Equality. Justice. America.

I’m not sure if we changed the world or if the world changed us. But once again today, I am reminded that life is a never-ending classroom (if I pay attention). Here we are in the middle of an election year. Temperatures and tempers are rising. Conspiracy theories about rigged elections are exhausting. Public discourse is downright ugly, and the mudslinging has begun (does it ever stop?). Politicians and political action committees are vying for your money and your vote. Corruption appears blatant and unchecked. Our precious democracy seems endangered.

So, how do we set aside our differences and come together as a nation to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence?

For me, it’s back to the classroom. Reading and paying attention to our nation’s history this time. We didn’t magically become a nation when our founders signed the Declaration of Independence. We fought. We worked. We questioned. We reformed. And we continue to embrace necessary change.

But our Constitution remains steadfast. And as Americans we must defend it at all costs. Freedom of speech, freedom of and from religion, the right to peacefully assemble, and the right to petition government to redress grievances are the things that make our nation great.

Simple. Honest. Powerful. America.

So, this year, as it approaches, I will contemplate the significance of our Independence Day and what it means to be an American.

I’m a flag-waving, patriotic progressive who gets misty-eyed hearing the “Star Spangled Banner”. I am humbled when I see people in uniform quietly serving our country and defending our freedom. I stand in solitary with the marginalized, victimized and under-served in our nation. I protest policies, laws and lawmakers with whom I disagree. We are a big, messy, diverse, collection of individuals that somehow make this experiment called Democracy work.

Now that’s sweet freedom!

Peace,

Denis

Woody Guthrie, who had lived through the Dust Bowl and worked as a migrant laborer, was deeply aware of how land and wealth were unevenly distributed. This song sought to assert that the land belonged to all people, not just the wealthy.

Remember When Valentine Was a Saint?

/ Denis Wilhelm / 1 Comment

Growing up I celebrated Saint Valentine’s Day. Somewhere along the way it just became Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure why, maybe it was a concerted effort to eliminate all that is good and holy from our world or to brainwash us into buying Hallmark® cards. More than likely it’s just a harmless derivative of what once was a Catholic feast day honoring a saint whose very existence is in dispute. Generally, it is believed that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II for aiding and marrying Christian couples (hence the romantic connection). But several Valentines are mentioned in early Christian history and many legends surround the name.

St. Valentine

Whether Valentine was a legend, or a saint doesn’t have much bearing on how we celebrate February 14th today. Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers. Whether it’s a new romance or a time-tested marriage; whether it’s the celebration of love between parents and their children or the love we share with our dear friends; it’s a good day to say, “I love you”.

For me, my wife Deb is my Valentine. She’s the one that stands by me through thick and thin. She is my leaning post, my rock, my partner, my inspiration and my joy. She is the one that gives meaning to my life – she is my lifetime Valentine. If some red roses and a romantic meal together will show her how much her love means to me – it’s a small price to pay.

Some folks might bemoan the fact that the ‘Saint’ has been taken out of Valentine’s Day, but I think that Valentine cards and heart-shaped boxes of candy are as harmless as bunnies at Easter. And maybe, just maybe, it’s better to honor the saints living among us than some saint from antiquity.

We can love one another everyday but I believe that Valentine’s Day is a good day to love a little more. Hug those that are close to you just a little bit tighter. Kiss your partner with a little more passion. Send a note to someone you’ve neglected. Call a friend just to say hello. Put yourself out there. Smile at a stranger. Offer a kind word to someone you meet. Risk your pride. Reach across the aisle. Mend a quarrel. Carry a load. Take a chance. Change your mind. Change your heart. Make peace. Love God. Love others.

Peace (and Love)

Denis

Faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.          

Remember When…?

/ Denis Wilhelm / 1 Comment

Remember when Valentine’s Day was Saint Valentine’s Day?

According to legend and some archeological evidence, Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred in 269 for marrying Christian couples. While awaiting his execution, he penned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”

He is the Patron Saint of greetings, young people, love, engaged couples, and happy marriages. He is also the Patron Saint of fainting, epilepsy, plague, bee keepers and travelers.

Funny how Hallmark® has focused on just the love and greetings business.  I guess there’s not much of a market for fainting or plague cards anymore. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time that I celebrated bee keeping either. So Saint Valentine the man has been forgotten or has been replaced by Cupid I suppose. But when I was a kid we still called it Saint Valentine’s Day and I guess I’m feeling a little nostalgic (or old) today.

I love history and I think it’s important for people (my kids and grandkids anyway) to know how things came to be. Growing up I told my children that EVERYTHING has a history (I can see their eyes rolling now). But it is important and I usually start with our family.

Like many Americans our family originated in Europe. On my mom’s side the journey from France included a time in Canada until those madcap fur traders decided to make the journey down the mighty Mississippi to settle here in the midwest. My French Canadian ancestors can be traced back to some of the earliest residents of our hometown. On dad’s side our German ancestors came to America about a hundred years later. Dad likes to say the Germans came over to clean up the mess that the French had made (that joke never gets old – I suppose my eyes are rolling now).

Things are a little murkier on my wife’s side of the family. Some Scottish and English ancestry and maybe Dutch. More importantly her great-grandmother was Native American – Choctaw I think. As best as we can tell some of her people were likely forced to march the “Trail of Tears” and settle in Oklahoma (shame on you Andrew Jackson!)

Every family has a history. Every town has a history. Every nation. Why is it important? Why must we remember? I think because we owe to those that have come before us. I think we honor the “saints” in our own families when we simply remember them. We’re here because of them – because of their search for a better life; because of their need to be free of religious or political persecution; because of their adventurous spirits; or simply because they “came along for the ride” on the ship or wagon or canoe. Some of our ancestors came here because they felt they had no other choice escaping famine or debtors prisons.  Some literally had no choice: shackled as the property of others. Some of their stories are heartbreaking. Some are heartwarming. Some are awe-inspiring. But they should all be told. Their stories are our stories.

Tell your stories (ignore the eye rolling) and honor your history and your people.

Peace,

Denis