The Party of Ike[Click] “Eisenhower—embodying prudence, diligence, and broad-mindedness—offers conservatives in the age of Trump a different model of leadership.” Slight problem: Ike would be, in some respects at least, on the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party. Today’s right-wing “conservatives” would seem to have nothing in common with him. But I would welcome a new and (by my lights) truly conservative party arising with similar leaders.
1968: the year that changed America[Click] “The cliche says that if you can remember the Sixties, you weren’t really there. But Hendrik Hertzberg remembers the decade’s most explosive year very well indeed.” Mr. Hertzberg evidently lived some different parts of The Sixties than I did—I particularly remember The Freedom Summer[Click] and California Consciousness[Click]—rock bands were foreign to my experience. Interestingly, the Internet search engines seem to be almost completely ignorant of “California Consciousness;” well, it was before their time. The link I give mentions the term, but not in the title.
Several of the things they talk about in the “California Consciousnes” link—communes, drugs, etc. were not part of my Sixties. The area where I grew up was roughly ten years behind the times, and by the times of the “Hippies” I was fairly well on my way. To the extent that I was a Hippie, I was one in disguise—which is socially easier. Only in recent years have I realized how strongly the culture of my teens and twenties was influenced by the Beat Generation, which laid the groundwork for what came after.
I was very much aware of what was going on during the Eisenhower years. (I still remember the frankly amusing interplay between the Taft and Eisenhower Virgin Islands delegates at the 1952 Republican national convention.) At that time Eisenhower clearly represented the "liberal" (I'd say, "moderate") wing of the Republican party. I find it hard to equate his political position with anything today -- the issues are just too different in so many ways -- but if I had to make the correlation I would probably call him a centrist or neoliberal Democrat. There are still a few Republicans of this stripe, but we don't hear much from them.
In what way do you see Eisenhower representing the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party?
I had never before heard the term "California consciousness," although I lived in the state from 1961-1970. And on a quick skim of the article you linked to the term didn't pop out at me. Maybe you could explain?
In my teen/early twenties years I was very much aware (but not part) of the beat generation. So from the beginning I saw how the hippies had their roots in the beats.
Yes, Alan. Son has seen the effects and many of them are concerning. Rising water means less dry land for nesting. And the polar bears are intermingling with people more than before. The mix can make his work a lot more dangerous. Not good.
One example is sufficient; consider this excerpt from Ike's Cross of Iron speech. Can you imagine any Democratic politician except Dennis Kucinich saying such things? No, they must be as bellicose as possible to deny the Republicans a political advantage. Remember that Hillary Clinton threatened Iran with nuclear annihilation, for but one example.
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter with a half-million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. . . . This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
Ike's Farewell Address to the Nation is also well worth reading. As for being a neoliberal, he was probably a lot closer to a New Dealer; but the meaning of "neoliberalism" has changed considerably over the years.
Re "California Consciousness" Interesting—maybe I remember a phrase that was a passing thing. But here is the location of the reference in the page I linked:
Hollywood Sees the Light An Interview with Filmmaker and Producer Stephen Simon….
Courtney Walsh:…..
Stephen Simon:… Whether it is ready or not, it is back. Whether it is ready or not, we’re back…
We also got to a point where we realized: 1.)…That’s when California consciousness really kicked in.
This really all began at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur…
—Alan (Who humorously embellishes the phrase a bit as “California Cosmo-consiousness)
Good grief! I am vaguely familiar with Ike's farewell address, but I'm going to have to give him some serious study. That excerpt is incredible for *any* politician in my experience. If we could have Republicans who believed that, I might consider converting! *grin*
I've finished all Madeleine L'Engle's children's and young adult novels, and am feeling distinctly at a loss. Her world is so vivid and vibrant, her characters so real, I want to stay there with them.
Most notably, whatever happened to Charles Wallace? He survived A Swiftly Tilting Planet, if by the skin of his teeth. But some seventeen years later, in A House Like A Lotus, when Sandy and Denys visit Meg and Cal and their children in South Carolina, there is no mention of Charles Wallace, nor later that year, when Polly goes to stay with her grandparents in An Acceptable Time. It's mentioned that the twins come back to visit, but not Charles Wallace. There's no mention of him at all, where he is or what he's doing. Sandy has become a lawyer, just as he always said he would, specializing in international environmental law. Denys has become a doctor, just as he always said he would, a renowned surgeon. But there's not a word about Charles Wallace. Even if he weren't Meg's favorite brother and the one she was closest to, that would be strange.
As for Vicky Austin, I wish there were more about her and the dolphins.
Don't really want to read the adult novels. The blurbs I've seen mzake them sound like books I wouldn't enjoy, which is a pity.
In A House Like a Lotus (1984), Polly writes that "Mother's youngest brother, the one Charles is named after, is off somewhere on some kind of secret mission, we don't know where."
So that's a reference to Charles Wallace Murry. The Charles mentioned in the quote is Charles O'Keefe, Vicky & Calvin's son, named after Charles Wallace.
Vicky Austin is some three years older than Meg and Cal's eldest, Polyhymnia (Poly later Polly). Vicky knows Calvin only by reputation as a scientist whom both her father and her friend Adam Eddington admire.
Alan, you're lucky. I'd love to have someone with whom to discuss avian evolution over the breakfast table, anything intellectually stimulating, or even just mildly interesting. None of my family share any of my interests. Well, Mum and I do discuss politics and sometimes religion and religious history. Trouble is, talking with Mum usually quickly degenerates into listening to a diatribe. And that gets real old, real fast.
As to what the Tweet Meister has to hide: I suspect we really, truly do not want to know!
It's true, Cat--we are fortunate to be fairly well matched. Sports are a big snooze for both of us, for instance.
As for the Twitterer-in-Chief, I doubt that what he is hiding is anything particularly horrifying--but on the other hand I long worked with several sorts of things that I know better than to discuss over breakfast--or lunch--or dinner--or at all, with my sweetie. Things that many people would consider horrifying. I can't see Trump as a murderous capo; a traitor, perhaps, but more likely someone guilty of financial crimes. I don't think Michael Cohen literally knows where the bodies are buried--figuratively, yes, but not literally. BTB, did you see the Sunday Doonesbury strip? Here it is.[Click] I do hope evangelicals can find their way home some time. I am reminded of Sacred Harp singing—people comment on how everyone involved is nice; and it is participatory, not performance. One famous Sacred Harp singer (composer too, I think) said he will travel a hundred miles to participate, but wouldn’t go across the street to hear Sacred Harp. Boy, those songs of theirs are really heavy-duty Christian—the very antithesis of maudlin; and folks all seem to get along no matter their religious leanings. There seems to be a moral there.
Can anyone view The Daily Kitten (dailykitten.com)? I get a screen that says Database Error, of all things. Could really use some kitten photos right about now.
Glad it does. Thanks for checking, Alan. Now I need to work out what's blocking my access and how to fix it. Actually, I have a fairly good idear what, just can't seem to overcome the how. *sigh*
The site must be having problems. It returned the same Database Error message when I tried to log in. Oh well, I did get to see a couple of adorable kittens. Kittens are good for one's soul!
The Party of Ike[Click] “Eisenhower—embodying prudence, diligence, and broad-mindedness—offers conservatives in the age of Trump a different model of leadership.” Slight problem: Ike would be, in some respects at least, on the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party. Today’s right-wing “conservatives” would seem to have nothing in common with him. But I would welcome a new and (by my lights) truly conservative party arising with similar leaders.
ReplyDeletelistener-Biologist*Son must have seen this sort of thing too:
'Amazing but also concerning': weird wildlife ventures to northern Alaska[Click]
1968: the year that changed America[Click] “The cliche says that if you can remember the Sixties, you weren’t really there. But Hendrik Hertzberg remembers the decade’s most explosive year very well indeed.” Mr. Hertzberg evidently lived some different parts of The Sixties than I did—I particularly remember The Freedom Summer[Click] and
California Consciousness[Click]—rock bands were foreign to my experience. Interestingly, the Internet search engines seem to be almost completely ignorant of “California Consciousness;” well, it was before their time. The link I give mentions the term, but not in the title.
—Alan
Several of the things they talk about in the “California Consciousnes” link—communes, drugs, etc. were not part of my Sixties. The area where I grew up was roughly ten years behind the times, and by the times of the “Hippies” I was fairly well on my way. To the extent that I was a Hippie, I was one in disguise—which is socially easier. Only in recent years have I realized how strongly the culture of my teens and twenties was influenced by the Beat Generation, which laid the groundwork for what came after.
Delete—Alan
I was very much aware of what was going on during the Eisenhower years. (I still remember the frankly amusing interplay between the Taft and Eisenhower Virgin Islands delegates at the 1952 Republican national convention.) At that time Eisenhower clearly represented the "liberal" (I'd say, "moderate") wing of the Republican party. I find it hard to equate his political position with anything today -- the issues are just too different in so many ways -- but if I had to make the correlation I would probably call him a centrist or neoliberal Democrat. There are still a few Republicans of this stripe, but we don't hear much from them.
DeleteIn what way do you see Eisenhower representing the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party?
I had never before heard the term "California consciousness," although I lived in the state from 1961-1970. And on a quick skim of the article you linked to the term didn't pop out at me. Maybe you could explain?
DeleteIn my teen/early twenties years I was very much aware (but not part) of the beat generation. So from the beginning I saw how the hippies had their roots in the beats.
I agree with you, Bill, that Ike was a centrist.
DeleteAnd a part of me envies you that you lived in California through the 60's!
Yes, Alan. Son has seen the effects and many of them are concerning. Rising water means less dry land for nesting. And the polar bears are intermingling with people more than before. The mix can make his work a lot more dangerous. Not good.
DeleteOne example is sufficient; consider this excerpt from Ike's Cross of Iron speech. Can you imagine any Democratic politician except Dennis Kucinich saying such things? No, they must be as bellicose as possible to deny the Republicans a political advantage. Remember that Hillary Clinton threatened Iran with nuclear annihilation, for but one example.
Delete"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter with a half-million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. . . . This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
Ike's Farewell Address to the Nation is also well worth reading. As for being a neoliberal, he was probably a lot closer to a New Dealer; but the meaning of "neoliberalism" has changed considerably over the years.
Alan
Re "California Consciousness" Interesting—maybe I remember a phrase that was a passing thing. But here is the location of the reference in the page I linked:
DeleteHollywood Sees the Light
An Interview with Filmmaker and Producer Stephen Simon….
Courtney Walsh:…..
Stephen Simon:… Whether it is ready or not, it is back. Whether it is ready or not, we’re back…
We also got to a point where we realized: 1.)…That’s when California consciousness really kicked in.
This really all began at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur…
—Alan (Who humorously embellishes the phrase a bit as “California Cosmo-consiousness)
Good grief! I am vaguely familiar with Ike's farewell address, but I'm going to have to give him some serious study. That excerpt is incredible for *any* politician in my experience. If we could have Republicans who believed that, I might consider converting! *grin*
DeleteI've finished all Madeleine L'Engle's children's and young adult novels, and am feeling distinctly at a loss. Her world is so vivid and vibrant, her characters so real, I want to stay there with them.
ReplyDeleteMost notably, whatever happened to Charles Wallace? He survived A Swiftly Tilting Planet, if by the skin of his teeth. But some seventeen years later, in A House Like A Lotus, when Sandy and Denys visit Meg and Cal and their children in South Carolina, there is no mention of Charles Wallace, nor later that year, when Polly goes to stay with her grandparents in An Acceptable Time. It's mentioned that the twins come back to visit, but not Charles Wallace. There's no mention of him at all, where he is or what he's doing. Sandy has become a lawyer, just as he always said he would, specializing in international environmental law. Denys has become a doctor, just as he always said he would, a renowned surgeon. But there's not a word about Charles Wallace. Even if he weren't Meg's favorite brother and the one she was closest to, that would be strange.
As for Vicky Austin, I wish there were more about her and the dolphins.
Don't really want to read the adult novels. The blurbs I've seen mzake them sound like books I wouldn't enjoy, which is a pity.
In A House Like a Lotus (1984), Polly writes that "Mother's youngest brother, the one Charles is named after, is off somewhere on some kind of secret mission, we don't know where."
DeleteSo that's a reference to Charles Wallace Murry. The Charles mentioned in the quote is Charles O'Keefe, Vicky & Calvin's son, named after Charles Wallace.
Thanks, Listener! It was such an offhand reference, I promptly forgot it. Well, it doesn't tell is much, but it's something.
DeleteEr, Meg Murray is married to Calvin O'Keefe.
DeleteVicky Austin is some three years older than Meg and Cal's eldest, Polyhymnia (Poly later Polly). Vicky knows Calvin only by reputation as a scientist whom both her father and her friend Adam Eddington admire.
Alan, you're lucky. I'd love to have someone with whom to discuss avian evolution over the breakfast table, anything intellectually stimulating, or even just mildly interesting. None of my family share any of my interests. Well, Mum and I do discuss politics and sometimes religion and religious history. Trouble is, talking with Mum usually quickly degenerates into listening to a diatribe. And that gets real old, real fast.
ReplyDeleteAs to what the Tweet Meister has to hide: I suspect we really, truly do not want to know!
It's true, Cat--we are fortunate to be fairly well matched. Sports are a big snooze for both of us, for instance.
DeleteAs for the Twitterer-in-Chief, I doubt that what he is hiding is anything particularly horrifying--but on the other hand I long worked with several sorts of things that I know better than to discuss over breakfast--or lunch--or dinner--or at all, with my sweetie. Things that many people would consider horrifying. I can't see Trump as a murderous capo; a traitor, perhaps, but more likely someone guilty of financial crimes. I don't think Michael Cohen literally knows where the bodies are buried--figuratively, yes, but not literally. BTB, did you see the Sunday Doonesbury strip? Here it is.[Click] I do hope evangelicals can find their way home some time. I am reminded of Sacred Harp singing—people comment on how everyone involved is nice; and it is participatory, not performance. One famous Sacred Harp singer (composer too, I think) said he will travel a hundred miles to participate, but wouldn’t go across the street to hear Sacred Harp. Boy, those songs of theirs are really heavy-duty Christian—the very antithesis of maudlin; and folks all seem to get along no matter their religious leanings. There seems to be a moral there.
—Alan
Indeed there does. Possibly more than one.
DeleteCan anyone view The Daily Kitten (dailykitten.com)? I get a screen that says Database Error, of all things. Could really use some kitten photos right about now.
ReplyDeleteIt works for me, Cat.
DeleteAlan
Glad it does. Thanks for checking, Alan. Now I need to work out what's blocking my access and how to fix it. Actually, I have a fairly good idear what, just can't seem to overcome the how. *sigh*
DeleteIt's working! I must have hit the five-minutes when it was down, or something. Kittens! Ahhh!
DeleteYes, I tried it earlier and it didn't load. Got busy with other things and forgot to get back to report.
DeleteThe site must be having problems. It returned the same Database Error message when I tried to log in. Oh well, I did get to see a couple of adorable kittens. Kittens are good for one's soul!
DeleteI didn't try to log in, so didn't get a database error message. Sounds like an error on their end, not yours.
DeleteHere's a kitten fix for you.[Click]
--Alan
Fix? That's into 'OD and die happy' territory. Thanks, Alan!
DeleteYou are more than welcome, Cat.
DeleteAlan
AHA! FOUND IT! Googled [Alan Watts “California Consciousness”]
ReplyDeleteCalifornia Consciousness![Click]
—Alan (Who is once again pleased to verify that even if his recall works a bit slowly at times, his mind hasn’t yet gone to rot.)
Sacred Harp song of the day:
ReplyDeleteThe Grieved Soul[Click] By Joseph Hart, 1759
Lyrics:
Come, my soul and let us try
For a little season
Ev’ry burden to lay by,
Come and let us reason.
What is this that casts thee down?
Who are those that grieve thee?
Speak and let the worst be known?
Speaking may relieve thee.
—Alan (Who thinks it sounds like pretty up-to-date therapy.)