Philip Spiess

Henry:  Let us remember the divine maxim of our Founding Fathers and its inevitable aftermath:

"Ours is a governmental system of checks and balances:  the government writes the checks, but it seldom balances!"

Dale Gieringer

  Not to speak of politics, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid it.  Last week helicopters were buzzing along the hillside where we live.   They were hovering over the UC Berkeley campus, where an angry throng of protesters had gathered to oppose the appearance of Milo Yiannopoulos, the obnoxiously notorious  Breitbart provocateur, who had been invited to speak by the campus Republicans (alas for the day when they would have invited WF Buckley instead!).    My wife, a UC prof,  had been fretting about the event for days beforehand, rightly fearing it would lead to violence.   As it happened, the protesters succeeded in their not-so-free-speechy goal of shutting down the event, no thanks to a band of black-clad, stone-throwing anarchists who burst through the police lines,  cast the barricades aside and hurled them  through the windows of the Martin Luther King Student Union.   All familiar stuff to those of us who lived through the Sixties, and a prelude of much more to come.   I just wish they’d carry their anger and disruption back where it rightly belongs to the responsible government officials.  Speaking of which, the next day I flew to  our nation’s capitol and found it surprisingly unperturbed, partly because the park service had barricaded the area of Lafayette Park behind the White House where protesters habitually congregate, and partly because the culprit in chief was out of town at his Mare Del Lago estate.

     It’s impossible to escape the conclusion we are heading into tumultuous times, with social, political and cultural conflict unlike anything since the sixties.    There’s a difference though, as my wife expressed to me  the other night:  “I’m scared.”  Scared that the ship of state is in unsound hands, scared that lies and ignorance are misleading the nation, scared that hateful and inflammatory rhetoric is being stirred up by our leaders, scared of the fate of America’s reputation, prosperity and peace.   It wasn’t fear, but anger and outrage at Nixon, LBJ, the war, etc., which propelled the Sixties revolution. Yet beyond it lay always the hopeful vision of peace, love, and the Age of Aquarius.   Happily my own hopes were revived after visiting DC and seeing the wheels of democratic government churning inexorably on among staffers on Capitol Hill.  Throw in the Women’s March, the Ninth Circuit court decision, and the enormous social capital of America’s democratic institutions,  and it’s possible to discern more than a glimmer of hope out there.

  Sail on, sail on, oh mighty ship of state!  

   To the Shores of Need,

    Past the Reefs of Greed,

    Through the Squalls of Hate,

    Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on....

   For more inspiration, check out this cut by Milck and the GW Sirens from Samantha Bee’s show:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHy9YgbzOO0

Philip Spiess

Oh, Dale, as my wife so correctly says, those of us who have served some time (both she and I) in our fine Federal government of these United States -- and yes, it serves all of you, because your taxes are paying for it  -- know that the government employees of the federal bureaus (dedicated all -- not "the swamp" that needs to be drained:  that's coming in) will ultimately sandbag the heads of departments who act unconscionably and stupidly -- the department employees will be here long after those heads of departments have departed in disgrace.

Laura Reid (Pease)

Thank you Margery for your valuable insight.

Jerry Ochs

I believe it is time for another musical interlude. Here's a pop song from Kenya.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

I think this website will survive this dialogue. We certainly were a diverse group 50-something years ago. 

A bit of nostalgia from then that might put this time in perspective:

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/10/514104444/50-years-later-the-biting-satire-of-the-smothers-brothers-still-resonates

Stephen (Steve) Dixon

To the point raised by Richard et al,

The fact that not everyone is on the same side of the political spectrum is why I made the suggestion that perhaps a separate forum could be established for those that want to "wrangle" over things political, thereby leaving the main message forum for musings on our past and current personal lives.

If that is not to be then, while I am at least as opinionated and argumentative as the next fellow, I would be content with a banishment of political talk. Although, given that this class is not your average bunch of yokels (I have easy access to that) the exchange does interest me.

Henry Cohen

To ignore what is going on to supplant it with happy talk would be patently ridiculous. These are not normal times and to Margery's point, it could very well be the case that past Presidents and presidential aspirants have played fast and loose with the truth, Trump has elevated lying to a whole new level. His blanket don't believe anything the polls say because it's all fake news is on its face laughable and anyone with any critical thinking capability should be able to detect that. He is a cartoon, buffoon and total misfit in that role. Somewhere being Presidential should count for something and he is abjectly the polar opposite!

Bruce Fette

Dear WHHS 64 friends, We have clearly been encouraged to have political discourse by another mechanism in order to avoid creating issues amongst our friends.

And at this point I believe leadership is warranted, as encourgaed by Phil, Dale, Henry and many others on the message forum.

So I suggest that if you wish to interact with me, Phil, Dale and other like-minded WHHS64 folks, please email me, and we will do some form of email interaction (possibly a reflector). my name at yahoo dot com

Thanks

Richard Winter (Winter)

Stephen, it does not appear that there is a way to create a second forum on the website -- at least, not without programming. 

So, as a class, we have this one forum.  I'd like to do what I can to see that everyone in the class, regardless of political viewpoint, feels welcome both here and at any class events we organize via this site.

So, to everyone: You have strong political views?  By all means, share them with whoever cares to listen!!  Just don't do it on this forum.

Lets use this forum for the many other topics we have in common as a class.  

Henry Cohen

Two overdue confessions: I got busted by the bus driver for sneaking on to the bus without paying. I had made it 29 times in a row before I was caught and that was by far not the longest streak in the class. 2 I and several others bought the answers to a Mr. Welsh chemistry test a bunch of us missed when we were sick. Doug Gordon suspected something but he could never get corroboration or proof. Now you have it! 

Philip Spiess

What we haven't had for a long time on this site are more reminiscences of our youth.  On the Forum, Ann Shepard Rueve has shared the recent Cincinnati Superbowl ad; it brought back many memories of some of my favorite spots in Cincinnati.  (Because I spent many high school weekends prowling the city, particularly after I learned to drive, I had many such favorite spots, but notable among them were the Cincinnati parks -- Eden, Alms, Ault, Mount Storm, band concerts in the summer and ice skating in the winter at Burnet Woods, etc.)

Care to share some of your favorite spots in the city, either then or now?

Henry Cohen

Another memory. Gary Beck spent the most money on lunch of any of us. Over a dollar. Unheard of!

David Buchholz

Since two people have referred to my question about psychologists, I'd like to clarify why I asked it.  I wanted to know the difference between a "psychopathic narcissist" and one who has "malignant narcissism." As I understand it, there is no treatment or cure for the latter.  Can someone clarify?

I appreciated those of you who read my son's first novel, "Paper Son."  It's still available.  I would like to recommend another book now, one that I thought was fiction when I first became acquainted with it about sixty-eight years ago, but believe today that it is real.  It's by one of my favorite authors, Chicken Little.  It's called "The Sky is Falling", and it's sobering.  Steven Levinson believes that "we're standing right on the edge."  I believe that, too. 

I would like to join in political discussion at this time, especially one which gives us very real suggestions about how we can put the sky back where it belongs. Again, deferring to the honorable Hawaiian judge, I do believe that empires can and do fall, and that Shelley understood our current situation well when he wrote "Ozymandias."  These last three months have left me in a state of sadness and despair, even anhedonia.  I am fundamentally optimistic and hope to do whatever I can.

Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away". 

Jerry Ochs

One last tune (with apologies to OutKast).

Philip Spiess

Dave, if you recall, Chicken Little got hit on the head by a nut -- and went hysterical.  Although we're all likely (in short order) to get hit on the head by a Nut, we've already gone hysterical.  For an even better poem from Shelley, see his "The Mask of Anarchy," which I parodied in 1968 after the debacle of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.  (In my doctoral studies at Drew University, interestingly enough, I did papers on both these poems for a course entitled "Shelley and His Circle," and won honors on the latter paper.)  As to empires, I will quote my favorite lines from George, Bishop Berkeley (1752):

"Westward the course of empire takes its way;

  The four first acts already past,

A fifth shall close the drama with the day;

  Time's noblest offspring is the last."

This final stanza of the poet's "Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America" indicates that the "fifth act" is America, but maybe, if empire continues westward, it will turn out to be China?

And yes, Henry, confession is good for the soul (and I'm not even Catholic).

Henry Cohen

On the bus matter I got a visit from Warden Luedeke who suspended my bus privileges for 2 weeks. As compensation, I have tried to show reverance for busdrivers and  upon my receiving my bus pass back, I did not participate in the elitist chants of my fellow classmate bus passengers who were inclined to chant: Does your dad work, no he is a bus driver, is he strong, yes you can smell him a mile away. Aren't teenagers great?!

Henry Cohen

David, I am not a clinical psychologist, but an industrial one, so I wouldn't leap into the breech of explaining the nuances between the two types of narcissists. However I do think it is safe to say that Trump's makeup is unalterable and way beyond the pale of what one should be for the leader of the free world. Any close scrutiny of him would lead truly sentient beings to conclude that he is not all there and what is there, to use an oxymoron, is laughably dangerous. It is significant to note that he was sent away to military school for behavioral reasons and one could make a case that his eventual bombast and unfounded exaggerations are partially driven by his compensating for the fact that he was a disappointment to his parents, his father in particular. For those that believe in genetic transmission, many of the disgusting aspects of the father ( and there were many) have been firmly implanted in the son who obviously has no moral compass of any type.The irony of his being embraced by large numbers of the religious right is also mindbending and of course misplaced. He cares nothing for religion except when it furthers his cause.

Dale Gieringer

Remember Jeanne Safer from WHHS?  She was in the class of '65 but was precocious enough to land a spot in Miss Hutchinson's AP English class the year we were seniors, where she sat next to me.  I was fascinated by her articulate and passionately liberal views on politics and culture (she was the first classemate I knew to read Sartre).   After graduating, Jeanne became a psychologist.  The next thing I heard about her was that she had married Richard Brookhiser, the devoutly conservative journalist for National Review and author of several worthy biographies of famous Americans (Washington, Adams, Madison, Lincoln, etc).    Improbable as the liaison seemed, their devotion was inspired by common interests.  A year ago, Jeanne wrote a thoughtful  op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explaining how it was possible for a couple with diametrically opposed political views to maintain a loving relationship.   (If you can't access the WSJ article, check out this Life article).      Let it be an instructive lesson for this forum
  I was reminded of Jeanne because she published an article in yesterday's WSJ Review, "What La La Land and Fifty Shades Get Wrong About Love."    She has also published a number of psychology books, which are listed at her website.    

Bonnie Altman (Templeton)

I agree with Steve L. that we are facing the abyss. I think our planet is in danger from fascism and climate change. I think we can address these issues and consider a variety strategies without calling Donald Trump, Barak Obama and Hillary Clintons names no matter what we think about them. For instance, how do we help coal miners become educated in technology so they can find employment that does not pollute the air?  How do we improve science education in inner city and rural school districts?  What roll should universities play in addressing these issues?  (My bias is they should do some pro bono work and reach out beyond their walls).  What issues do each of you see as important?

David Buchholz

Bonnie, a knee-jerk response to your question.  I think that unless and until our elected officials respond to the very real needs of their constituents rather than try to consolidate power within their own political parties nothing can be resolved.  Without a sense of honor, decency, and integrity, so missing in this current administration at every level, we will be escorted to the edge and possibly over the abyss.  Adding to this was a quote that Bruce Fette reminded me of,  "We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership." 

Henry Cohen

To build on David's point, very rarely if ever should there be a vote on anything that goes along strict party lines. Certainly DeVos is a prime example of someone who should have risen or fallen on her merits rather than her monetary contributions. But it extends to issues as well and the forging of consensus and hybrid plans would be a refreshing turn of events. Rather we have a bunch of afraid to stand up for what's right people who play to a noisy base. They are small minded people who if they do anything that is really good for the populace, it is only out of luck not design. There is no one party claim on good ideas, they can come from anywhere and they should be judged on their merits, not who sponsored them. 

Philip Spiess

Another jerk (not necessarily knee) response to several of the above:

Bonnie, I think all of your points make a great deal of sense (though I'm not convinced that coal miners have much technological future -- unless we can train them to be teachers who teach in the public schools about the science and use of coal, mining technology, what it's like to work in a mine, the sociology of mining communities, etc.  There's a great National Mining Museum in Yorkshire in Great Britain that does just that, using retired and/or laid-off miners).  And, yes, universities should get involved in this, even at a pro bono level  -- it's good learning and teaching and colleges and universities need to get out of the "Ivory Tower" (says he who has three graduate degrees).

And David and Henry, I agree with you as well:  politicians of whatever stripe, particularly at the national level, need to focus on policy, not on getting re-elected or on "party first."  I think back to my college days, when Everett Dirksen of Illinois, a Republican leader, was a leader because he engaged and made common cause with the Democrats over, among other things, the Vietnam War (there is a great statue of him on the capitol grounds in Springfield, Illinois, where a small Democratic donkey and a small Republican elephant are squabbling around his ankles while he stands tall above them).  I think of Republican President Ronald Reagan and the Democratic Speaker of the House during Reagan's terms in office, Tip O'Neill, who were often at loggerheads [a drinking reference; if you don't know it, let me know:  I'm an expert on the history of drinking as well as of bathrooms] over policy, but who remained good friends and on friendly terms so that they could discuss issues in a calm and sensible manner -- party predominance was irrelevant to matters of running the country ("making America great!").

In sum, even though we are entering our dotage, and are members of the now starting-to-be-maligned "Baby Boomers" (because we are still mostly in charge), we must remain leaders of society in good faith, because we are all graduates of Walnut Hills.

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

I'm not making a political statement but want to say Thanks Hank!

John Osher

Henry Cohen - I never had Mr Welsh as a teacher. Please take back your comment about chemistry tests. You must have bought answers from someone else. That's not a nice thing to say.