My Life in Pictures

 

Front page news. Winner of the Grotto Circus Contest.

Jester.

Deep sea fishing in Miami, where boys become men.

First day of college, Ohio U

Performing with brother Ron at Greenfield Nursing Home.

At the coffee house in Pluckemin

Wedding bells.

Mexico 1981

It's electric.

Covid interlude.

Parma, Italy 

The Farnese Theatre, Parma

Italy is a dream.

Reflecting: What a long strange trip it's been.

A Janus motif.
Remembering the past, still looking toward the future.

The Crack-Up: Nietzsche's Breakdown In Turin

Friedrich Nietzsche's nervous breakdown in Turin, Italy, on January 3, 1889 was as dramatic as its outcome. One morning he witnessed a cab driver mercilessly flogging his horse. Nietzsche's nerves unraveled as he ran across the road and threw his arms over the horse to protect it from the blows. Totally distraught, he broke into tears and fell to the ground. The next eleven years he would be kept in a mental institution, never to write again.

The story is well known, though its causes lesser known. What happened? 

According to historians the event was the climax of years of physical and mental strain. It didn't "just happen" out of thin air. 

When I was young, perhaps in my twenties or so, the words "nervous breakdown" were scary to me. Was a breakdown something like being struck by lightning? Something that happens to you that you have no control over? I don't think so.

First, Nietzsche had physical health problems that included chronic migraines, severe digestive issues and deteriorating eyesight. It's been suggested that he had also contracted syphilis in his youth, a condition that can produce neurological complications later. His immersion in his philosophical work also left him exhausted as he pushed himself beyond his physical limits.  

In the realm of mental health, he alienated friends and suffered from isolation and loneliness. His ideas were often misunderstood and dismissed. Add to this the pain caused by unfulfilled romantic desires. 

Nietzsche with his sister Therese Elisabeth

The breakdown took place after recent personal turmoil that included his break-up with Lou Andreas-Salomé, whose diverse intellectual interests led to friendships with a broad array of distinguished thinkers, including Nietzsche, Freud and Rilke. Nietzche's estrangment from his sister and the lack of acclaim for his works, like Thus Spoke Zarathustra, were likely contributing factors as well. In that last year he was working feverishly on The Case of Wagner and Ecce Homo, among other things. Did he feel inward pressure from an awareness that he was in a race against time?  His letters to friends were becoming increasingly delusional. Did he understand what was happening to him?

The incident in Turin was a trigger.  Overwrought, he began weeping uncontrollably while throwing his arms around the horse. He was never the same. 

Related Links

A Writing Lesson: Fitzgerald's The Crack-Up
I Think, Therefore I Am… Or Am I? Nietzsche Strikes Again

Norman Finkelstein's I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It: A Book Review

SHOCK AND AWE DEPT.

Norman Finkelstein’s I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It: Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom is a provocative critique of modern leftist movements, identity politics, and the concept of "cancel culture." It challenges--no, skewers--widely accepted norms and influential figures within these realms, offering scathing critiques of both individuals and broader societal trends.

Had I not received it as a Christmas present last year I may have not been aware of it. Depending on your frame of mind it will either be a breath of fresh air or anathema as Finkelstein knocks over the sacred cows of identity politics and cancel culture. I found it a thought-provoking, liberating breath of fresh air. 

The book is structured in two distinct parts. In part one (400 pages) Finkelstein--himself an unabashed liberal--takes aim at what he views as the betrayal of class-based politics by identity politics, which he believes diverts attention from systemic economic inequality. He critiques notable figures, including Ibram X. Kendi and Barack Obama, arguing that their approaches ultimately serve elite interests rather than fostering meaningful societal change. Finkelstein juxtaposes these figures with historical advocates of universalism, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass, emphasizing a focus on universal human rights rather than fragmented identity-based advocacy.

When I saw that part two begins by addressing the matter of holocaust denial, I was most curious on how Finkelsten, whose parents both died at the hands of the Nazis, would approach this. It was brilliant.

This second part addresses academic freedom, suggesting that even objectionable ideas should be openly debated to foster critical thinking. He explores the broader implications of censorship in academia, particularly its impact on intellectual rigor and free discourse. This section reflects his personal experiences, including his denial of tenure at DePaul University, which he presents as a microcosm of the challenges posed by cancel culture in academic spaces.

Finkelstein’s critiques are grounded in his belief in the pursuit of universal truths, influenced by the philosophies of John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant. The book has benn praised for its fearless approach, though some readers may find its tone confrontational. He doesn't pull punches, and most are right on the mark.

Here are three reviews to sink your teeth into if you can't find the book itself. (It's not too late to ask for it for Christmas 2024.) 

The Inspiring Outrage of Norman Finkelstein

by Chris Wright, Common Dreams

This review is an excellent overview of the book and worth reading.

A Wake-Up Call to the Left

by Deborah Maccoby, Jewish Voice for Labor, Amazon

    "Norman Finkelstein knows something about being cancelled. For someone who has spent his writing career exposing as frauds books revered by corporate culture – starting with Joan Peters’s widely-acclaimed From Time Immemorial – cancellation has gone with the territory. Mainstream reviewers viciously denounced his exposé, in The Holocaust Industry, of exploitation of the Holocaust in the service of protecting Israel from opprobrium. His attack, in Beyond Chutzpah, on Alan Dershowitz’s book The Case for Israel led to Finkelstein’s denial of tenure at De Paul University."

Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom

by Gabriel Carlyle

You do not have to agree with everything any writer says or believes in older to gain insights from it. That includes Finkelstein. Wherever your political feet are planted, this book will give you food for thought.

Flashback Friday: Will A.I. Finally Solve the JFK Assassination?

"From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time, 2 o'clock Eastern Standard Time, some 38 minutes ago." 
--Walter Cronkite, excerpt from his broadcast, Nov. 22, 1963

More than a week before the 2016 presidential election an A.I. supercomputer predicted, despite what all the polls were predicting, that Donald Trump would be our next president. I read the story on TechCrunch or some other tech eNewsletter, but you can read it here in this U.S. News & World Report story. The article stated, 'If Trump loses, it will defy the data trend for the first time in the last 12 years,' the AI's developer says.

Well, with the JFK assassination anniversary today I couldn't help but wonder if one of our A.I. supercomputers could help us out a little bit on this unsolved mystery.

Sunday's NYTimes published a story about Microsoft's latest foray into quantum computing. Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing have been big stories this year, in part as a result of Big Blue's victory in Jeopardy and the DeepMind A.I. that defeated the world champion Go player. The Times article stated, There is a growing optimism in the tech world that quantum computers, superpowerful devices that were once the stuff of science fiction, are possible — and may even be practical. If these machines work, they will have an impact on work in areas such as drug design and artificial intelligence, as well as offer a better understanding of the foundations of modern physics.

And maybe useful in helping solve one of the biggest mysteries of our lives...

The New York Post just published this twist on the JFK assassination, that a Cuban double agent led the plot. The evidence comes from secret diaries and the details are contained in a new book that tells all.

Another book has just come out that tells how a famous journalist who was hot on the trail of the killers was herself "taken out" before she could break her story.

Her name was Dorothy Kilgallen and after 18 months of research she was nearing the completion of a book on the JFK shooting that debunked the "Oswald acted alone" theory. Random House never received the manuscript and her findings remained buried now for more than 50 years.

That's the essence of criminal defense lawyer Mark Shaw's book titled, The Reporter Who Knew Too Much. The title hearkens back to the Hitchcock thriller starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, which was a re-make itself of Hitchcock's earlier version of a story by the same title. The pre-release publicity for this book indicated that Kilgallen's the one reporter who was getting it right while the others pushed theories with "cherry-picked" facts designed to confirm their own notions of what happened at Dealey Plaza shortly after noon 53 years ago today.

For additional reading check out this article published yesterday on the failed investigations of JFK's murder. Public sentiment leans away from blindfolded acceptance of the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. What I'd like one of our contemporary supercomputers to do is sift through all that has been written and draw for us a conclusion that is totally convincing. Big Blue? DeepMind? ChatGPT? Are you ready?

Originally published November 22, 2016

More Land Mines? When Will We Ever Learn?

"The war is not meant to be won but to be continuous."
--George Orwell, 1984

In a year of appalling behavior by armed governments, this week's news from Ukraine was deeply disturbing.

Over the weekend, President Biden gave Ukraine permission to fire long-range missiles into Russia. On Monday, the missiles were fired, thereby escalating tensions. Next, President Biden gave Ukraine permission to use land mines extensively on its Eastern front. Despite our full awareness of the harm they do to innocent civilians, we're already leaping gung ho into sending these widely condemned weapons.

The minute I heard this news I thought of all the work the late Lady Diana did to raise awareness about the horrors wrought by land mines. What is wrong with us? Have we learned nothing? 

Evidently Russia has been mining areas of Ukraine. (Landmines, not mining for minerals.) So our response is to make still more areas unsafe for civilians.

Landmines can remain active for an indefinite period of time, meaning they can potentially stay lethal for decades or even longer until they are detonated or defused, as they don't have an expiration date and can lie dormant until triggered by pressure or movement; this is why they pose a danger long after conflicts end. This is why Lady Di was such a strong advocate against. their use.

According to one source there have been 15,000 to 20,000 people killed or maimed annually by land mines, mostly civilians and children. According to the Landline Monitor more than 7,000 were killed or maimed in 2021. More than 60 countries are still contaminated with mines.

According to James Madison University landmine-contaminated areas hinder economic recovery and development, as they restrict access to farmland, infrastructure, and resources​. Landmines don't distinguish between combatants and civilians, violating international humanitarian laws​.

Oh, but when has international law stopped the U.S. from doing whatever we want? Look at the endless and merciless slaughter in Gaza... Indeed, we are masters of war.

* * * 

Princess Diana brought global attention to the landmine crisis with her 1997 visits to Angola and Bosnia, where she met with landmine survivors and demining teams. Her advocacy, widely covered by the media, was pivotal in rallying public support for the Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Convention) signed at the end of that. year. She famously described landmines as a “plague on Earth,” emphasizing their disproportionate impact on civilians and the need for a global ban​.

Diana’s efforts contributed significantly to the adoption of the Mine Ban Treaty, under which 164 countries committed to banning the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines. Over 55 million landmines have been destroyed as a result of this treaty​.

The U.S. is one of just a small number of major nations that have not signed on to the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which prohibited the use, production and transfer of antipersonnel mines. 

Sadly, it seems obvious that the countries that wield power don't really care about what happens to common people. In 2022 Human Rights Watch rightfully condemned Russia's use of landmines. So why are we behaving in the same atrocious manner?

 

EdNote: These complaints against our actions as a nation must not be construed
as an endorsement of Russia's behavior. What's your take? 

The Jackie Robinson Story: Challenge and Triumph

“Jackie’s character was much more important than his batting average.”
– Hank Aaron 

Jim Brown was possibly the greatest running back in NFL history. Brown was a superhero for many of us boys growing up in Cleveland in the 50s and early 60s. He is the only running back to have averaged more than a 100 yards per game for an entire career. (106)

Though his achievements were evident to all, cited weekly in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, there was another side that we didn't see from the stands or on TV: how he was treated as a black man. 

In his autobiography he describes how defensive players would grab handfuls of dirt and, when he was under a pile of tacklers, fling the dirt into his eyes. Keep in mind that many of his opponents came from a Jim Crowe South where blacks were supposed to use separate bathrooms and separate drinking fountains.

These stories sprang to mind when photographer Gary Firstenberg sent me a batch of photos he took at the Jackie Robinson Museum. Robinson was the first black man to cross the color barrier from the Negro League to the all-white Major League Baseball fraternity. He not only had to be an exceptional ballplayer, it was equally important to be a man of character. 

Actually, Robinson was a gifted athlete in many sports. While at UCLA he excelled in baseball, football, basketball, and track, showcasing his incredible range of skills. We only know him as the first black player in modern baseball history.

Robinson was a versatile ballplayer, excelling at third base, second and first. His bat and aggressive play made him a challenging foe for any pitcher. He was especially famous for his daring baserunning, stealing home 19 times in his career. 

When the time came, after hanging up his cleats, Robinson was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. Later, his legacy was affirmed permanently retiring his number, 42.

It was Hemingway who coined the phrase "Grace under pressure" to define courage. It was Robinson who exemplified it. Robinson endured relentless racism from fans, opponents, and even some teammates. He faced racial slurs, threats, and physical intimidation but adhered to an agreement with Dodgers' general manager Branch Rickey to not retaliate for the first two years. His ability to endure this abuse while excelling on the field demonstrated extraordinary mental toughness and inspired millions.

[EdNote: I remember what Hank Aaron went through years later. As he neared Babe Ruth's home run record of 714, Aaron became to receive death threats if he dared to hit more home runs than the Bambino. To hear these kinds of stories is heartbreaking.]

After his retirement from baseball Robinson became part of the Civil Rights Movement, showing that talent and character, not skin color, determine worth. He used his role as a leader to push for social and economic equality. 

Jackie Robinson’s greatness lay in his ability to excel as an athlete while bearing the burden of breaking barriers with dignity, courage, and grace. He was more than just a baseball player—he was a transformative figure who made an impact on both sports and society.

https://jackierobinson.org/
https://www.jackierobinsonmuseum.org/

Photos courtesy Gary Firstenberg

A Kafka Fragment from His Lost Writings

As I was looking for a book in the K section of our library I discovered a small volume titled "The Lost Writings of Franz Kafka." The book is a collection of previously unpublished works by the famous Czech author. I was quite familiar with Kafka's existential and surreal stories such as The Metamorphosis and The Trial. I was not aware of the quantity of unpublished morsels he'd left behind when he passed. Kafka's friend and executor, Max Brod, ignored Kafka’s instructions to destroy them after his death, and published many of them posthumously.

These "lost writings" include fragments, letters, and incomplete narratives that delve into Kafka’s characteristic themes of alienation, bureaucratic absurdity, and human frailty. As I read this collection it brought to mind many of my own fragments, which I never shared because they seemed incomplete. 

According to the Afterword by Reiner Stach, Kafka submitted only 350 pages of his written output for publication, but his fragments now fill more than twelve volumes.

The pieces in this book vary in length from a few lines to a few pages. Despite their brevity they frequently pack a punch. Here's one that I especially liked. Notice how each sentence contributes new information that expands the meaning of the whole. It's like watching a portrait artist produce a quit sketch at an art fair, line by line. I believe it would make a great prompt for a writing class to see where the students go as they expound on it. Then again, the searing moment in time that it captures really needs no accompaniment. 

There are many waiting here. A vast crowd disappearing into the darkness. What do they want? There are obviously certain demands they want to make. I will listen to them and then make my reply. I will not go out onto the balcony; I couldn't even if I wanted to. In winter the balcony door is kept locked, and the key is somewhere else. Nor will I step up to the window. I will see no one, I will not have my head turned by a spectacle, my desk is the place for me, with my head in my hands, that is my posture. 

It captures something poigant and tangible, doesn't it?

The Farmer and the Serpent: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

One of the things I inherited from my grandmother was her complete set of the Harvard Classics. Her 1937 version, which I now have, is 51 volumes in length. Volume 17 contains fables by Aesop plus tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm brothers. 

It's fascinating how relevant and timeless these stories are. This fable by Aesop can be found in Volume 17 of the Harvard Classics, 1937 edition. "The Countryman and the Serpent" is about a farmer whose son accidentally steps on a serpent's tail, which results in a series of unfortunate events for both the farmer and the serpent. Here's the story, followed by a few comments.

The Countryman and the Serpent

A Countryman’s son by accident trod upon a Serpent’s tail, which turned and bit him so that he died. The father in a rage got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail. So the Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer’s cattle and caused him severe loss. Well, the Farmer thought it best to make it up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair, and said to it: “Let’s forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my cattle, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?”

“No, no,” said the Serpent; “take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail.”

Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.

* * * 

Let's summarize.

• The serpent bites the farmer's son, killing him
• The farmer seeks revenge on the serpent by cutting off part of its tail with an ax
• The serpent retaliates by stinging the farmer's cattle
• The farmer tries to make amends with the serpent by bringing it food and honey, but the serpent refuses
• The serpent says that injuries can be forgiven but not forgotten 

Two thoughts come to mind. 

First: In the land of "an eye for an eye" everyone ends up blind.

Second: When will we see an end to this madness in Gaza? 

What will it take for this tsunami of sorrows to cease?

 

Veteran's Day: The Book "And There Shall Be Wars" Speaks Volumes

Bud Wagner in North Africa
Anti-aircraft machinegun operator

My father-in-law Wilmer A. "Bud" Wagner was the second man in Northern Minnesota to be drafted into World War II. He carried a small pocket camera and kept a diary from beginning to end, from Camp Claiborne to Ireland to North Africa and the Italy Campaigns. 

When Susie and I were dating in the 1970s, Bud brought out his diaries and asked me to give an opinion as to whether they would be of interest to anyone. At the end of the weekend I gave him my verdict: "Yes!"

So began his journey toward becoming an author. His keen day by day observations were then amplified with a lifetime of research and reflection to provide readers with important insights through the eyes of a young soldier from rural Minnesota.

Bud Wagner -- cook, machine gunner and company agent -- had the privilege of being on the first convoy to make its way across the Atlantic for the European theater. And the good fortune of having survived the duration of the war without becoming a casualty in North Africa and Italy, which included beachheads at Anzio and Salerno.

The book is a joint project involving the research skills and memoirs of WW II veteran Bud Wagner and his son Lloyd Wagner (Masters in Literature). When I encouraged to amplify his diaries and make a book of them I had no idea of how invested he would become in this project. He greatly exceeded my expectations and, with Lloyd's able editing, he has produced a fascinating manuscript that includes a large quantity of original photos and other documents.

When the manuscript was published, he sent a copy to retired General John W. Vessey, former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Vessey's name appears four times in the book, including a diaryentry noting that John Vessey's promotion to Captain took place in Bud's "peep." (It was only after the war that the learned these all-purpose vehicles were called jeeps.)

Here is General Vessey's letter to Bud regarding this memoir titled And There Shall Be Wars.

"Dear Bud, ... Thanks not only for the copy of the book, but also for putting those wartime notes into a permanent record. It is an important addition to all the "stuff" historians record. I couldn't put the book down once I got into it. It brought back a lot of memories reading about times, places, and people from 55+ years ago." 

~ retired General John W. Vessey, 

former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Just today I was forwarded an email from one of Susie's classmates who just finished reading Bud's diary/memoirs. Her comments were so poignant I requested to share them here. She wrote:

Bud and his mud-covered "peep"

This is Sarah Grandson (Sundberg). I have a copy of your father’s book that you gave me at the 50th reunion in July, and just finished reading it. What a treasure!! You and your family are so fortunate that your father kept a diary. You had asked me to let you know what I thought, so here goes.

1. He kept a lot of his personal feelings to himself, so I thought it interesting how affected he was by the death of one of the fellows who he wasn’t as close to when they were fighting in Italy (don’t remember the name), but I suppose after seeing so much death and destruction anyone would really start questioning the purpose. It was amazing how well he actually handled all the destruction around him.
2. I was surprised how poor the quality of the Army “peeps” were as his was always breaking down, a certain amount due of course, to the conditions. You can feel his frustration with it. 
3. It’s amazing at how adaptable the human species are. To go from a tight, secure family environment to preparing for war, then to the thick of it, and handle the emotions as well as your father did, is remarkable. 
4. Those men suffered so much and complained so little. Hunger, cold, heat, lack of a safe place to sleep, danger of losing their life, etc, etc. they truly were the “greatest generation”.

Disabled German tank.

Here's another response to the book, this one from James Wiita, a friend in the local music and arts scene who completed his own first book this past winter, Rock On, Duluth!

Reading Bud is like a daily talk with someone, though one sided. You can pick right up where you left off, it’s so personal it shows his human characteristics, and what to anticipate with each entry.

It seems to show every aspect of “army life “ -- the important details and accuracy mixed with the training -- moments with friends and music, faith, along with frequent headaches and  times of boredom.

* * * 

One of the surprises for me was Bud's love of poetry. There are numerous poems included in the book. One of my favorites is titled, "You're A Machine Gunner Now." Another is titled "A Battalion Agent" which you can find in this blog post titled "War Poems Tell Stories."

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-battalion-agent-war-poems-tell-stories.html

When I was in Italy last year my visit coincided with Italy's Liberation Day. On that day Italy celebrated the Allies victory over fascism. There were nationwide expressions of gratitude to the U.S. for its role in defeating Mussolini. You can read about my experiences here:

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2023/05/liberation-day-italy-celebrates-victory.html

One last link

Various Ways of Looking at History with Commentary (and a Book Offer)

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2023/04/various-ways-of-looking-at-history-with.html