Living with Intentionality

Suppose we are interested in learning a new language. My son took an interest in Russian after we had gone to the Spy Museum in Washington one summer. Because of my interest in French literature, I took an interest in learning French. One thing you quickly learn with languages like French or Russian—and I suspect Chinese or Navajo—is that you do not just “pick it up.” One must make a deliberate decision and make a commitment to the task. You decide, Yes, I will take whatever steps are necessary to achieve this goal.

There is vocabulary to acquire, grammar to wrestle with, awkward mistakes to endure, and long stretches where progress feels painfully slow. There are moments when you wonder why you ever started. Fluency comes, if it comes at all, through patience, repetition, correction, and persistence. No shortcut replaces the work.

In its essence, achieving a goal like this requires (a) the decision to do so, (b) finding a mentor who can help us move from square one toward real facility, and (c) following through on each step along the way—even when enthusiasm fades.

Dallas Willard, in his book Renovation of the Heart, uses this process of learning a language as a metaphor for character development. It requires intentionality first. Do we actually want to become better people? Growth of this sort does not “just happen.” Habits, virtues, patience, courage—these are learned disciplines, not accidents.

Life is an ocean. If you are a ship in London and want to reach New York, it will be a very long time before you arrive if you simply drift—if you arrive at all. Currents may carry you somewhere, but not necessarily where you hoped to go. Tragically, many people live precisely this way: reacting, drifting, adapting, but rarely choosing.

Low aims produce small lives. No aim at all produces fragmentation.

Where are you going with your life? What kind of goals do you have for your own personal development—not just professionally, but morally and spiritually? As Ralph D. Winter once said, “Risks are not to be evaluated in terms of the probability of success, but in terms of the value of the goal.”

Some goals are worth pursuing even if they take years, even if they cost us comfort, even if progress is uneven. Character is one of those goals.

Keep pressing on. Purposefully.

Bob Weir: The Music Never Stops

In memory of Bob Weir (October 16, 1947 – January 10, 2026)

Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and enduring spirit of the Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully at 78, surrounded by loved ones. Having courageously overcome cancer in his final months, he succumbed to underlying lung issues, leaving a void in the hearts of Deadheads worldwide.
A founding member alongside Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and others, Bobby brought his distinctive rhythmic drive and cowboy-infused songwriting to the band’s psychedelic explorations. Classics like “Sugar Magnolia,” “Truckin’,” “Cassidy,” and “Playing in the Band” bear his indelible stamp—songs that blended folk, blues, rock, and improvisation into something uniquely American and eternally free.
That's how many of the Bob Weir memoriams this past week probably began. "Here are the facts." My first encounter with a Dead fan was freshman year at Ohio U while I was living at Scott Quad, 1970. A fellow whose name escapes me was a Grateful Dead fan. He also tried to turn me on to Lord of the Rings and Dune. Thus it was that I concluded Dead fans lived in a different spectrum.
* * * * *

For over six decades, Weir took to the road with unwavering dedication. From the Acid Tests of the 1960s to the marathon tours of the Dead, through RatDog, Furthur, Dead & Company, and countless solo endeavors, he kept the music alive, evolving it while honoring its roots. His guitar work—angular, conversational, always in service to the collective groove—became the heartbeat of live improvisation.
Beyond the stage, Weir was a storyteller, activist, and family man, survived by his wife Natascha and daughters Monet and Chloe. Thousands gathered in San Francisco’s Civic Center for his “Homecoming” memorial, where the music played on, reminding us: the song never ends.
Fare thee well, Bobby. Your light still shines in every jam, every sunset riff, every moment we choose to dance in the mystery. The music never stops.

"Be as in touch with your dreams as you can be."--Bob Weir

Photos courtesy Dylan James Stansbury

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

I first saw the Smoot-Hawley Act referenced in a tweet on X. A couple days later a second columnist referenced it. The next day a Wall Street Journal op-ed cited this tariff action that preceded the Great Depression. What was it and why was it suddenly in the news?

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 was a U.S. law that raised tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods to historically high levels. Sponsored by Senator Reed Smoot and Representative Willis C. Hawley, it was signed into law by President Herbert Hoover on June 17, 1930. The act aimed to protect American farmers and industries from foreign competition by increasing the cost of imported goods and encouraging domestic production. 

Key features included tariff rates reaching up to 50% on some imports, with an average increase from about 38% to 45% over previous levels. It expanded on the Fordney-McCumber Tariff of 1922, but its scope and severity were unprecedented. The legislation was highly controversial. Over 1,000 economists signed a petition urging Hoover to veto it, warning of retaliatory trade measures and economic harm.

The effects were significant. Many countries, including Canada and European nations, retaliated with their own tariffs, leading to a sharp decline in international trade—U.S. exports and imports dropped by about 67% between 1929 and 1933, which exacerbated the Great Depression as global economic cooperation broke down. While it’s debated how much Smoot-Hawley directly caused the Depression’s severity, it’s widely seen as a policy misstep that worsened an already dire situation.

Throughout most of my adult life I've attributed the longevity of that period of economic austerity to FDR's policies. It would appear that this Tariff Act did not help matters, and very likely contributed to making them worse.

One difference between Smoot-Hawley and today's tariff action is that the latter was enacted by executive order, the former by an act of Congress. 

Politically, it contributed to the Republican Party’s loss in the 1932 elections, paving the way for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, which later shifted toward freer trade policies with the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934. Today, it’s often cited as a cautionary tale about protectionism’s unintended consequences.

Whether addressing local, state or Federal issues, it's not a matter of intentions that we judge our leaders by. Everyone claims their intentions were good. As for how this current action plays out, one would hope that our whimsical tariff war doesn't trigger a decade-long global economic slide. During a portion of that Great Depression there was 25% unemployment and food lines. What happens next in our current scenario is anyone's guess. 

Related Links

FDR's Folly

FDR Related Stuff

Painting at the top of the page by my grandmother, Elizabeth Sandy.

How Well Do You Know Rutherford B. Hayes?

Photo by Matthew Brady

I once memorized the names of all the U.S. presidents, in order, by using a mnemonic device. It seems like at a relatively early age I knew the first seven presidents, but after seven it wasn't until Lincoln through Grant that I had certainty again. From Garfield to Teddy Roosevelt I was in a dead zone, where names floated without roots. I knew that there was a space between Grover Cleveland's two terms, but whom it was eluded me. The twentieth century flowed more easily, the war president Wilson and FDR more anchored in their respective historical events. But the grey zones required more assistance.

Mnemonic devices are memory aids, like a catchy phrase, acronym, rhyme, or image, that helps you remember complex or large amounts of information by creating simple, memorable associations for easier recall. An example might be the phrase "Every Good Boy Deserves Favor" as a means of memorizing the musical notes on the treble clef in written music. (EGBDF)

Another kind of memory device, which I use frequently, is to imagine silly pictures. For example, beginning with Jackson you visualize a man with 7 jacks in his hand (assuming you know what jacks are). The man has medium length hair which suddenly sprouts and grows very long very quickly. This is William Henry Harrison. The man tosses the jacks aside so he can put on his tie. This is John Tyler. Once his tie is tied, he picks up a cane and starts poking a tailor who's sewing a patch on a hole in the knee of his  pants. This is James Polk and Zachary Taylor. Through a window in the background we see a dentist working on someone's teeth. The man in the chair has lots of cavities, so he says, "Fill more!" Which is, of course, Millard Fillmore, our 13th president.

I assume you get the picture.

Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, served from 1877 to 1881. I became acquainted with him while doing research with a friend for a Wild West novel that takes place during that time period. The Hayes presidency was marked by significant challenges, including the aftermath of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and economic turmoil. Despite facing a contentious election and entering office under disputed circumstances, Hayes pursued policies aimed at healing the nation and promoting reform.

One of the most notable aspects of Hayes's presidency was his commitment to civil service reform. He advocated for merit-based appointments and sought to end the patronage system (a.k.a. spoils system), which had long been a source of corruption in government. The work he did was later signed into law by Chester Arthur as the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, laying the groundwork for a professionalized and impartial civil service system.

 

Hayes also made efforts to address the lingering divisions between North and South in the aftermath of the Civil War. He withdrew federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction and allowing Southern states to regain control over their governments. While this decision was controversial and drew criticism from civil rights advocates, it was seen as a step towards reconciliation and the restoration of self-governance.

 

Economically, Hayes faced challenges stemming from the Panic of 1873, a severe economic depression that gripped the nation. He advocated for fiscal responsibility and sought to restore confidence in the economy through measures such as the resumption of specie payments, as opposed to fiat money, which aimed to return the country to the gold standard. Despite facing resistance from some quarters, Hayes's economic policies helped stabilize the nation's finances and lay the groundwork for future economic growth.

 

Hayes's presidency was also notable for its foreign policy achievements. He also pursued a policy of diplomatic engagement and sought to expand American influence abroad. Hayes successfully negotiated the end of the Virginius Affair, a diplomatic crisis with Spain, and secured concessions from China through the Burlingame Treaty.

 

In summary, Rutherford B. Hayes's presidency was characterized by efforts to promote reform, reconciliation, and economic stability. While facing numerous challenges, Hayes pursued policies aimed at uniting the nation and advancing its interests both at home and abroad. Despite his unusual first name (How many Rutherford's do you know?), his legacy as a principled leader and reformer endures in American history.

When Assassination Becomes Strategy: What Rise and Kill First Reveals

While doing research on another project I came across a reference to Ronen Bergman's Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations. (The English translation was published in 2018.) The book is purportedly a deeply researched and disturbing nonfiction history of Israel’s targeted assassinations programs carried out by its intelligence and security services (including Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF). Bergman draws on hundreds of interviews and thousands of previously classified documents to trace the evolution of targeted killing as a state policy from before Israel’s founding through the modern era.

The title comes from a Talmudic idea: “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.” The book explores the ethical, political, and operational dimensions of targeted killings — from early Zionist underground groups to modern high-technology efforts against adversaries across the Middle East.

EdNote: This view stands in stark contrast to the Christian beliefs expressed by Tolstoy (most notably in The Forged Coupon) and the pacifism of George Fox and the Quakers.

The book was a New York Times bestseller and won awards for history writing, noted for its depth and narrative power.

Rise and Kill First argues that assassination became embedded in Israeli strategy because of the country’s sense of permanent existential threat. Bergman shows how targeted killings were used to disrupt militant networks, deter enemies, and compensate for Israel’s small size and lack of strategic depth. At the same time, he explores the moral, legal, and psychological costs of this approach, including blowback, cycles of retaliation, operational failures, and the toll on those ordered to carry out killings.

Rather than offering a simple defense or condemnation, Bergman presents assassination as a grim, recurring choice—sometimes tactically effective, sometimes disastrous, always ethically fraught. The result is a complex portrait of a state that has repeatedly chosen preemptive violence while struggling with the consequences of making killing routine policy.

One of the claims in Bergman's book is that “during the presidency of George W. Bush, the United States of America carried out 48 targeted killing operations, according to one estimate, and under President Barack Obama there were 353 such attacks.” These numbers were presented as an estimate, but when I sought a confirmation of these alleged facts I found that these numbers refer specifically to targeted killing operations (primarily drone strikes or other precision strikes against individuals), focused on covert/counterterrorism actions outside declared war zones like Afghanistan/Iraq battlefields (e.g., in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia). They are not totals for all U.S. airstrikes or combat deaths.

Sources have slight variations in exact numbers, but confirm the numbers in proximity to what Bergman has stated.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (a key open-source monitor) reported ~57 strikes under Bush (mostly in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia) vs. ~563 under Obama in those same areas—showing a roughly 10x increase, consistent with the book's emphasis on escalation. A New York Times review of the book cited at least 47 under Bush and 542 under Obama for Pakistan/Yemen/Somalia campaigns, very near Bergman's 48/353 figures (possibly excluding some categories or using different cutoffs). Other sources (e.g., Council on Foreign Relations) report 542 Obama-era strikes, with estimates of thousands killed (including civilians).

As Bob Dylan states in his song "Union Sundown" (Infidels, 1983), "This world is ruled by violence; but I guess that's better left unsaid." Is it a cynical view or a realistic one, that true power lies in force, not ideals like democracy. Dylan frequently highlights  harsh truths behind political facades, contrasting democratic ideals with the brutal mechanics of control, especially in the context of labor and global economics. 

If you find all these things disturbing, you're not alone.

Related
Hegemony and the Tragedy of Great Power Politics

Orwell as Warning, Witness, and Writer

For Christmas this year I was given a number of books including The Diaries of George Orwell, edited by Peter Davison with an introduction by Christopher Hitchens. (So many books, so little time!)

The book is not a complete compilation of Orwell's diaries. Rather, it extracts portions thematically from the various periods of his life beginning with 1931, 1936 (Road to Wigan Pier), domestic life, 1939 Morocco diaries, events leading up to the war, war diaries and relevant excerpts from Orwell's notebooks. 

Essentially this compilation offers an intimate, unguarded view of Orwell’s daily life and moral temperament. Spanning illness, wartime London, farming, and political anxiety, the entries reveal a mind attentive to ordinary detail and ethical consequence. Davison’s editing strives to preserve Orwell’s voice while situating it historically, deepening our understanding of how lived experience shaped his essays, novels, and enduring political conscience.

I've often said, "If a man is worth knowing at all, he's worth knowing well." In my opinion Eric Blair, whom the world knows as George Orwell, was such a man. For this reason I'm looking forward to taking deeper look at the interior life of this keen observer of the world he lived in.

In the meantime, here are links to nine essays (blog posts) that I've written about this influential author.

George Orwell's "How the Poor Die": Exploring Themes of Inequality, Neglect and Other Grim Realities

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2024/09/george-orwells-how-poor-die-exploring.html

George Orwell on Wells, Hitler and "Patriotism vs. the World State"

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2021/07/george-orwell-on-wells-hitler-and.html

Orwell on Media Mischief

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2021/11/orwell-on-media-mischief.html

Orwell's Homage to Catalonia Is Instructive on Many Levels, Plus a Good Read

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2021/08/orwells-homage-to-catalonia-is.html

George Orwell on Wells, Hitler and "Patriotism vs. the World State"

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2021/07/george-orwell-on-wells-hitler-and.html

Did you Know George Orwell Took a Stand Against Paperbacks?

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/11/flashback-friday-did-you-know-george.html

Public Introspection: George Orwell's Why I Write

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2016/08/public-introspection-george-orwells-why.html

Shooting an Elephant

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2011/05/shooting-elephant.html

Excerpts from Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2023/09/excerpts-from-orwells-road-to-wigan-pier.html

Other noteworthy journals and diaries I have read include Thomas Mann and Andre Gide

You Can't Always Know Who the Good Guys Are

After a tour of duty in Afghanistan, former rock star wannabe Vin Sarno returns to his Savannah homestead to figure out where he wants to spend the next chapter of his life. Shortly after returning home he decides to kill time by helping with his father’s “Ghost Tour” business. Doing midnight walking tours through Old Savannah brings back memories of Kabul, including a bad experience with some real spooks he encountered during a short prison stint in that shattered land.

You Can't Always Know Who the Good Guys Are is journalist Gerald Flanagan’s first novel and once it gets going it’s a riveting nail-biter. The pace at first feels like the angst of an existential stain squeezed from an over-sized abscess. But once Flanagan paints the setting, the story is a runaway train and though you’ve been down this track before the only thing you know for sure is that your hero will never be the same.

In the midst of everything is an unrequited love with ambiguous possibilities. Aliyah is the daughter of a Taliban chieftain who finds it impossible to believe Sarno can bring her the deliverance she so longs for from this insane life she’s endured. There are few places on earth where it is more difficult to be a woman.

Flanagan, who served as an embedded journalist in the Iraq war also lived in Karachi, Pakistan and Kabul where he reported on the hunt for Osama bin Laden for two British magazines and the Washington Post. With ease he paints the scenery which serves as backdrop for the story.

The Savannah portions of the book have just enough levity to release some of the tension readers will experience. The graveyard and ghost stories that have become entertainments today contain kernels of horror that find echoes amongst the Taliban. The manner in which the author takes the impossible and convinces readers that it is probable is quite astonishing.

Perhaps at the root of the story is Sarno's pain at knowing that his future with Aliyah can never work out, and that the entire mission of his life has been an epic struggle in futility. Nevertheless he knows no other path.

What I like most about the book is when Flanagan causes the story to intersect with real events, including when Pat Tillman was killed by "friendly fire" and the first attempt on Osama bin Laden near the caves below the Khyber Pass. The net result is to create the impression that this fictional adventure/drama may actually be a true account of events that journalists are restricted from writing about.

Ultimately, if you can't find the book at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble, the reason might be that this review is itself a fictional review of a fictional book. If you like fiction, especially the kind where you have trouble discerning the line between real and improbable, you may enjoy my own books of short stories, especially Unremembered Histories and Newmanesque.

This review was originally published in January 2012

Unless otherwise noted, all paintings and illustrative material at this site has been created by Ennyman.