Early Days in Los Angeles and Venice Beach

These photographs from years ago inspired me to look up some facts from the early days in Southern California: Los Angeles and nearby Venice. In reading a little of the history of Venice Beach, I would say it has kept is character….even today.

My maternal grandparents were from Sicily. My grandfather, born in 1875, came to the United States in about 1882. In 1894 he returned to Sicily where he married my grandmother and they returned to America in December of 1895. In late 1909 they left Colorado and went to Los Angeles to live. Papa immediately found a job building the North Main Street Bridge, which crosses the Los Angeles River, and is near the old Eastside Brewery, and near Lincoln Park. Not long after he bought an Ice Cream Wagon and later owned a gas station but lost it during the Depression. For a number of years he worked at the film studios painting and maintaining movie sets.

My grandfather and grandmother loved the beach and often went to Venice Beach during those early years while living in Los Angeles.

Here are some interesting photos of early days in Los Angeles and in Venice which I discovered yesterday, via my friend Michael. I’ve also included Tidbits from the days gone by that you may find of interest as I have.

North Main Street Bridge, Los Angeles

that my grandfather worked on.

1900, March 15, Los Angeles, California
Editorial Los Angeles Herald Newspaper
Married Teachers
The board of education has established the rule, and emphasized it by dismissing a recently wedded teacher, that female teachers in the public schools cannot retain their positions after marriage… It is needless to give the reasons for such a policy. That ground has been threshed over many times. There are very few women who can manage a home and a school at the same time. The one or the other must suffer, possibly both.

1905 – Los Angeles, Broadway Department Store Sale
Semi-annual $5.00 Suit Sale. Suits for Men, Young Men and Youths. Most of them Worth $10.00. Both Single and Double Breasted. Thousands to Choose From. Extra Salesmen in Attendance.

1908 – Los Angeles
Los Angeles Express, July 3, 1908.
WIRELESS TALKS TO ARCTIC
That Los Angeles should be in direct communication by “wireless” with the frozen North appears almost incredible, but this has been accomplished by the new United Wireless telegraph station at Chutes Park.

1908 - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Herald October 3, 1908
House Hunting Through Want Ads

The trials of house hunting have certainly been made easier since THE HERALD began to print the Want Advertisements. There was a time when a man and wife had to walk up one street and down another searching for the right kind of a home. Now the owners of rentable houses either send or telephone the advertisements describing their property to THE HERALD, either daily or Sunday. The advertisements are printed — families wanting to move watch the "For Rent" columns — when the class of a house they want is for rent they go to look at it — if desirable, they rent it. Perhaps the house you want may not be advertised today or tomorrow, but if you watch these column every day, sooner or later you will find the house advertised for rent which will suit you

1908 – Los Angeles
SAYS BREAD AND JAM CAUSE LIQUOR LIKING

In an address before members of the Hundred Year Club . . . this morning, Dr. L.E. Landone spoke of the evil effects of certain food combinations on the body, declaring that the appetite for drink is caused in children by such combinations as bread, butter and jam. Many, he said, will refuse a glass of whisky, but will take into the stomach a combination of foods which will at once start a distillery in the system.

1912 – Venice
The first bathing beauty contest was started as a promotional feature for the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper.

Keystone Girls, Venice Beach Parade about 1920

Keystone Studios, Max Sennett

Venice Beach, 1920

1915 – Venice
The Venice Gran Prix automobile race was held on St. Patrick's Day. 75,000 spectators watched the 300 mile race. Barney Oldfield driving a Maxwell won the race in 4 1/2 hours with an average speed of 68.5 MPH.

Barney Oldfield, winner of Venice Gran Prix, March 1915

1918 –Venice
Venice was one of only two towns in Los Angeles County where one could buy a drink and a bottle of liquor. Vernon was the other town.

1919 – Venice
In April Venice inaugurated the first aerial police force. It proved useful for tracking fleeing automobile bandits, or finding boats in distress.

1929 – Venice
Oil was discovered in December on county property just east of the Grand Canal and Avenue 35 on the Venice Peninsula. The well initially produced 3000 barrels per day. Oil fever swept the town, and shortly therafter, Los Angeles allowed drilling south of Lenona (Washington Street), two blocks from the ocean.

Oil Field Venice, 1930

Broadway and 7th, Los Angeles, about 1920.
Thought we had traffic today, huh?

Bellevue Terrace Hotel, Los Angeles, 1900

My paternal great grandfather, John Sanford Anderson Shearer.

This was taken in the late 1920, or early 1930’s

while he worked as a street car conductor in Los Angeles.

Bunker Hill Home, Los Angeles, 1969

~Linda

To The Struggle Against World Terrorism Monument in New Jersey

"Peace cannot be kept by force.
It can only be achieved by understanding."
~Albert Einstein

This morning my friend Ricky Kendall sent me an email about this monument dedicated to the people who lost their lives on the 9-11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade bombing. Apparently there has been a photo of the monument circulating the Internet and verification about it at snopes and urban legends. Ricky, nor I, had heard about this monument before by a Russian artist and given to us by the peoples of Russia. I first thought, maybe it is because we both live out West so maybe that is why we had little publicity about it, but doing a little bit of inquiry I discovered people who live in New Jersey where the monument is, did not know of its existence! It is a shame the memorial did not get more press than it apparently did.

World renown artist, sculptor, designer, Zurab Konstantinovitch Tsereteli was born in Tbilisi ( Georgia ) on January 4, 1934 ; and graduated from the Academy of Arts in Tbilisi in 1958. His Monumental and Design Works are throughout Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Spain, France, Israel, Uruguay, Italy, and the United States. He designed the interior decoration of the embassies of the Russian Federation in the United States, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Turkey, Syria. A philanthropist, he has generously donated his artworks to charitable auction and hospices.

Zurab Tsereteli was in his home in Moscow on the morning of September 11th. Like the rest of the world, he was glued to Television coverage of the attacks on the Twin Towers, and as he watched the towers collapse he was moved to tears. He soon after decided to do a memorial with an image of a tear. Soon after he came to the United States to find a place for the memorial. He found a perfect spot on the waterfront at Bayonne, New Jersey, across from Ground Zero and with the Statue of Liberty in view.

A 100-foot-tall, 175-ton, bronze-clad sculpture, which encloses a 40-foot steel teardrop, entitled "To The Struggle Against World Terrorism," is a gift from Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia, to the people of the United States and was dedicated on the fifth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

The monument's eleven-sided granite base includes the names of all those who perished in the initial explosion at the World Trade Center in 1993 and in the 2001 attacks. “His bronze monument reflects that image with a jagged tear through the center, and a 4-ton nickel tear hanging from the top. The tear represents not only the sadness and grief over the loss of life on 9/11 and previous attacks on the World Trade Center, but also hope for a future free from terror.”

The monument has several reflective elements, so that the visitor becomes part of the memorial. The nickel tear is shiny and mirror like. The granite name plates which make up the stand for the monument, and on which the names of the victims are etched, is also shiny and reflective.

In looking over previous reports about it, I see there was some controversy regarding size, names, or whatever. I also notice Ricky and I are not alone in never hearing or reading about this monument. I’ve now seen comments from a few people who actually live in New Jersey and never heard about it and its dedication of 9-11-2006!

H. G. Wells wrote, "Our true nationality is mankind.” Do you think we will ever get that?!

I now, ask, why did we not hear of it? Why did our press choose to keep quiet about such a beautiful and generous and heartfelt gift?

Thank you Zurab Tsereteli and all the people of Russia. The monument is a beautiful memorial.

I am reminded by all this of a beautiful and moving poem that Ricky wrote shortly after 9-11. You can read The Eagle Cried by Ricky Kendall here.


~Linda

Time to Plant Gardens on White House Lawns and Our Lawns

"Come the spring with all its splendor,

All its birds and all its blossoms,

all its flowers, and leaves, and grasses."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, (1807-1882)

Me in my garden

It is now springtime and many vegetable gardens will be planted soon. I’ve had several gardens over the years, growing tomatoes, zucchini, cantaloupe, green beans, carrots, onions, peppers, radishes, lettuce, and once in awhile, corn and potatoes. I never had very good luck growing corn for some reason. Yet, it looks like it is off to a good start in my garden above. Maybe because Daddy was from Iowa and he knew a lot about growing corn.

This week our President and First Lady made headlines when ground was broken on the South Lawn of the White House for an organic “Victory Garden.” According to Friday’s Washington Post, The 1,100-square-foot garden will include 55 kinds of vegetables, be berries, herbs and “two hives for honey that will be tended by a White House carpenter who is also a beekeeper. The chefs will use the produce to feed the first family, as well as for state dinners and other official events.”

White House spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld said, “The White House will use organic seedlings, as well as organic fertilizers and organic insect repellents. The garden will be near the tennis courts and be visible to passersby on the street. The whole Obama family will be involved in tending the garden.”

Michele Obama has talked about the importance of healthful eating and the challenges of persuading her children to eat fruits and vegetables. I believe a garden is fun for a family. I know I enjoyed having gardens when I was young.

And in later years… and as a result of good crops, making zucchini bread, canning zucchini pickles, making jam, and jellies…and trying to give away tomatoes and zucchinis when the whole neighborhood was growing their gardens, too.

This was the best jam ever! I wish I still had that plum tree!

And those darn zucchini squash; you can hear them grow at night if you listen carefully for the sounds hidden somewhat by the breezes.

See what I mean....this happened overnight! :-)

When an apple tree’s in blossom it is glorious to see,
But that’s just a hint, at springtime, of the better things to be.”
~Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959)

In 1943, during World War II, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a large Victory Garden on the White House lawn, inspiring millions of Americans by her example. I’ve also read that President Carter had a small herb garden, and the Clinton’s also grew a small garden on the roof of the White House.

War Posters for Victory Gardens

I also wrote about gardens June of 2007 on my Blog.

~Linda

President Obama in Pomona, Southern California March 19, 2009

President Obama at the Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, California, March 19, 2009, where he unveiled his 2.4 billion dollar boost for electric vehicle development.

I enjoyed his appearance on Leno, this evening.

~Linda

Children's Library Books and Lead??

The Group, Consumer Product Safety Commission wants children’s books pulled from library shelves due to possible lead in the text of the books printed prior to 1986. Most libraries are ignoring the request and refusing to comply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say any danger from lead in children’s books is slight, yet this Consumer Commission wants the books pulled from library shelves before testing is even done.

Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association’s Washington office stated, “We’re talking about tens of millions of copies of children’s books that are perfectly safe. I wish a reasonable, rational person would just say, ‘This is stupid. What are we doing?”’

I agree, this is stupid. The CPSC is interpreting the federal law that bans lead beyond minute levels in products intended for children 12 and under. The law became effective in February, and was passed after a number of toy recalls. The CPSC delayed until next year the lead testing required as part of this new law.

Jay Dempsey, a health communications specialist at the CDC, said lead-based ink in children’s books poses little danger. “If that child were to actually start mouthing the book — as some children put everything in their mouths — that’s where the concern would be,” Dempsey said. “But on a scale of one to 10, this is like a 0.5 level of concern.”

A website was set up by the publishing and printing industries last December to post the results of studies measuring the lead in books. Those results show lead levels were often undetectable and consistently below not only the new federal threshold, but the more stringent limit that goes into effect in 2011.

Those findings were cited in a letter from the Association of American Publishers to the CPSC. The American Library Association said it has no estimate of how many children’s books printed before 1986 are in circulation. But typically, libraries don’t have many, because youngsters are hard on books, librarians said.

Rhoda Goldberg, director of the Harris County Public Library system in Houston, said “Frankly, most of our books have been well-used and well-appreciated. They don’t last 24 years.”

Also, the lead is contained only in the type, not in the illustrations, according to Allan Adler, vice president for legal and governmental affairs for the Association of American Publishers.

Nathan Brown, a lawyer for the library association, said libraries should not even be subject to the law. He argued that Congress never wanted to regulate books and that libraries do not sell books and thus are not subject to the consumer products law.

I would have to wonder about all those books we kept from our childhood, or the books we still have that belonged to our children, and the millions accumulated by book collectors. The Little Golden Books, for instance. The dust mites may get to us but I would doubt the lead in the old ink does any harm and most of us don’t eat books, even children.

Seems too often mountains are made of molehills.

~Linda

Monday Night TV Shows, Dancing With the Stars and Castle

Monday Night TV

Well, the Bachelor Jason Mesnick apparently stated last week after Melissa Rycroft was picked to fill in on Dancing With the Stars: “I hope and think she will win it all.”

He could be right about that! She’s good and her partnering with professional dancer Tony Dovolani is a great match. If their dance steps don’t win the votes, their big smiles, laughter, and enthusiasm surely will. I wonder if Jason is feeling pangs of regret in giving up Melissa.

Looks like that girl is going to be just fine.

Tony Dovolani and Melissa Rycroft, March 9, 2009, ABC Dancing With the Stars

I love the new show, Castle. I’m really enjoying the characters, Richard Castle, a mystery writer, and Kate Beckett , a cop. He’s a single father, she a single woman. He’s had two marriages, she has had none.

Castle is played by Canadian born actor, Nathan Fillion. He’s been around a lot, even on Desperate Housewives, but I have to admit he never made such an impact on me with his acting until this role as Richard Castle. He’s good (and very attractive and sexy in this role) and I really like the interplay that works so well between him and fellow Canadian actress Stana Katic. There is just the right amount of tease, playfulness, and “game-playing” to make it an interesting relationship. The writing is excellent, dialogue great, and when you have two good actors that can act with chemistry between them, it is memorable and enjoyable. The rest of the cast is good too, but these two really stand out—for me anyway. (damn he's cute!)

Nathan Fillion, ABC's Richard Castle

And I do not watch any of the detective CSI type shows but this one so far does not focus on the violence, as too many do, but it focuses on the murder plot, unraveling it in much the same way us writers might build a mystery story. Maybe that is why I like the show so much. As a writer, I always have scenarios going through my head and I enjoy seeing them in a well-written program.

Stana Katic, ABC's Kate Beckett

I’m hoping Castle is getting good ratings, and it should, being in the Monday ABC spot following Dancing with the Stars.

~Linda

40th Anniversary of Don Pendleton's The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, Part Four

In Part Four of the Birth of Don Pendleton's The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series , Don Pendleton spoke of critics. This again was in about 1973, at a time the Executioner had really taken off. You may want to read Part One, Part Two and Part Three prior to this one. See Posts below this one.

On The Critics by Don Pendleton

Of course, there is that other thing: the unfavorable comments of the critics. I don’t suppose that I’m any more thin-skinned in that regard or any more thick-skinned than most writers are. This is one of the things that every person in the creative or performing arts is wide open to and we have to simply accept it. Don’t have to like it. My own personal view of the written criticism is that it is a literary cannibalism. The critic is literally cannibalizing another piece of work in order to create a piece of work of his own. It must be recognized by knowledgeable people that reviews, criticisms, are, in fact, a valid art form in their own right. The person who writes these pieces of literature are in their own way attempting to create something. But in order to create something it’s necessary to borrow from another’s piece of work–and it just so happens that it makes much better reading and a much more effective criticism if you can really lace into the other guy and tear him apart. After you’ve said, it’s good, it’s great, it’s wonderful, what else can you say? Of course, there are many, many, very sensitive critics in all fields of the arts who are able to come up with some very meaningful criticisms which do add to a piece of work but, by and large, the average run of the mill critique of any art is a cannibalism. So I sort of accept that unfavorable stuff in the same spirit that it is given–I don’t pay much attention to it. I believe the best piece of criticism that I can read regarding my books are my royalty statements.

But there are some valid criticisms about my books which perhaps I should try to answer. It has been said that the books are hastily put together. Haste is a relative term. For a person whose normal writing speed is three or four pages a day or perhaps three or four paragraphs a day, then to put out a full length novel in thirty to sixty days is absolutely a hastily done piece of work.

I average about ten pages a day and I could do double that amount. I have done double that amount, many times. But yes, at some cost to the work. But I suppose that I sweat and agonize over my phrases just as much as any writer who has ever lived. I change, rewrite, revise, carry on as though I was writing the great American novel. I work very conscientiously and with very great pains to put together prose that is easily assailable. I have adopted a sort of conversational style in my writing in these Executioner books, particularly. I try to write more or less as people speak and yet to do so in such a way that there is no ambiguity as to the meaning of what I’m saying. I don’t concentrate on the fine points of grammar. When we run across people in everyday life who are speaking in precise grammatical terms they invariably come off sounding affected, stilted, and I certainly don’t want to write in that fashion.

I know all the rules of sentence structure, use of words, but hell, I’m not writing grammar books. I’m writing fiction. I’m trying to write very hard-hitting, very suspenseful, edge of the seat, eye-ball jerking fiction. I don’t priss around my study with a dictionary in my hand, a thesaurus on my hip, nor do I have a word usage chart on my wall. I’m continually working toward the fast moving, the fast flowing, the evocative, the shocking. I’m trying to keep the reader hooked, page by page, by page. This is my approach. Now to someone who wishes to sit down and tear apart this type of writing, it is the easiest thing to do. I would only like to point out that we can sit down with any of the great works of literature and if we are looking for the weak points, if we are looking for the points where the author had not followed every little rule, yes, we can tear it apart. We can tear Charles Dickens right down to the bone. We could make Ernest Hemingway look like a sixth grade drop-out. It’s not the guys who write by the book who write the books that sell–books that become meaningful. It’s by and large, the guys who say to hell with what I’m supposed to do–this is the way I see it should be done.

I frequently invent words. There are many, many invented words in the Executioner series. I’m not afraid to invent words. The people who compile our dictionaries are constantly working adding new pages to the dictionary. They have to do that because there are people in the world who aren’t afraid to invent new words.

As far as the rules for writing literature–there are no rules. I don’t believe any man ever sat down at a typewriter and began writing a book and did, indeed, manage to write a book that was worthy of being published that followed some sort of formula set down by someone else on how to write the book.

What I regard as my last word to the critics is simply this: No national critic ever noticed the Executioner books until they had become nationwide best sellers. My pitch was made to the readers and the readers responded. If the critics want to come along now and notice me simply because I forced them to notice me by the wide sales of the books, then they can say whatever they please. I simply don’t give a damn. However, if they are going to discuss the books in print, I don’t think it would be unreasonable of an author to ask that they do read the book before they attempt to criticize it. They shouldn’t simply turn to page thirty and pick out a couple to sentences to criticize and then turn to page ninety and then pick out a couple more sentences and call that a criticism of the work.

Don was correct in saying that his readers are who mattered. After all, they are the ones buying the books and coming back for more. Forty years later Don Pendleton's fictional hero, Mack Bolan is still alive and kicking.... The Executioner Series has had at least three generations of readers now. It may be four generations in some cases, as I recall in about 1985 when he did a booksigning at the Pentagon, there was an Air Force Officer who told us his father and son were fans. His son was in Air Force also. So by this time...that Officer's son may have children who are reading the books. I say children because the fans of the books have always included young and older women, along with the boys and men. Everyone loves a hero.

And before I'm asked, no, movies have not been made. I still have hopes that some day Mack Bolan the Executioner may make it to the big screen. When it happens, I hope we recognize him.

The drawing of Mack Bolan was commissioned by Don in 1975 and was done by a young talented artist, Mike Cagle of Indiana.

My thanks to the Gold Eagle writers...keep writing guys!

~Linda

© Copyright Don Pendleton, Linda Pendleton.

Part One
Part Two 
Part Three 
Part Four

40th Anniversary of Don Pendleton's The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, Part Three

In Part Three of The Birth of Don Pendleton’s The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series of Novels 40 Years Ago, we are looking at Don Pendleton's Creative Writing Style. You may want to read Part One and Part Two before this one. He taped this originally in 1973 and mentions his lawsuit with his publisher, Pinnacle Books, who at the time was trying to claim the Executioner series as their own. Don won the lawsuit and his copyrights were returned to him.

Don Pendleton’s Creative Writing Style of The Executioner SeriesNow a word or two regarding the creative style used in these books. I was asked in an interview recently [about 1973] if I thought this particular formula had reached its logical end. My response to that question was that I simply don’t use a formula so I couldn’t answer the question. Because the Executioner was a trend setter, there are now a lot of imitating series which have become a sort of normal thing in the trade–a lot of publishers developed trending series, that’s all. There is actually no formula involved primarily because of the creative style used by me. My old publisher, Pinnacle, in the present litigation that we’re in [1973], one of his claims is that the Executioner is a House Series, that it was created by Pinnacle and that the character, plot, the situation, what he calls the concept, was given to me to develop. This is ridiculous. I couldn’t begin to work along anything like that. He tried to use the synopsis that I submitted to him of the original book, the first book, to show the differences between the synopsis and the completed book as evidence that they had exerted a great influence in the nature of changes and revisions as evidence that I was working under their direction. But here again, the difference between the original format of story idea and the final version of the work was the inevitable result of the way I work. A synopsis is nothing more than the skeleton of a story idea that establishes mood and thematic movement in somewhat the nature of a motion picture story treatment. It’s not a plot outline which details specific story elements to show how these elements interact to produce a story. I don’t even use the outline method for story development at any time. My method constitutes an evolution of theme and movement through character into a story which is not even conceptualized until it is told. And the characters are seldom more than un-dimensioned shadows until they are confronted with the story elements. That is to say the story does not exist. It does not exist even in the author’s mind until they [the characters] are confronted with the story elements. That is to say that the story does not exist even in the author’s mind until the book has been written.

Now using this method, it is the telling of the story that actually develops the characters and produces the various elements of style, plot, suspense, even the action. In this particular instance, the Executioner books, the story idea which first became expressed in the synopsis was nothing more than a vague thematic treatment concerning a combat trained and highly capable young man with a strong sense of duty who is confronted with a terribly unjust human situation which just may be within his abilities to correct. He accepts the challenge, this call to duty, with clearly no chance, no chance whatsoever, for his own survival, unless, now unless, he can rise to a level of human excellence and greatness, and this rise of the hero, his efforts to maintain that almost impossible level of excellence, are the story elements that provide suspense and action in the unraveling of the story.

Working within such a framework, naturally the author himself is in continual crisis as he attempts to unfold a story which has not even been formulated. The fragments of plot and scene which were necessarily perceived to synopsize the proposed work for a perspective publisher–in my case, anyway, are always abandoned or at least greatly altered as the story unfoldment picks up momentum and begins to propel itself. So it is because of this that Pinnacle’s allegations that they are directing my work and calling the shots and everything, are so ridiculous. Not only has my work never been directed by other persons, it has never been fully directed by myself. There is just no way under the sun that anyone, anyone, could direct my work. Any attempts to do so would be absolutely antithetical–antithetical to the creativity which has produced the Executioner.

I don’t take full credit for the success of the books because I constantly amaze myself with the things that come out in the completed manuscript because I never know where I’m going when I start, where I’m headed. I simply begin with a tense situation and put the guy in jeopardy and allow his own character, his own established modus operandi, his quest for excellence, for justice, to tell the story, to get him out of the trouble, and hell, I never know what is going to happen in the books until I get to the very final shot of the story. So this is about as close as I can come to a description of the creative style of this author, Don Pendleton.


Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

© Copyright Don Pendleton, Linda Pendleton.

40th Anniversary of Don Pendleton's The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, Part Two

In Part Two of the Birth of Don Pendleton's Executioner Series, we are looking at the underlying theme of the Mack Bolan books. Don Pendleton considered his Executioner Series of Action/Adventure novels to be a study in the metaphysics of violence. You may want to read Part One first.

In the 1970s Don Pendleton had this to say:

The Metaphysical Theme of the Executioner Books

Some people may say that these books are not examples of metaphysical thought, but they are. Metaphysics grapples with the nature of reality and the Executioner books undertake an examination of the essentially violent nature of nature.

In the first appearance in the series, Bolan was already aware that he lived in a violent universe. In Book One, War Against the Mafia, page 166, –a quotation in Bolan’s journal, his diary–“Life is a competition, and I am a competitor. I have the tools and the skills, and I must accept the responsibilities. I will fight the battle, spill the blood, smear myself with it, and stand at the bar of judgment to be crushed and chewed and ingested by those I serve. It is the way of the world. It is the ultimate disposition.”

Does that sound like Bolan the metaphysician? Not really. It’s Bolan the killer, the Executioner. His metaphysics are an out-picturing of the universal ethic as this character vaguely understands it.

You know the first spark of life to move across this planet was a violent entity, predatory, perpetuating itself through a predacious assault upon its environment. Bolan reflects this when he says: I am alive tonight because of violence loose upon the earth. Each breath I take is paid for by crushed and digested once-living things. Violence is the way of the world because competition is the way of life-perpetuation. Without violence there can be no competition, and without competition there can be no life. Something dies for every instant that something else lives.

Now Bolan, in that, was not referring to human violence per se, but as violence as an essential element of the reality of life. He’s recognized this–and it is a metaphysical idea. But this understanding doesn’t result in a cynical attitude toward life for Bolan as it has done for many others. Quite the opposite. Bolan views the violence of nature as a tool of the universe, a very useful and constructive tool when applied through human consciousness toward the attainment of noble goals. But he takes the Friedrich Nietzsche concept in Book One Front Piece–“You say that a good cause will even sanctify war! I tell you, it is the good war that sanctifies every cause!”

Now, obviously, Bolan has a good cause. Just the same, he isn’t using this shield of good to justify his actions. The cause is already well established. Most people will agree that organized crime is an evil that the world can do without. The problem has been that no one seems strongly enough motivated to put their hands where their conscience is. Bolan is saying, in effect: Now look, I offer up my life to oppose this crime against humanity. In this Nietzsche-ian idea, Bolan says let my blood and my dedication serve as an example to all good people who are sitting by and tolerating these injustices, let my impossible war sanctify this good cause. Not justify it, but sanctify it.

So, no, Bolan is no cynic. In Book Five, Continental Contract he says, “It isn’t enough to simply believe in something. To be truly alive you have to be ready to die for something. Harder still, there are times when you have to be willing to kill for something. I am both ready to die and willing to kill.”

Now the key phrase to that chain of thought is: to be truly alive. Is this metaphysics of a killer? Well, I think so. Another man said it this way once: If you will truly live, then you must be born again. Well, Bolan is reborn. He is reborn with every beat of his heart and he came to this understanding in Book Four, Miami Massacre via the prose of the girl who befriended him and actually died for him. She wrote him: “The world dies ‘twixt every heartbeat, and is born again in each new perception of the mind. For each of us, the order of life is to perceive and parish and perceive again, and who can say which is which–for every human experience builds a new world in its own image–and death itself is but an unusual perception. Live large that you may experience large and thus, hopefully, die large.”

In the original edition of Book One, War Against the Mafia, we also carried two quotations in its Front Piece that have been dropped from the newer editions. These were by Thomas Carlyle–“The courage we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.”–and from Elbert Hubbard, “God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars.”

I don’t know why these were dropped in the later editions unless some editor thought I was over taxing the page or the mind of the reader, because these two quotations give more of the philosophical overview of the character than the one remaining.

I relay on these little front pieces to set the tone for the book that’s going to follow. In a sense these are the theme pieces and usually this theme is no where else stated in such precise language, although it is certainly present in every movement of the story from the first page to the last.

So, as for the metaphysics of an Executioner, Bolan’s own reading of himself is hung out there in that first book for all to see, who wish to see: “I am not their judge. I am their judgement. I am their executioner.”

This is a rather concise statement of a rather broad metaphysical idea. It is karmic law in action with Bolan as the instrument of that law. He evades “judge not that ye be judged,” “vengeance is mine saith the Lord”–and so forth, by a simple elevation of the law. He, himself, is the violent judgment of a violent universe, the tool of the balancing forces of nature, the cataclysmic answer to the cancer cells of human destiny. Sure, Mack Bolan’s character is his fate and that is a strong metaphysical idea.

As I mentioned in Part One:

Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan, The Executioner, theme is "Live Large" and recently the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II (H-O) gives derivation credit for "live large" to Don Pendleton and his Executioner Series.

Part One

Part Three

Part Four
© Copyright Don Pendleton, Linda Pendleton.

40th Anniversary of Don Pendleton's The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, Part One

The Birth of Don Pendleton’s The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series of Novels 40 Years Ago,

Part One

In March of 1969, the first paperback novel of Don Pendleton’s The Executioner Series was published. Soon after, the second book, and those to follow, became a publishing phenomenon with the success of the continuing fast-hitting adventures of Mack Bolan’s fight to destroy the Mafia. The books were published worldwide in many languages. Don Pendleton is acknowledged as the "father of the modern Action/Adventure novel." His Mack Bolan, The Executioner, theme is "Live Large" and recently the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II (H-O) gives derivation credit for "live large" to Don Pendleton and his Executioner Series.

At the height of the Executioner success many publishers and writers attempted to ride on the coattails of Don's success. Some succeeded. Others did not. In many of those books, what appeared to be missing were the elements that Don had so skillfully crafted with his presentation of his fictional hero.

Don wrote the first novel in the series, War Against the Mafia out of his desire to express his discomfort with the reaction of many Americans to our soldiers who were dying for our country in the jungles of Vietnam and those coming home to outrageous verbal and physical abuse. So Mack Bolan became Don's symbolic statement. He also became every soldier's voice. Don created a heroic character in Bolan, a true hero who was dedicated to justice. The enemy that Bolan had to fight was no longer on the battlefields of Vietnam but right here on American soil, and that enemy was the Mafia.

Within his Bolan stories are strong values with an underlying theme of a higher morality that Bolan follows. More than once Don said about the Executioner novels, "My biggest job throughout writing the series was to keep faith with Bolan–that what he is doing is right. I wanted an enemy beyond redemption–an enemy that all civilized procedures had failed to put down. The Mafia was ready-made. They embodied all the evils of mankind."

In 1980, Don franchised his Executioner characters to Harlequin's Gold Eagle Imprint after writing Executioner thirty-eight, Satan's Sabbath. Gold Eagle's program has resulted in close to 600 Executioner Mack Bolan books published since with several spin-off series: Able Team, Phoenix Force, Stony Man, and Super Bolan. Don was Consulting Editor with the Harlequin program until his death but did not write any of the Harlequin books, which have all been written by a team of writers. Mack Bolan’s fight then became terrorists.
In an effort to explain his Mack Bolan Executioner character and his own style of writing “heroic” fiction, Don Pendleton had this to say:

In the first Executioner novel, War Against the Mafia, the hero, Mack Bolan is quickly established as a superb combat soldier dedicated to a lonely “one man war” against the Mafia. This is a war of attrition...” the same as in ‘Nam.” Bolan uses a variety of heavy military weaponry in a relentless assault against “this new enemy” wherever he may discover their presence. Characterization of the character is to present this very violent figure as a highly motivated, heroic, and sympathetic man.

The books are narrated as the closest thing to docudrama, with an authoritative third-person objective viewpoint occasionally shifting into stream of consciousness via Bolan and other characters. The emphasis is to explain the action as an approving, historical account in a stirring presentation, and to dimension as much as possible the violent activities of the hero.

Styling of the Mack Bolan stories requires a structure for carrying fast-paced hard-hitting action sequences. The writing is punchy, declarative, stirringly graphic. The reach is toward the reader’s belly, designed to evoke visceral response and rousing empathy. This is “heroic” fiction.

Premising the Bolan stories are the ideas that a good offense is the best defense, and that human violence can have positive social values–that, indeed, the goals of mankind can sometimes best be dignified through violent confrontation. The first novel, War Against the Mafia, employed a quote from Nietzsche on the theme page: “You say that a good cause will even sanctify war! I tell you, it is the good war that sanctifies every cause!” These are frankly and consciously violent books because they intend to illustrate the violent themes of mankind.

The Mack Bolan books are prototypical Action/Adventure. A good “action-adventure” book is forever in a hurry, breathless, bursting with movement and activity. I try to keep my hero clean. I try to give him all the higher human attributes. I try to depict his war as a crusade–a very highly motivated crusade, with high ideals, very strong human overtones. I show this man in almost continuous conflict with himself. I show that his course through life is no bed of roses. I’m not exhorting anyone to emulate this man by his example. Certainly there is nothing in the Mack Bolan adventures which exhort anyone, young, old, male or female, to follow in his footsteps. This guy lives a pretty grim life. He’s no James Bond, with all the gourmet foods and the luxury living. He does have an occasional fling at romance but he doesn’t even have the time to appreciate that. The guy has a pretty rough life.

Of course, the character of Mack Bolan is built around this idea–that this is a man who has submerged his own life into his mission. He has sacrificed everything that he holds dear, all his own ambitions. After all he is a man with dreams, and all these things he’s forgone in order to fling himself into this holy war.

I believe, in the deeper theme values, my Executioner books reflect my values–and that something very, very important is taking place here on this obscure little planet. I do feel that life has tremendous meaning. I feel most sincerely that the good life is the challenged life and not the easy one. I think that in their deeper theme values my Executioner books reflect this philosophy. The books are not sheer blood and guts. Sure, there is plenty of that in there, deliberately so.

I do believe that I have managed to utilize highly, highly dramatic situations, perhaps bordering on the melodramatic to bring out the deeper values that are inherent in all human life. I’m very strongly aware that many young and impressionable readers read my books and I feel a sense of responsibility there. I work very hard to see that my hero is a truly three dimensional person with very high purpose. I try to present the things he does in the context of tremendous meaning.

I will never apologize to anyone for my Executioner books. I feel they are a testament to the human spirit of mankind and I find it personally gratifying that the books have evoked such a wide response in the American reader. And it has been a wide response, not just in the numbers of books sold but in the cross section of American society who happen to be reading the books. The readers are professional people, white collar workers, blue collar people, military people, men, women, children from age twelve to age ninety four. The books are more than simple escape literature. The books do actually involve the reader in a rather high cause–the perpetration of human excellence, high human values, and besides that, they are just entertaining, that’s all.

Beyond that, I don’t know how to evaluate the books. I doubt very much that any writer can really give a purely objective evaluation of his work. The only sort of gauge I have is in the way I feel when I write those final words, The End. If I have a good feeling when I put those words down, then I feel I have accomplished my objective. I’ve said what I’ve started out to say and told the story I started out to tell, and if I finish the book feeling good then I have to assume that the reader will finish the book feeling the same way–and that’s really my primary goal.

I want to entertain and along with the entertainment, I do want to include something that does dignify the work a bit. That doesn’t mean that the time spent reading the book is lost time-completely frittered away–but that along with the entertainment there has been a few moments of perhaps introspection on the part of the reader, perhaps a little bit of understanding of the world about him.

I don’t suppose the books will ever go down in the big registry of great literary masterpieces, as certainly, they’re not that. I could only hope that Mack Bolan will take his place along with such American fictional heroes as Mike Hammer, Travis McGee, Perry Mason, Matt Helm, and of course James Bond, who is not an American hero but an Englishman, but nevertheless, in the same genre. And I hope it can be said that Mack Bolan is his own man–his own type–and he does stand apart from the other heroes, perhaps no better than they are but unique in his own right, and aside from the hope that the books will have continuing acceptance, that they will continue to sell, this is about the most I could ask for.

Don Pendleton, left, with Artist Gil Cohen. Gil did Executioner covers for a number of years.

Photo Copyright 1985 by Linda Pendleton.

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

© Copyright Don Pendleton, Linda Pendleton.
All Rights Reserved. 

Sedona, Arizona

"We Will Rebuild, We Will Recover..." President Obama

“The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere. But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.” ~President Obama

His speech was excellent and many, about 75-80-85%, are agreeing with me on that according to the polls I’m seeing, and in come cases 10% of those polled did not watch or hear it. Sounds pretty good that people are giving our President a chance to do things to change the difficult situation he inherited.

I am as optimistic now as I have been for the last months since we elected him our President. He is so refreshing…so intelligent…so open….

I believe a hopeful and optimistic attitude held by the majority of citizens will do wonders to shift the energy into a positive place and ensure decent outcomes for our country. Bethea, an eighth-grade girl from South Carolina who, in a letter to lawmakers, asked for help for her school said, "We are not quitters."

How come a young girl knows that we are not quitters, but some adults in this country do not know that?

~Linda

Oscar Winning Screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, and Milk Movie

Sunday night at the Academy Award show a most moving and powerful acceptance speech was given by thirty-four year old screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay Milk, based on the life of openly gay San Francisco politician, Harvey Milk. On November 27, 1978, Supervisor Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall by Dan White, another city supervisor who had recently resigned and wanted his job back.

At the time, California Senator, Dianne Feinstein was President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and was in City Hall as the shootings occurred. A short while later, at a press conference originally scheduled by Mayor Moscone to announce White's successor, Feinstein announced the assassinations to a stunned public, stating: "As president of the board of supervisors, it's my duty to make this announcement. Both Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk have been shot and killed…and the suspect is Supervisor Dan White.”

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, I just discovered, has co-produced and written several episodes of my favorite TV program, HBO’s Big Love. Tom Hanks is one of the Executive Producers of Big Love.

Director Gus Van Sant directed Milk., starring Sean Penn., who won the Oscar last night for Best Actor. A couple of Van Sant's other works include Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester, both excellent films. He happens to be openly gay.

Here is a video of Dustin Lance Black’s powerful acceptance speech.

The second and third videos below is an interview with Cleve Jones, AIDS activist, and co-founder of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and in 1987 created the AIDS Memorial Quilt. He worked as a student intern in Milk’s office while attending college.

Part One of Cleve Jones Interview



Part Two of Cleve Jones Interview

I want to see this movie. I remember the Milk, Moscone shootings of thirty years ago, I know the HIV-AIDS work of Cleve Jones, and I’ve seen the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and my husband, Don Pendleton and I, watched a candle-light San Francisco Gay Parade in about 1985 from a San Francisco hotel window. Now in 2009, 25 to 30 years later, it is time for tolerance, equality for all, including marriage if so desired, not only in California but everywhere in this country. We need to make up for wasted time—it is a time for change. We should insist on it. As Oscar winner Sean Penn said in his acceptance speech, "We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

~Linda

What is a Hero Today?

My friend and fellow-writer, Jon Guenther posted a Blog today about “A Resurgence of American Heroes” and within his comments he quoted and linked to an article, “Joseph Campbell's Definition of Heroes: Does Traditional Hero Still Exist?.” I found myself disagreeing with the author of that article on Joseph Campbell, as Jon did. I love Joseph Campbell but I almost felt as if the author missed the point of Campbell’s intense study of mythology and the impact of inspirational myth on cultures down through the ages.

I no longer have Campbell’s classic book, Hero with a Thousand Faces, first published 1949, in my library, but I do have Power of Myth, from the Bill Moyers ' PBS interviews with Campbell. Campbell said, “Even in popular novels, the main character is a hero or heroine who has found or done something beyond the normal range of achievement and experience. A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

When my late husband, Don Pendleton conceived his fictional character, Mack Bolan, forty years ago, he not only put Bolan into a situation of “giving” his life to something LARGER than himself but also to a courageous battle for justice for others. But the writing of the Executioner: Mack Bolan Series went even beyond that with a spiritual, metaphysical element.

Campbell had this to say about the two types of deeds of a hero. “One is the physical deed, in which the hero performs a courageous act in battle or saves a life. The other kind is the spiritual deed, in which the hero learns to experience the supernormal range of human spiritual life and then comes back with a message.” This can be something as simple as taking a journey inward, inside ourselves, emotionally and spiritually, and discovering a strong connection to the Divine, which may result in a new understanding of life, a new purpose, a passion, such as to serve all of humanity in some way, large or small, or to bring positive change.

Most of us grew up with Superman, a fantasy hero, but I believe what has happened in recent years is a “false hero worship.” And that is as a result of the media and the impact celebrity now has on society. Now, youth too often look up to sports figures, singers, and other popular figures who really lack any qualities that should qualify them for heroes.

So where have all the heroes gone?

The heroes of today are people like many during 9-11 or Katrina, who set their own lives aside to save others—or the guy down the street who pulls someone from a burning car or home—or someone who gives a kidney to save a stranger—or anyone we know who may do some courageous act at a time when needed. Heroes are ordinary people, probably flawed and not perfect in all their personality traits, but people who are able to go beyond to do something that makes a difference in the world.

Even those who inspire with words:

“We should always be at war with injustice. Always.” ~Maya Angelou
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” ~Mark Twain
“We can’t all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” ~Will Rogers.

I do agree with Jon that with the several years of corruption, war, and now the failing economy, we do have a need to look up to someone with heroic qualities, and even a fictional hero that will entertain us and take us to an imaginary place and restore our hope. But hey, I am optimistic that better times are ahead.

Joseph Campbell also said we need to get in touch with our “real self.” He stated, “The world is full of people who have stopped listening to themselves or have listened only to their neighbors to learn what they ought to do, how they ought to behave, and what the values are that they should be living for.” And his famous words, “Follow your bliss.”

I’m sure Jon Guenther will come up with a great idea for a new series of books, and with a believable hero. I intended to comment directly on his Blog but I wrote too much for that, so here it is.

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)

~Linda

In-N-Out Burgers Over the Years and Years

Photos from In-N-Out Burger


It all began in Southern California in 1948 with one drive-thru hamburger stand where customers could order through a two-way speaker instead of with car hops that were popular at that time. From the original In-N-Out Burger in Baldwin Park, over sixty years ago, there are now more than 200 stores, and have spread to Northern California, parts of Nevada and Arizona, and it is still the best hamburger, fresh french fries, and shakes to be found.

And I have been eating them for ehh gads…since the opening of that first In-N-Out. In those days our family, Daddy, Mama, Nancy and I, and often Paisano, our dog, would go to In-N-Out about every other Sunday or so, on the Sundays we were having a pot roast (our usual Sunday dinner). Sometimes we would top it off with an ice cream cone from Frosty Freeze. Paisano really liked his cone.

This family owned business was started by Harry and Esther Snyder. Three years later a second store was opened. Their two sons, Guy and Richard learned the family business early on. When Mr. Snyder died in 1976, there were 18 stores.

From their website: Following Mr. Snyder’s death, son “Rich took over as President at the age of 24, and with Guy's help, established a commissary at the Baldwin Park Headquarters. This new facility allowed In-N-Out to have total quality control over all In-N-Out ingredients. In addition, they created the In-N-Out "University", where new managers are trained and the In-N-Out formula for success is consistently reinforced.” The company has also been known to pay their employees a very nice starting pay.

While Richard was President, In-N-Out grew from those 18 locations in 1976 to 93 locations at the time of his death in 1993 in a plane crash, along with four other passengers on approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA. At that time, Guy Snyder became Chairman of the Board and CEO and soon a store was opened out of the Southern California area in Las Vegas, NV, and continued expansion throughout California, Nevada and Arizona. While Guy was Chairman of the Board, In-N-Out grew from 93 locations to 140 at the time of his death in 1999. Co-founder, Esther Snyder continued as President until her death in 2006. At that time, Vice President Mark Taylor (an extended family member) took over. Guy Snyder’s daughter Lynsi, only grandchild of founders Mr. & Mrs. Synder, is owner and heiress.

Their family business philosophy has always been, “Give customers the freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them with friendly service in a sparkling clean environment.” And they have succeeded . Quality is as fine today as it was 60 years ago and as it always has been.

A book is coming out in April about the company by journalist and business writer, Stacy Perman: In-N-Out: A Behind the Counter Look at the Fast Food Chain that Breaks All the Rules. It should be an interesting book on the success of a family-owned business, done without franchising, going public, or changing its menu, and continuing to serve fresh product.

I almost always order the cheeseburger with grilled onions, and fries. Our family always laughs at the times when we’ve been away from In-N-Out and after retuning, the first stop after landing at the airport is In-N-Out. One of our extended family rode his bicycle 135 miles over the mountains from Carson City, Nevada to Auburn, CA for the opening of the Auburn In-N-Out to be first in line for his hamburger. That’s how crazy some of us are for these hamburgers.

And I have a store four miles from me now.

~Linda

Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama and Their Qualities

Since I came to know more about Obama prior to the election I could not help but identify and compare him with Abraham Lincoln. I wasn’t sure why I felt that but I did and even began to wonder about Obama being the reincarnation of our 16th President. Then I also became aware of Obama’s admiration for Lincoln, an admiration that many share, including my own that goes back to when I was young and in elementary school. In this video, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential historian and Pulitzer-Prize winning author of the book on Abraham Lincoln and his administration, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln mentions the kind of serenity and calm that Lincoln had, and that seems to be a trait of Barack Obama’s. I refer to it as the Zen quality of Obama that I resonate with—a coolness, a calmness, a centeredness—to see, observe—to listen. Lincoln had that, and I also like the humor and wit employed by both men.

Lincoln understood the importance of his leadership and I think our new President understands the importance and historic impact of his position in today’s world.

Abraham Lincoln has again been noted as our greatest President by 65 historians. He assumed the Presidency at a time unlike any other in the history of our country, and was able to keep our country as one. Obama faces many challenges but I believe in the long term he will be a positive force, wise leader, for making this a better country.

There is also an interesting interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin by Amazon.com on the above book page link, recorded a few days before the Inauguration.

~Linda

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Abraham Lincoln and William H. Johnson, Citizen

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1809. We have begun a year long celebration of our 16th President, the man who saved the Union. On Bill Moyers Journal, Bill interviewed historian Eric Foner, editor of the book, Our Lincoln: New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World.
Until seeing this program the other night, I had not heard the story about William Johnson, Lincoln’s valet—a Black man who had gone with President Lincoln to Washington from Springfield, Illinois and became President Lincoln's part-time valet and barber, and messenger of the Treasury Department.

In November 1863, Lincoln wrote a note explaining that Johnson would travel with him to Gettysburg for the dedication of the soldiers' cemetery. Mary Lincoln did not accompany the President because their son Tad was ill with smallpox. Following the dedication, Lincoln wrote to Edward Everett who had been a speaker at the dedication, “Our sick boy, for whom you kindly enquired, we hope is past the worst." After delivery of his now famous speech, Lincoln also felt ill and on the return train trip to Washington "lay in a relaxed position with a wet towel across his head," placed there by Johnson.

Upon arrival at the White House, the president was put to bed and his doctor was called, who remarked, "Mr. Lincoln's case is not fully developed yet." With his humor which came forward so often, Lincoln said, "Now let the office-seekers come, for at last I have something I can give all of them." But it is believed he may have given small pox to his valet, or, wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume he may have contacted it when Lincoln did? Johnson died. Lincoln requested that he be buried in what is now called Arlington National Cemetery, and paid for his burial and tombstone, and even took care of a bank loan he had signed for Johnson. The tombstone says, William H. Johnson, Citizen.

It was events such as that which showed the humor, the determination, and compassion of the man who is considered to be our greatest President.

Excerpt from the PBS program:BILL MOYERS: Until I read your book, I had never heard the story of Lincoln and William Johnson. William Johnson was his valet.

ERIC FONER: Uh-huh.

BILL MOYERS: One of the few people who accompanied him from Springfield to Washington when he became president. One of the few, perhaps the only person to actually read a draft of the Gettysburg Address before it was delivered. I didn't know this, that on the way back from Gettysburg, they both came down with small pox.

Lincoln's case was not very serious. But Johnson's was. He became quite ill. During his dying, Lincoln took care of him. When he died [1864], Lincoln ordered that he be buried in Arlington Cemetery. And then he had the inscription on his tombstone read: "William Johnson, citizen."

ERIC FONER: Right. And, you know, that is a wonderful story. Johnson is a black man, of course. And, you know, to say "citizen" meant something more than in a way that one might understand today because it was only a few years before, in 1857, that the Dred Scott decision had ruled, that Chief Justice Taney had said, "No black person can be a citizen of the United States." Only white people can be citizens. So to put "citizen" on this black man's gravestone is a kind of an affirmation of something. It's not just an empty phrase. It's an affirmation that, no, black people can also be citizens.

~Linda

Johnny Cash and Gang

While looking for the Carter Family, Johnny Cash song for my last blog about Bill Moyers, I came across this gospel song they always did. I’d not heard it for a long time, athough I have the full collection of Johnny Cash music. While listening to this one, it is hard to sit still, and not clap...! Great song, great performance.... The whole gang is on this one. Enjoy!

~Linda

Bill Moyers on the Economic Crisis and the Working Man...and Washington

Bill Moyers comments on his recent show...

BILL MOYERS: I had a history professor at the University of Texas - Robert Cotter - who believed the most remarkable quality of Abraham Lincoln was his empathy for people he didn't personally know. The working man. The soldier in battle. His widow and orphans.

Ordinary folks caught in the undertow of events. We could use that kind of empathy today. As Washington obsessed all week over the fate of one nominee to the cabinet, and as we watched hearings about the failure of watchdog agencies going to sleep on the job, we heard almost nothing of the people across the country suffocating in the wreckage of their lives. Some of us born in the Depression still remember the song made famous by the Carter Family singers, called the "Worried Man Blues".

"I went across that river and I lay down to sleep. When I woke up there were shackles on my feet."

The day my father was fired from his job at Manly's Appliance Store, he came walking home as if he had shackles on his feet. I still remember the look on his face. He wasn't yet 50, but had suddenly turned old, the way a lot of people look today who are losing their jobs. Their stomachs are knotted with fear as the life they had come to expect is fading fast. Not because of their own failures but because our political and financial elites rigged the economy for their own advantage.

John F. Kennedy famously said, "Life is unfair," and so it is. But it wouldn't feel as unfair if the shackles wound up instead on the well-heeled feet of Wall Street and Washington's elect. That's the change we need, the change we can really believe in. "

**********

Worried Man Blues, Johnny Cash, Mother Maybelle Carter, June Carter, Helen and Anita.