Mark I allotted of my normal 10 minutes to read your column. A hour later I'm still reading -.you have such fascinating and thoughtful content you will be missed. Music is and has been my therapy too. The songwriter sits down and works through an issue and it becomes a song for us to ponder and enjoy. For example the Journey song " Dont Stop Believing" stems from an encouraging comment from the writers father when he young and wasn't sure he was going to make it as a musician. " Don't stop believing, hold on to that feeling " Mark.
Paul -- your comment is so deeply appreciated. I do put effort into this and your kind words actually shocked me. I grew up loving Journey and always thought the lyrics never seemed to just follow the drum machine. Thanks so much for making my day.
A great story about what people can do when they all work together - thank you for the update! However, I think you might be shorting yourself by one article, though. If I remember correctly, you should be up to 215 now? Wow.... I hope you keep writing after this year, I enjoy reading your work. If you do decide to write a book, please let everyone know!
Thanks Jeannine. I think you have been one of my kindest and most consistent readers. When I look at some of the early ones it seems unfair that they count as a post relative to some of the later ones at least in terms of effort I think. I am planning to give some effort to writing a book and hope it comes together. I hope it evolves into something I am proud of. For now I think at MOST my Substack will spawn only a Bookclub review so just a monthly post. I am not sure the book club posts will generate much interest. I will check my archive and update my counts if I got it wrong!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jillian. While most every large and small town centers their summer celebration on the Fourth of July, this is not true in Rosemount. While Independence is acknowledged the fireworks are reserved for Leprechaun Days! I believe JL was critical in the development and fostering of the annual weeklong celebration. I am partial to the bathtub races.
Thanks for commenting Anne. JL was the only interview I ever did in my Substack. I am so glad to have gotten to know him over many years. He is the least likely to seek the spotlight. He seems much more to focus on bringing people together. If the details get squared away before I stop publishing I will share the link to the stream. A small part of the play development was the silent movie development. A large element of the story was to take place in Glacier National Park. In a key scene a car would hurtle over a cliff. The National Park Service would not allow a Hollywood movie to do such a thing in an NP. The movie adapted to some interesting rock formations in the area and eventually dumped a car off of a cliff. JL and a TEAM of the intrepid searched out and found the remnants of the car on some private land just over the border in Wisconsin. They retrieved a rusted out shard of the hood and had it on display during the run of the play.
Now I have to read Sinclair Lewis. Which book would you recommend first? And why didn't Mr. Lewis accept the Pulitzer prize but was okay with the Nobel?
Because I'm obsessed with anti semitism these days I found this: Nobel Laureate Sinclair Lewis wrote, “There is no greater compliment to the Jews than the fact that the degree of their unpopularity is always the scientific measure of the cruelty and silliness of the regime under which they live” (p. 242). The line comes from the book, It Can’t Happen Here, Lewis’ dystopian novel about the rise of American Fascism.
Huge respect here for Mr. Lewis. Anti semitism was rampant back then and being vocal about your hate is back in vogue.
Lewis was the first author to refuse the Pulitzer. He seemed uncomfortable with the political nature of the selection. He had been nominated and removed twice before finally winning in 1926. I have enjoyed the two books I read and will try to read more. I have been saving Free Air because I wanted to see the play my friend created a screenplay for first. I can't remember the title but he wrote about about the confluence of rural life migrating to being involved in science. Right up my alley I think.
I enjoyed Main Street (1920) which was written immediately after Free Air (1919). What is shocking in both the play and the book is how he was creating strong female characters over 100 years ago. Northern Minnesota and the Dakotas were settled almost exclusively by Protestants. When the Klan re-emerged in America (about the same time the statues went up), the Klan was stridently anti-Catholic and Anti-Semitic. A good friend who grew up in the Dakotas (happened to be Jewish) always remarks that the Klan mostly burned crosses for Catholics because there weren't enough Jews to make a movement :) It Can't Happen Here (1935) gained new popularity recently as the country has embraced strident White Nationalism. I think that is why the t-shirt has become a thing again. I fear this movement has not peaked and is strongest in rural areas History repeats itself I am afraid. Free Air is considered one of his lesser works and Babbitt is highly acclaimed. I plan to read all of his books. Part of the appeal is he captures a bit of the idiosyncracy of the Midwestern farm town I think. Our book club has examined the American Fascist movement. I make the same comment each time we read a book of the era. In the 1920s-1940s and the complete failure of capitalism, the whole world picked a dictator. We were simply fortunate to choose who we did. Everywhere else it was hardcore Fascism or Communism which only seemed to vary by the propensity of Christians to prefer Fascism. Some of his writing is a little heavy-handed but in the context of the times was probably amazing.
I will share something with you separately. The re-emergence of the Klan decades after the Civil War was mostly IMO a desire for things not changing and America First stuff. It is disturbing to me how it seems impossible to get people to stop hating the other. I think the rise of the outsized importance assigned to abortion as an issue has brought Catholics (at least the conservative flavor) into connection with other Conservative Christianity. I consider the craziest development resulting is our SCOTUS is now simply full of Jewish or Conservative Catholics as the simple litmus test to decide everything for all of us. I believe that 7/9 SCOTUS members were at least raised Catholics. Only 60 years before the John Birch Society (extremely anti-Catholic) had its spiritual home in Dallas TX. One of the great ironies of the Kennedy assassination was that there were signs all over town hung in Dallas about the necessity to remove the President.
Thanks of the update, Mark. I'd love to have been able to see the play, but you've stimulated my interest in reading Sinclair Lewis. I've heard that quote many times and it has always given me chills--more so these days as it seems to ring truer than ever in our current dysfunctional politics. I will miss your thoughtful posts.
The Rosemount Arts Council is still sorting out the availability of the play online. They actually live-streamed one of the shows. When the stream becomes available if it is before I park this Substack I will share the link. I had never read Sinclair Lewis before the story of this play. I have read a couple of the books since. The stuff I read held up pretty well for being 100 years old.
Mark, thank you for your kind words. I am happy that you emphasized that this was a community project. I need to write a piece with the thesis that someone was watching out for me, aiding me from beyond. From the very conception of the play, everything fell in place. There were probably a dozen steps along the way when if a person or group said no, the play would not have come to fruition. I remain thankful for all those who gave of their time and expertise. I can't forget people like yourself, that continually gave me support and encouragement along my journey. It reminds of the children's book "Little Toot". When one repeatedly hears, "You can do it", it motivates one. It did for me. I shall miss your early morning posts and only hope it takes you along a path of even greater achievement.
Mark I allotted of my normal 10 minutes to read your column. A hour later I'm still reading -.you have such fascinating and thoughtful content you will be missed. Music is and has been my therapy too. The songwriter sits down and works through an issue and it becomes a song for us to ponder and enjoy. For example the Journey song " Dont Stop Believing" stems from an encouraging comment from the writers father when he young and wasn't sure he was going to make it as a musician. " Don't stop believing, hold on to that feeling " Mark.
Paul -- your comment is so deeply appreciated. I do put effort into this and your kind words actually shocked me. I grew up loving Journey and always thought the lyrics never seemed to just follow the drum machine. Thanks so much for making my day.
A great story about what people can do when they all work together - thank you for the update! However, I think you might be shorting yourself by one article, though. If I remember correctly, you should be up to 215 now? Wow.... I hope you keep writing after this year, I enjoy reading your work. If you do decide to write a book, please let everyone know!
Thanks for the correction Jeannine! I did short my effort by one. Updated on the web.
Thanks Jeannine. I think you have been one of my kindest and most consistent readers. When I look at some of the early ones it seems unfair that they count as a post relative to some of the later ones at least in terms of effort I think. I am planning to give some effort to writing a book and hope it comes together. I hope it evolves into something I am proud of. For now I think at MOST my Substack will spawn only a Bookclub review so just a monthly post. I am not sure the book club posts will generate much interest. I will check my archive and update my counts if I got it wrong!
May we all have JL's in our community!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jillian. While most every large and small town centers their summer celebration on the Fourth of July, this is not true in Rosemount. While Independence is acknowledged the fireworks are reserved for Leprechaun Days! I believe JL was critical in the development and fostering of the annual weeklong celebration. I am partial to the bathtub races.
There should be more people like JL. Everyone who participated in that play will likely never forget it.
Thanks for commenting Anne. JL was the only interview I ever did in my Substack. I am so glad to have gotten to know him over many years. He is the least likely to seek the spotlight. He seems much more to focus on bringing people together. If the details get squared away before I stop publishing I will share the link to the stream. A small part of the play development was the silent movie development. A large element of the story was to take place in Glacier National Park. In a key scene a car would hurtle over a cliff. The National Park Service would not allow a Hollywood movie to do such a thing in an NP. The movie adapted to some interesting rock formations in the area and eventually dumped a car off of a cliff. JL and a TEAM of the intrepid searched out and found the remnants of the car on some private land just over the border in Wisconsin. They retrieved a rusted out shard of the hood and had it on display during the run of the play.
Haha amazing!
Now I have to read Sinclair Lewis. Which book would you recommend first? And why didn't Mr. Lewis accept the Pulitzer prize but was okay with the Nobel?
Because I'm obsessed with anti semitism these days I found this: Nobel Laureate Sinclair Lewis wrote, “There is no greater compliment to the Jews than the fact that the degree of their unpopularity is always the scientific measure of the cruelty and silliness of the regime under which they live” (p. 242). The line comes from the book, It Can’t Happen Here, Lewis’ dystopian novel about the rise of American Fascism.
Huge respect here for Mr. Lewis. Anti semitism was rampant back then and being vocal about your hate is back in vogue.
Lewis was the first author to refuse the Pulitzer. He seemed uncomfortable with the political nature of the selection. He had been nominated and removed twice before finally winning in 1926. I have enjoyed the two books I read and will try to read more. I have been saving Free Air because I wanted to see the play my friend created a screenplay for first. I can't remember the title but he wrote about about the confluence of rural life migrating to being involved in science. Right up my alley I think.
I enjoyed Main Street (1920) which was written immediately after Free Air (1919). What is shocking in both the play and the book is how he was creating strong female characters over 100 years ago. Northern Minnesota and the Dakotas were settled almost exclusively by Protestants. When the Klan re-emerged in America (about the same time the statues went up), the Klan was stridently anti-Catholic and Anti-Semitic. A good friend who grew up in the Dakotas (happened to be Jewish) always remarks that the Klan mostly burned crosses for Catholics because there weren't enough Jews to make a movement :) It Can't Happen Here (1935) gained new popularity recently as the country has embraced strident White Nationalism. I think that is why the t-shirt has become a thing again. I fear this movement has not peaked and is strongest in rural areas History repeats itself I am afraid. Free Air is considered one of his lesser works and Babbitt is highly acclaimed. I plan to read all of his books. Part of the appeal is he captures a bit of the idiosyncracy of the Midwestern farm town I think. Our book club has examined the American Fascist movement. I make the same comment each time we read a book of the era. In the 1920s-1940s and the complete failure of capitalism, the whole world picked a dictator. We were simply fortunate to choose who we did. Everywhere else it was hardcore Fascism or Communism which only seemed to vary by the propensity of Christians to prefer Fascism. Some of his writing is a little heavy-handed but in the context of the times was probably amazing.
You're a wealth of info. I had no idea that the Klan hated Catholics too. Who did they like?
I will share something with you separately. The re-emergence of the Klan decades after the Civil War was mostly IMO a desire for things not changing and America First stuff. It is disturbing to me how it seems impossible to get people to stop hating the other. I think the rise of the outsized importance assigned to abortion as an issue has brought Catholics (at least the conservative flavor) into connection with other Conservative Christianity. I consider the craziest development resulting is our SCOTUS is now simply full of Jewish or Conservative Catholics as the simple litmus test to decide everything for all of us. I believe that 7/9 SCOTUS members were at least raised Catholics. Only 60 years before the John Birch Society (extremely anti-Catholic) had its spiritual home in Dallas TX. One of the great ironies of the Kennedy assassination was that there were signs all over town hung in Dallas about the necessity to remove the President.
Thanks of the update, Mark. I'd love to have been able to see the play, but you've stimulated my interest in reading Sinclair Lewis. I've heard that quote many times and it has always given me chills--more so these days as it seems to ring truer than ever in our current dysfunctional politics. I will miss your thoughtful posts.
The Rosemount Arts Council is still sorting out the availability of the play online. They actually live-streamed one of the shows. When the stream becomes available if it is before I park this Substack I will share the link. I had never read Sinclair Lewis before the story of this play. I have read a couple of the books since. The stuff I read held up pretty well for being 100 years old.
Mark, thank you for your kind words. I am happy that you emphasized that this was a community project. I need to write a piece with the thesis that someone was watching out for me, aiding me from beyond. From the very conception of the play, everything fell in place. There were probably a dozen steps along the way when if a person or group said no, the play would not have come to fruition. I remain thankful for all those who gave of their time and expertise. I can't forget people like yourself, that continually gave me support and encouragement along my journey. It reminds of the children's book "Little Toot". When one repeatedly hears, "You can do it", it motivates one. It did for me. I shall miss your early morning posts and only hope it takes you along a path of even greater achievement.
There were so many moving parts to the play John. A remarkable team effort. The writing was fun. I want to stop while it still is.