Notes From Up-North

I seem to spend more time these days thinking about the world my grandchildren will inherit.  Our family spent years traveling the Boundary Water Canoe area in Northern Minnesota.  I recently discovered this small piece first written in the mid eighties.   Given the recent appearance of a cell phone tower to service BWCA visitors it seems appropriate to share at this time. Wilderness, like a mistress, is an indifferent temptress. She can break your heart, or send your spirit soaring; some are compelled to experience the embrace again and again; some repel in fear. When vistas disappear and eagles are captive, when the wild river is polluted, we lose the balm that heals our psychic wound. Break the rolling mantle of the far hills with a power line, disturb the silence, dam the river's fury and you diminish her essence. Clear-cut the forest, pollute the water, erect the tower and, as in death, her allure is gone. Only the pictures and sweet memories remain, to fade...

  Beneficiary of a 300 hundred year old experiment in self governance, three generations of liberty loving ancestors and a robust liberal education; I set poised awaiting the high probability that I won’t survive the next two presidential terms and I wonder what my grandchildren will muse when they achieve three score and ten. In the early days when I first became aware of the uniqueness of our constitutional form of self governance I took solace knowing for sure that “right will out!” Later I learned and was disturbed that Rome fell after centuries of splendor and I asked myself why? Now I know part of the reason was that citizens’ took much for granted. There was a time when our elected representatives seemed to actually care and act upon what was best for our country. Individuals thrived in personal liberty and took initiative to promote the greater good while advancing personal ambition. The entire nation rose and sacrificed twice to defend our form of self government unique i...