I will be driving two hours across Indiana from my home tonight to see you in Wabash. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to see you perform again after the last couple of crazy years, and almost scared by husband to death with my hooting and hollering when I saw that you were going to be a mere two hours away! I will sing along with America and It Is Well with my happiest, sincerest voice. Thanks for the terrific stories and fantastic memories, Mr. K. You’re making one midwestern lady’s day by coming to Wabash.
Good one. My thoughts exactly. Per the pics at the bottom....
I remember Joel Mabus at the earliest of early beginnings, sitting there in Elderly Instruments, located in the basement of a bland commercial strip in East Lansing. He was self consciously plunking away and nervously looking up occasionally to see if he was bothering anyone.
And now...He's Joel Mabus, confidently enjoying his lifetime of hard work. It's pretty cool.
The ruling was decided on party lines. Will future court cases determine your guilt or innocence based on your political affiliation and the political majority of the jury?
R v W was a reasonable Solomon like ruling well grounded in practices by folks over the centuries. But it satisfied no one with extreme views. Maybe the court did the right thing.
I am also sad to hear about what the Supremes are up to. But it really is not a surprise and we can expect much more bad news in the coming months and years. All of the people who want to undue the civil rights and human rights advances will be looking to bring every lawsuit that they can think of in order to give the Supreme Court the chance to take us back to the 1920's and the 1880's in a legal, social, political, and every other sense.
But this has been in process for a long time and it is surprising that so many smart people seem surprised by what has happened.
In 2010, about 1,000 Democratic seats in state legislatures were lost and many of those seats have never been won back. That is why the republicans can gerrymander many state legislative districts and Congressional districts. In most states the state legislature does the redistricting after the census and also passes laws related to elections and voting. When the Democrats lost control of many state legislatures, that was a real blow.
Then in 2016, many Democratic women said that they could see no difference between Donald and Ms. Clinton. Many decided to stay home on election day. Well, the difference is playing out as we watch. Gorsuch, Kavannagh, and Barrett would not be on the court if Ms. Clinton had won.
Maybe the activities of the Federal Courts will cause the progressives, liberals, and Democrats to take politics seriously and start showing up on election day.
Some states such as Alabama are hopelessly red; but there are some states where voting and political activity could make a big difference. Elections do make a difference.
Best wishes Garrison and best wishes to one and all.
So many people have not been paying attention. The numbers of people who aren't even aware of the abortion restrictions being passed in their states are astounding.
Take a look at what PEW has to say about this matter that really matters. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/05/06/americas-abortion-quandary/. The abortion issue is a very sticky wicket, as our Brit friends would say. Opinions are more complex than the screamers on both sides would have us believe. The problem with Justice Blackmun's argument in Roe-Wade is the biology. It's faulty. No one can precisely point to when the fetus is human and when it's not.
This issue of the "when" of fetal humanity is critical. To misjudge is to kill our own kind at worst and destroy the non-human fetus at best. Or should that conclusion be turned around? We truly need a better answer than what passes now. How can the fetus be human in one state and not another? The fetus has its own DNA and is meant to result in a new person, like each of us.
The Court needs a better definition of where fetal humanity lies. Is it when the mother says it is? Is it 24 weeks? Is it at conception? Is it full-term with a mother's changed mind?There has to be a better answer than the confusion we have now. A few thousand years ago, King Solomon had a decision on whose baby was whose, and his decision resolved it. Can our nine wise Justices find an answer? If only....
How amazing that such passion and moral fervor is spent on abortion but the Affordable Care Act, devised to provide more people health care, is seen as an abomination. How many lives could be saved by providing medical care to people who otherwise would not know they have high cholesterol or high blood pressure and would therefore die earlier than they would otherwise? How fortunate are we who can afford annual checkups and the drugs to prevent illness and death. To think that a Supreme Court shrewd decision saved the ACA from being struck down. We are a weird country.
Yes yes yes. Medicine has made enormous strides in the past few decades, in part thanks to government investment in research. These advances should be made broadly available.
The sperm also has its own DNA and we do not hesitate to destroy billions of those, all of which were created for an act designed to result in new person(s).
Think of the trillions of little lives that could be saved every hour if our fundamentalist Supreme Court would only open its eyes to this sinful truth. 😉
Billy Joel had a point. New York, Wabash—any place that exudes a sense of place, really, is a state of mind. There would be no Supremes, no politicians allowed in my state of mind. I would grant you a visa, though.
enjoyed this column. depressed about the troglodytes in the Supreme Court, and their willful arbitrary decision as to what is "wrongly decided", despite it being upheld multiple times by other very smart people. thanks for your column today
It was nice to learn that you will be performing at the restored Eagles theater in Wabash, Indiana, this evening. As you pointed out, Wabash, like my hometown, North Manchester, a few miles to the north, has done an excellent job of restoring the downtown area. They've also restored the 1950's drive-in to the north of town.
As a small boy in the 1950's, Wabash always seemed like the "big city". I remember that the Eagles theater featured a film in the late 1950's called "Trapeze" starring Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, and Gina Lollobrigida. And it was at the Honeywell Center in town that I attended a performance by Gene Autry and Pat Buttram featuring Gene's famous horse, "Champion". All of this was pretty hot stuff for a twelve year old.
I envy you having gotten to see Gene and Pat and Champion. I loved his radio show and I think I still know "Back In The Saddle Again." Maybe I'll see if the audience knows it tonight.
I fear for the next generation of women who must keep fighting a battle they seemed destined to lose to the close-mindedness of those with an entitled sense of their own religious superiority, and the politicians who embrace them as their special voter base.
Interesting column that was really quite nuanced. I don't agree with much of what you say but I like the way you say it. The decision simply allows states to decide the matter for themselves. It doesn't do away with anything. If this topic is such a slam dunk as to how most people think, what are you worried about? Great opportunity to mention the bogey man Trump yet again though.
It would "simply" allow the states to decide for themselves for now, but if the insurrectionist and antidemocratic GO-QAnon-P wins control of Congress and the presidency, it will try to pass a national abortion ban (not hesitating to use a filibuster carve-out to do so), and then move on to other bans following the same logic.
Sorry, but I would never be reassured by a self-described "burgeoning totalitarian" who has accused Garrison Keillor of denigrating good, hardworking, conservative white people in almost every column. You aren't a conservative, but rather a member of the QAnon Party. Conservatives don't support insurrection.
Might want to read my comment again. No one is banning abortion. Abortion is a terrible thing nonetheless, on that I think we agree. States get to decide and this is a Constitutional interpretation despite your readiness to vilify people who think differently than you. Abortion will always be with us for better or worse. For me it is worse, but again, no one will mandating on end of anything. Pretty clear…
Reading this is like finding a lost Christmas present that somehow got hidden in the holiday decorations and stored in the attic. You open it to find a comfortable garment made of 100% pure nostalgia. You wrap it around yourself and contentment fills your soul.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness around a difficult, very private subject. Would that the Supremes listened to you
Love your words. As always. Refreshing start to my day.
I will be driving two hours across Indiana from my home tonight to see you in Wabash. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to see you perform again after the last couple of crazy years, and almost scared by husband to death with my hooting and hollering when I saw that you were going to be a mere two hours away! I will sing along with America and It Is Well with my happiest, sincerest voice. Thanks for the terrific stories and fantastic memories, Mr. K. You’re making one midwestern lady’s day by coming to Wabash.
Warmest Regards ~ Abigail
Good one. My thoughts exactly. Per the pics at the bottom....
I remember Joel Mabus at the earliest of early beginnings, sitting there in Elderly Instruments, located in the basement of a bland commercial strip in East Lansing. He was self consciously plunking away and nervously looking up occasionally to see if he was bothering anyone.
And now...He's Joel Mabus, confidently enjoying his lifetime of hard work. It's pretty cool.
The ruling was decided on party lines. Will future court cases determine your guilt or innocence based on your political affiliation and the political majority of the jury?
R v W was a reasonable Solomon like ruling well grounded in practices by folks over the centuries. But it satisfied no one with extreme views. Maybe the court did the right thing.
no, they deny women the right to make their own decisions about their lives. The court did not include women at all in it's decision. it was wrong.
I am also sad to hear about what the Supremes are up to. But it really is not a surprise and we can expect much more bad news in the coming months and years. All of the people who want to undue the civil rights and human rights advances will be looking to bring every lawsuit that they can think of in order to give the Supreme Court the chance to take us back to the 1920's and the 1880's in a legal, social, political, and every other sense.
But this has been in process for a long time and it is surprising that so many smart people seem surprised by what has happened.
In 2010, about 1,000 Democratic seats in state legislatures were lost and many of those seats have never been won back. That is why the republicans can gerrymander many state legislative districts and Congressional districts. In most states the state legislature does the redistricting after the census and also passes laws related to elections and voting. When the Democrats lost control of many state legislatures, that was a real blow.
Then in 2016, many Democratic women said that they could see no difference between Donald and Ms. Clinton. Many decided to stay home on election day. Well, the difference is playing out as we watch. Gorsuch, Kavannagh, and Barrett would not be on the court if Ms. Clinton had won.
Maybe the activities of the Federal Courts will cause the progressives, liberals, and Democrats to take politics seriously and start showing up on election day.
Some states such as Alabama are hopelessly red; but there are some states where voting and political activity could make a big difference. Elections do make a difference.
Best wishes Garrison and best wishes to one and all.
So many people have not been paying attention. The numbers of people who aren't even aware of the abortion restrictions being passed in their states are astounding.
Take a look at what PEW has to say about this matter that really matters. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/05/06/americas-abortion-quandary/. The abortion issue is a very sticky wicket, as our Brit friends would say. Opinions are more complex than the screamers on both sides would have us believe. The problem with Justice Blackmun's argument in Roe-Wade is the biology. It's faulty. No one can precisely point to when the fetus is human and when it's not.
This issue of the "when" of fetal humanity is critical. To misjudge is to kill our own kind at worst and destroy the non-human fetus at best. Or should that conclusion be turned around? We truly need a better answer than what passes now. How can the fetus be human in one state and not another? The fetus has its own DNA and is meant to result in a new person, like each of us.
The Court needs a better definition of where fetal humanity lies. Is it when the mother says it is? Is it 24 weeks? Is it at conception? Is it full-term with a mother's changed mind?There has to be a better answer than the confusion we have now. A few thousand years ago, King Solomon had a decision on whose baby was whose, and his decision resolved it. Can our nine wise Justices find an answer? If only....
How amazing that such passion and moral fervor is spent on abortion but the Affordable Care Act, devised to provide more people health care, is seen as an abomination. How many lives could be saved by providing medical care to people who otherwise would not know they have high cholesterol or high blood pressure and would therefore die earlier than they would otherwise? How fortunate are we who can afford annual checkups and the drugs to prevent illness and death. To think that a Supreme Court shrewd decision saved the ACA from being struck down. We are a weird country.
ACA should be available to all in need.
Yes yes yes. Medicine has made enormous strides in the past few decades, in part thanks to government investment in research. These advances should be made broadly available.
The sperm also has its own DNA and we do not hesitate to destroy billions of those, all of which were created for an act designed to result in new person(s).
Think of the trillions of little lives that could be saved every hour if our fundamentalist Supreme Court would only open its eyes to this sinful truth. 😉
Billy Joel had a point. New York, Wabash—any place that exudes a sense of place, really, is a state of mind. There would be no Supremes, no politicians allowed in my state of mind. I would grant you a visa, though.
enjoyed this column. depressed about the troglodytes in the Supreme Court, and their willful arbitrary decision as to what is "wrongly decided", despite it being upheld multiple times by other very smart people. thanks for your column today
Please keep on keeping on.
It was nice to learn that you will be performing at the restored Eagles theater in Wabash, Indiana, this evening. As you pointed out, Wabash, like my hometown, North Manchester, a few miles to the north, has done an excellent job of restoring the downtown area. They've also restored the 1950's drive-in to the north of town.
As a small boy in the 1950's, Wabash always seemed like the "big city". I remember that the Eagles theater featured a film in the late 1950's called "Trapeze" starring Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, and Gina Lollobrigida. And it was at the Honeywell Center in town that I attended a performance by Gene Autry and Pat Buttram featuring Gene's famous horse, "Champion". All of this was pretty hot stuff for a twelve year old.
Hope that the show goes well this evening.
I envy you having gotten to see Gene and Pat and Champion. I loved his radio show and I think I still know "Back In The Saddle Again." Maybe I'll see if the audience knows it tonight.
I fear for the next generation of women who must keep fighting a battle they seemed destined to lose to the close-mindedness of those with an entitled sense of their own religious superiority, and the politicians who embrace them as their special voter base.
Interesting column that was really quite nuanced. I don't agree with much of what you say but I like the way you say it. The decision simply allows states to decide the matter for themselves. It doesn't do away with anything. If this topic is such a slam dunk as to how most people think, what are you worried about? Great opportunity to mention the bogey man Trump yet again though.
It would "simply" allow the states to decide for themselves for now, but if the insurrectionist and antidemocratic GO-QAnon-P wins control of Congress and the presidency, it will try to pass a national abortion ban (not hesitating to use a filibuster carve-out to do so), and then move on to other bans following the same logic.
Dana, you seem to have quite an active imagination. Take a deep breath, conservatives are people just like you.
Sorry, but I would never be reassured by a self-described "burgeoning totalitarian" who has accused Garrison Keillor of denigrating good, hardworking, conservative white people in almost every column. You aren't a conservative, but rather a member of the QAnon Party. Conservatives don't support insurrection.
Whatever you say Dana. You seem to be an expert on a wide variety of topics.
Not by a long shot. But I do believe strongly in liberty and justice for ALL.
Have you considered a career in comedy? Just kidding, I wish you well.
He appointed those three justices that make it a majority. "Doesn't do away with anything"??? Really?
Might want to read my comment again. No one is banning abortion. Abortion is a terrible thing nonetheless, on that I think we agree. States get to decide and this is a Constitutional interpretation despite your readiness to vilify people who think differently than you. Abortion will always be with us for better or worse. For me it is worse, but again, no one will mandating on end of anything. Pretty clear…
"Vilify?" Me? Oh dear.
Shocking I realize… 🤔
dI'm from Minnesota to ya know; ya ya and I think you missed a page----beginning in 1973. J. Wylie
Reading this is like finding a lost Christmas present that somehow got hidden in the holiday decorations and stored in the attic. You open it to find a comfortable garment made of 100% pure nostalgia. You wrap it around yourself and contentment fills your soul.