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Deirdre Toeller's avatar

It is the generation of this little girl's mama who will lead us. We must do our part... in whatever form.... to support and encourage and love them on their way.... Yes, sweet one, there will be symphonies, operas, freedom of expression, and the right to marry the one you love.... again. There will be national parks and, we trust, joy.

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raymond dempsey's avatar

Wow

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Nordskog's avatar

If the beauteous face in utero is a cherished human child to-be (and not just a clump of cells to be aborted) does this mean that you are pro-life now Garrison? I hope so.

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Tom King's avatar

Me too, Nordskog. Others may not.. But there are others who will. Give those-to-be a chance-be a chance. We never know the gift they may be.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

You must also ensure that support exists after birth. This comprises the social programs the oligarchy wants to privatize, and is forcing into failure.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

Third trimester abortion is extremely rare, and then only if mother or fetus are in a failure to thrive medical condition.

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Katy Adams's avatar

One can support women's right to obtain a safe and legal abortion and still marvel at the beauty and miracle of a child in utero. In fact, many of us do.

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Tom King's avatar

I'm now all done with wino and booze. It can hit an old octogenarian pretty hard, and I then become what I'm not. Then, the alcoholic thought and behavior can take me who and where I'm not. Handouts just aren't the answer. But headaches do answer for me, and I ought to know better. They do now.

Sober and sobriety are the answer. Be alert and if you can, smiling at the what the better tomorrow may be. We never know.

Loving one another, even in the womb, is the answer, of course. "Give me a chance," they could say. They might enhance us all.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

Yet are you supporting those that want to tear it all down for their own profit?

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Tom King's avatar

Someone helped each of us be born.

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Tom King's avatar

EACH of us!

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Leila's avatar

Oh, Garrison! Your writings are the only that I can tolerate first thing in the morning…that and a good cup of coffee🤗

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Kate's avatar

I get a ridiculous number of emails every day in spite of my constant efforts at unsubscribing. Many from which I don't unsubscribe just remain unopened, lurking in my inbox, accusing me of neglect and laziness. But, Garrison, your column I open and read right away for that breath of fresh air, that lift of the heart that you always supply. Also, for your voice about the state of the nation, a voice that reaches so many more than my tiny voice, shouting as it is to hoarseness, possibly could, and I thank you.

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Lawrence Phillips's avatar

I have my favorites that I give to, University of Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Wikipedia, and the World War II Museum. I will stick with these, but I think I will try to find another organization to give to that plants seeds for the next generation. Thanks for the thought Garrison.

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Lawrence Phillips's avatar

And by the way, Yosemite and Zion are going nowhere. These areas were created with laws that are very specific and cannot be easily overturned. In other words, they were not created by an interpretation of the law which was weak, such as Roe v. Wade.

In addition to the National Parks that will be around for generations, we also have National Preserves, National Wildlife Refuges, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas (and Rare II areas). National Historic Sites, National Memorials, National Battlefields, National Recreational Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Seashores and Lakeshores, and National Trails (I might have missed a couple....there are so many). The laws that created these areas are very clear and prescriptive. And that is a good thing because it makes it very difficult to undue these areas. On the other hand, making any changes is very hard. So if you wanted to make new a National Park, it is a very rigorous and time and resource consuming process. It is for that reason that presidents take the easy route and just make National Monuments instead. One problem with this, is the next president can just undo what the previous president did.

Pretty like what Trump is doing. But Yosemite and Zion are safe. Along with all the others I listed. Except for National Monuments.

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John's avatar

He is cutting back in the people who keep them all open and safe.

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Nichael Cramer's avatar

While in principle true, it’s useful to bear in mind that your description of the founding of the national parks (“… created with laws that are very specific and cannot be easily overturned”) is also true of Social Security, The Department of Education, The US Post Office, The Consumer Protection Agency, Medicaid, (…take you pick).

Unfortunately it’s starting to appear that under our current regime “Protected by Law” is assumed to be irrelevant, or at least, beside the point. In any case it may not prove to be the protection we have come to believe (and pray) it to be.

This is up to us.

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Lawrence Phillips's avatar

Yeah, had to check out US Public Law 96-88 that creates the Department of Education. Pretty simple language and the Findings and Purpose are very interesting.

Seems like Trump might want to learn about some of the tools at his disposal before throwing them away. And we will see how many actually get thrown away.

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Chip's avatar

National parks are vulnerable. I live just outside of Yellowstone and I can tell you that white bark pine trees, those beautiful high elevation pines that can be over 1,000 years old, are succumbing to blister rust and mountain pine beetles. This is due to milder winters, when it doesn’t get below zero for long enough periods of time to kill off and control the beetle populations. The fungus, blister rust, is not native and has had a devastating effect. Ghost forests of grey-dead trees are now kindling for the next summer’s massive and devastating fires. The white bark pines are a keystone species as they provide a valuable food source for grizzly bears. The Clark’s nutcracker gathers the seeds and stores them in caches, hundreds of thousands of them, becoming food banks for the bears pre-hibernation. These trees are the backbones of their ecosystems. The death of a national park doesn’t need to come from an executive order, but from ignorance and calls to “drill baby, drill”, continuing our dependence on fossil fuels that alter our atmosphere and climate. Trump loves nothing more than to deregulate. The fires will get worse, species will go extinct, and we’ll be left with barren patches of nature for families of the future to drive through, like a fast food restaurant.

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Lawrence Phillips's avatar

Nature changes, adapts and survives. Always. Through ice ages, dinosaur extinctions and would even survive through thermo nuclear war. I think humans are the delicate ones.

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AJ Monteverde's avatar

I look like a pallbearer at my wedding… 😅I doubt that because your columns do delight and inform many.

And the little baby in utero will take the architecture tour around Manhattan because she is all our children…and we will not let our kids down. Thanks again for great perspective.

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Richard Ahern's avatar

You are always good, Mr. Keilor, but some days you are simply luminous.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

Thank you. What an ode to joy. This is the world I want for those who survive me.

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Pat Barrett's avatar

I was going to skip your words today but got hooked when I saw Wabasha St. and panhandler. Why? I didn’t know my father and I had a step-father for about 10 yrs growing up. I remember walking to the movie on Wabasha (with a date) and lo and behold there was my step-dad lying in the entrance of a shop. I said “hi” and kept walking. I lived in the Badlands…not too far from Wabasha St. I loved that neighborhood. It was filled with every culture and religion and many had hardships also. But mostly everyone was cohesive and happy. My life taught me many lessons. Lucky me!

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Donald Mace Williams's avatar

You're a fine, old-fashioned thinker and a damn good writer of what you think. I applaud you and wish you health and pleasure. -- Donald Mace Williams

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Richard Waddell's avatar

Again I say, Thank you! In order to really understand that

'Greatness is good for people once you know what it is,'

it is likewise important to know what it is NOT, especially when

it has been placed on a pedestal. The essence of anything

that is 'great' will always be something positive and simple.

And more, too!

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Graham's avatar

Good podcast but I see you have to throw a little dig into it. One day I will tell you, I told you so.

Have a wonderful weekend and turn your frown upside down for awhile.

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Garrison Keillor's avatar

What is it you most admire about the King of Ratings?

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Jeannine A's avatar

I agree and sincerely would like to know.

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Graham's avatar

I like when he delivers on promises. He is one of very few that actually delivers. I know he likes to embellish and that he has an ego but he is in fact doing things this country has needed for some time. A government that grows with no real control eventually becomes corrupted and will implode just like Rome. Our government has become very corrupted and he is at least working to put some order into it. When you put order into any part of life confusion will show up. You have to keep on putting in order and the confusion will blow off. I hope this helps you understand my viewpoint.

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Garrison Keillor's avatar

I'm amazed to hear the word "order" used to describe the past two months. George Will, a true conservative, describes it as 'theatrics," and Wall treet considers it chaotic.

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Graham's avatar

What do you personally think the goals of this administration are? Were you happy with the previous administration? Why? As far as wall street they are not a very good reference point for me..

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Dana's avatar

This is not a podcast.

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William Case's avatar

"This is not a pipe."

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Caroline Dederich's avatar

A favorite quote to share:

"Mankind will be saved by beauty." Dostoyevsky

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Jeffrey Day's avatar

“The W.R.M.”??

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Ron Hansen's avatar

The World’s Richest Man.

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