Yosemite

On this date in 1864, 150 years ago, President Lincoln signed a bill that would change the way the nation viewed the natural landscape.  The San Jose Mercury News, would go further, claiming that the signing of this one bill “changed America’s landscape forever.”  What event would have occurred that would cause a newspaper to make such a large claim?  It was signing of the Yosemite Grant Act.  Of course, when one thinks of our national parks, Yosemite is probably second on the list to the first national park, Yellowstone, which was created by act of Congress and signed by President Grant on 1 March 1872.

  

Congressional Record regarding Preservation of Yosemite

But, it was this event 150 years ago, while not setting forth a system of national parks, did preserve a large area of land for posterity.  While General Grant was involved in the apparently never ending siege of Petersburg on this date 150 years ago, President Lincoln would find time from his constant monitoring of the war, to sign this one act of preservation. Lincoln was inspired by early photographs and paintings of the granite cliffs and the waterfalls of the area so much that he took it upon himself to see it preserved.  This land grant, or piece of legislation, provided California with 39,000 acres of the Yosemite Valley and the nearby Mariposa Big Tree Grove "upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation."  Yosemite would be overrun with visitors and become a must see destination.  Famed Naturalist John Muir, who spent much of his youth near Portage, WI, first visited Yosemite in October 1869, would return in 1889 and declare it deteriorated, and in need of restoration and protection.  Within 24 years of its land grant, humans had such an effect on the area that it was in need of restoration.  It would be declared a national park in 1890. 

John Muir

Of interest is that it was a war that helped bring the beauty of Yosemite to the forefront.  A battle to suppress Indian uprisings took place in the 1850’s, near the height of the Gold rush brought the area to the attention of a physician.  Dr.Lafayette Bunnell, who was attached to the Mariposa battalion, who would give the name Yosemite to the area, and write a book titled:  The Discovery of the Yosemite.  The area, however, was first settled about 3000 years ago, although it is thought the first humans first saw the area 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. 

Sequoia Redwood

150 years after its first recognition, Yosemite is undergoing a restoration to remove cars and associated noise and clutter from Mariposa Grove.  Mariposa Grove was one of the reasons for its original designation, but as always American’s want things close and to prefer to not have to walk, so a parking lot was put next to the grove.  Human impact has extended beyond pavement, as hiking trails have compacted the ground so much that new seedlings cannot sprout. 

 

A Yosemite waterfall

As we look to celebrate July 4 at the end of this week, let us recall that the freedom provided by the nation needs to be coupled with responsibility.  A responsibility of conservation to wisely use the resources provided, a responsibility to recognize the rights of those who follow, and a responsibility to recognize a goal to leave a place better than in which it was found.  The desire for natural beauty and natural resources is not just desired by us today, but by future generations as well.  Abraham Lincoln recognized this, and so should we. While I have never been to Yosemite, I someday hope to. On 4 July, when you are having your beer and bratwurst, think of the act President Lincoln signed on this date preserving an aspect of our nation for posterity. 

Where have all the Millenials Gone

What is an economic engine and on what does it depend?  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has been attempting, for nearly four years, to figure out the best answers to that question. He will well miss his promised target of having created 250,000 jobs in four years.  Although, one has to realize that promise is a good example of political hubris.  It had little basis in reality four years ago, and it would not be realistic today. Politifact, an arm of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, notes that over 21,000 jobs a month must be created over the next seven months for him to meet his target.   Politifact seems to think it interesting, but is really simple math, that the number since the end of May is almost twice that number in January.  When you have lukewarm job creation, and that is being generous, and the time for creating the jobs is cut almost in half, this is a result you would expect.  Politifact does say, that at least through May, private sector job creation in Wisconsin had reached 102,013 since the Governor took office. 

This would seemingly show that his “Open for business” slogan has not produced results even though the state continues to throw money after almost any business.  This includes an existing business where they only  have to say they were looking at an out of state site, and hard-earned tax payer money is thrown their way.  Corporate welfare at its best.  Interestingly, how those who claim the free market, and desire little government are their first in hand for the hand-out. A handout is not the free market at work.  But, back to the key point of this post.  Forbes Magazine (on-line) ranks Wisconsin as 41^st as a best state for business.  This, even though in their six subcategories, the state’s lowest ranking is 39 (labor supply), it highest 15 (quality of life), and the other four are in the thirties.  By contrast, neighboring Minnesota, who Marshall Erickson, a fictional character on a TV sitcom once said something to the affect that but for their manners, a Minnesotan would be no different than someone from Wisconsin.  Minnesota ranks 8^th for business on the Forbes list, just below the power house state of Texas.  Minnesota’s lowest rank in the subcategories is 34, its highest (quality of life) is 5.  Forbes notes that Minnesota growth is powered by the twin cities of St Paul and Minneapolis, which is really the metropolitan region, as neither city is highly populated.  62% of the population of Minnesota lives in the twin cities region. 

Does business attract talent, or does talent attract business?  Most recently it seems more the former than the latter.  For example, The University of Wisconsin is regarded as one of the nation’s premier universities in producing high quality graduates for high-technology fields, particularly in the bio-sciences.  Morris Davis, a Professor of Real Estate at the UW, and former advisor to Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, has produced some interesting figures on demographic and educational movement.  Using the American Community Survey data from 2008 to 2012 Davis produced figures which should give pause to Scott Walker.  For all age cohorts, the net migration of population (those moving in and those moving out of the state) for Wisconsin saw a net  loss of 10,932 persons.  Given our northern climate, one would think it to be the ever present and discussed snow-bird.  But it is not.  Two population cohorts making up ages 21—29 and having at least a college degree, saw a net migration out of Wisconsin of 8,720, or almost 80% of the total net loss.  When you add in the net loss in the next five year cohort (30-34), ages 21—34 make up near 87% of the total. 

So where do they go?  For ages 21—39 the top four states were Texas, Missouri, California, and Minnesota.  Texas, by far, grabs the most in that age group.  More interesting is the probability of a move as he identified in the following chart:

Source:  Morris Davis, UW, Feb 2014, accessed on-line from CARPC website

Can a state continue to lose almost 1/4 of its young well educated population, and remain healthy?  One dangerous way to look at data is does it fit anecdotal evidence or qualitatively.  In this case, anecdotal evidence is similar, if not worse, than projected.  As one anecdotal example, let us take a look at the 16 persons who make up my two children and their 14 cousins.  Of this 16, six live out of state, and a seventh will be moving out of state with her husband, so let us say seven.  Six of the seven have at least a Bachelor’s degree.  Four have full time occupations currently out of state, one is pursuing an advanced degree, one is a stay-at-home mother, and the other is moving with her husband.  Of the remaining nine who are in-state, six are in registered for the fall semester at UW or in  high school.  That leaves three who are employed, and of those three one has at least a bachelor’s degree.  Of the number out of state two will be in Texas, and one in Minnesota.  None in California, or Missouri.  The one with a college degree remaining in state is employed in one of the state's economic engines, at least according to Forbes magazine—health care.

This drain poses implications for the state in the long-term.  College graduates, it has been shown, earn higher salaries, which means more purchasing power, which in turn drives the economy of the state.  One would also expect them to pay more in taxes, raising state revenues.  The state needs a strategy to assist in finding sectors of the economy to keep the young millennial talent at home.  If the situation gets worse, it does not portend well for the economic health, nor well-being, of the Wisconsin.  St Croix County, next to Minnesota and only a half hour or so ride to the twin cities, is one of the fastest growing regions in the state, but unfortunately, much of its new growth is driven by jobs in Minnesota.  Demographics play a large role in what occurs in the developed world and politicians need to educate themselves so as to avoid making silly promises.  On the other hand, does any really believe a promise made by a politician?  

Fe-fi-fo-fum...

…I smell the blood of Englishman.  Most of us recall the words from the children’s tale, “Jack in the Beanstalk.”  In World Cup action today, perhaps that was the tune running through the minds of the Uruguay futball (soccer) players, and their fans.  If anything it seems that this World Cup is, so far, different from those in the recent past.  A few examples of this come to mind.  First, 60 goals have been scored in the first 20 games this year compared to 38 four years ago.  The next closest total in the past five tournaments was in 2002 when 51 were scored.  Perhaps futball is taking a page from American football and utilizing the soccer version of the spread offense. I do not want to take anything away from Uruguay, nor do I know much about soccer, but when you have that increase in offensive production and power house England losing to a team from South America, it may be near home-field advantage, or the strategy used, but to me it was a remarkable outcome.  Lou Holtz once said that the spread offense has the ability to make a team not near as talented compete with a more talented team—it levels the playing field.  Perhaps some similar soccer strategy works the same way.  I am sure the soccer aficionados that read this post may be able to enlighten me.  Second, through the first 20 games six teams who scored the first goal have gone on to lose.  Of the past five such tournaments, two was the next highest.  Finally, the Iberian Peninsula, often a powerhouse, is reeling with defending world champion Spain having been eliminated in the early going, and Portugal, with one of the greatest players in the world, licking their wounds after having lost to the Germans 4 – 0. Perhaps they will gain some redemption against the US on Sunday, but yet the fans on that European appendage cannot be feeling good about themselves—just like the fans of the island nation off the west coast of France.  Let us just hope there are no riots today in England.

 

While Uruguay smelled the blood of an Englishman, the tale in the United States is a rather different story, …fe-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of German mum.  The US not only has a German born coach who is married to an American, but he has recruited heavily from Germany finding five German-American’s, (are they known in Germany as American-Germans?)  who have strong ties to Germany to play for the US squad.  All have German mothers, and American fathers, with the father at one point worked in Germany, often in the military.  I believe “Sports Illustrated” has noted that in all but one case the father was essentially out of the picture and they were raised substantially in Germany by their mother.  If they were born in the US perhaps they would be playing football, or baseball, or basketball, but growing up in Germany they became a cog in the great German soccer machine.  One cannot think of Germany but in any other way than a machine.  When people talk of love, they may refer to Italy or France, but seldom Germany.  Three of the Germans, SI notes, made significant contributions to the US victory over Ghana. 

 

I am sure many gifted athletes in the US could play soccer, but at this point it is a second rung sport.  Demographics may change that as the US becomes more “brown” due to immigration and the higher birth rates of Latino Americans.  They too love the sport of soccer, although they do not seem to have a strong presence on the American squad, someday that may change.  The US does need to develop more local talent, but for now it has a heavy reliance on those with joint heritage.  And, yes because they have a father who is a citizen of the US they too are a US citizen.  Are they really Americans from a cultural sense is a different matter.  Although we know the US is like a stew—part melting pot, but part where cultures maintain aspects of their heritage (like potatoes and carrots in a stew).  It is one generally unique aspect of the United States, and one to be treasured not avoided.  Most all of us are products of immigration.

 

Perhaps the best thing about the World Cup, was expressed by a sibling, who with his family is enjoying some time in Brazil enjoying three World Cup games.  It is the ability to mix with, enjoy and feel the benefits of the people with different heritages who came to cheer on their team, and who bring a zest to doing so.  I am sure my brother, his wife and two daughters are being the good Americans that people from other cultures can enjoy as well.  I can attest to what he means as just over a year ago on a pilgrimage to Israel, Palestine and Jordan, also present there was a unique sense of pilgrims from a variety of cultures all their for the same purpose; yes it is similar to the World Cup—a group of people from different cultures there for a specific purpose.  The world is seeing much strife, but this seems to be common through world history, yet small events can draw the world together, this is hoping the World Cup accomplishes more than producing a winning team and that a greater world good leaves in the hearts of the participants.  Although if you are a fan of Spain, you will have to dig awfully deep.

Note:  All images from Google images

D-Day

While many will recall the D-Day invasion on its 70th anniversary, the focus of those thoughts will on the brave men who stormed the beaches and made headway into Nazi occupied France.  This was the most visible and most harrowing aspect of the invasion, but seldom recognized is  the logistical work and preparation that went in to retaining secrecy, while at the same time getting together arms, material, men, and ships to supply the largest modern-time invasion force.  How does one keep such a secret? Who worked behind the scenes to assure secrecy and the element of surprise?  It was a multi-pronged effort.  There was of course misleading, really false, material put out by the allies to create a diversion, the landing sites would not normally be considered as a location to mount a successful invasion, and of course the whole dummy division set up in another part of England with the auspices that it would be the invasion force, with General Patton as its commanding general, made up of inflatable rubber tanks, jeeps and the like, German intelligence fell for the ruse.  However, there are back stories that should not be forgotten.  The old saying goes that an army runs on its stomach, the men at the front are only one integral cog in a large wheel to a successful operation.  Others may not have been on the front line but their contributions were also important to the functioning of a well-kept secret operation.  I wish to recount two stories passed down through oral tradition.  Both involve Technical Sergeant Roy B. Hovel.

Roy Hovel, WWII photo

Entering the service as a private, and a recent law school graduate Hovel was drafted inducted in the Army in the summer of 1942.  Showing that the army has at least some level of intelligence, he would be sent for training in counter intelligence work, earning the rank of Corporal and later Technical Sergeant.  The dummy army division, and its rubber tanks were the result of army intelligence, but it was the little known Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) with the work of assuring no double agents, no spies, and no release of information dealing with the invasion. 

Yet, the first story begins well before the invasion.  Even though the decision to invade was made at the conference in Tehran, which would set forth the power of the Soviet Union and United States over the colonial interests and power of Britain, planning for such an event was long occurring. Before heading overseas, T Sgt Hovel was assigned for duty in the homeland, most often Detroit, and did investigation during the Detroit race riots in that World War II era.  But he also interviewed persons who had family, friends or had been in Europe or parts of Germany.  With an army marching on its stomach advance planners knew that good quality ports would be necessary following the invasion to supply the literally tons and tons of material that would be required to supply so huge an army.  This was not their grandfather’s army of the Spanish American war.  Instead of horses, which were not uncommon in the German Army, the US Army was heavily mechanized, perhaps too much so, and it depended upon machine, parts, and fuel to make its advance.  T Sgt Hovel would interview a man who had recent photographs of what would become one or two key ports on the French coast for the invasion.  This information would assist in preparation for securing and converting the ports to American and allied ships and their container systems.

Yet there is another story, perhaps more critical to the success of the invasion operation.  When sent overseas Hovel would be assigned to the camps and groupings related to the collection of soldiers and equipment for the invasion.  Specifically, however, was one day.  Loading over 150,000 men and supplies did not happen in one day, which may have been obvious even to the Germans.  After troops cleared quarters, part of the duty of the CIC field operations was to search through the quarters of every man who had to vacate the quarters for ships in the English Channel to discern what they may have left behind, that could be valuable if it fell in the wrong hands, or perhaps even clues as to whether information had been passed on.  Many an advantage has been obtained, or disadvantage felt, through the recovery (or loss) of a little known piece of information.  This seemingly thankless job would was not as unimportant as it may seem to us 70 years later.  T Sgt Hovel was going through the quarters of a general, who had just left to join the invasion force on a ship, when he came across a large binder or document titled Top Secret, Operation Overlord.  Today Operation Overlord is commonly known as the name for the D-Day invasion operation.  An operation to not only load ships with men and equipment, but the intended landing areas, and details of the plan of invasion, methods of driving out he occupiers.  Men would risk their lives, and it was on this invasion plan which Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force, General Dwight Eisenhower, had banked the D for Decision, and the allied success of the war, but back then the Technical Sergeant would not have recognized it being the title of the invasion.

Without looking through the large document he presented it to his superior officer.  With the ship on which the general had boarded having disembarked from the shore, the powers that be decided that his having left the whole document relating to the invasion plan in his quarters was egregious enough to warrant removal.  The general would be pulled off the ship and sent stateside.  So, for a brief point in time T Sgt Hovel held in his hands one of the most important documents of WWII. Some historians say that the D-Day invasion was the pivotal point of the twentieth century.  Yet, to Roy Hovel it was not as important as the ten children he would hold in those burly farm-hewn hands in his later years. Nonetheless, it is a small aspect of history.  As noted, something seemingly obscure or small often gives the advantage or disadvantage.  The world may be a different place today if that document had fallen into the hands of the Germans.  Efforts of those behind the scenes may not be filled with the adventure and loss of those on the front lines, but that does not mean they were not important to the effort.  Just ask the guy who had the job to make the coffee and peel the potatoes.

A Good Soul

It was on this date, 51 years ago the soul of a good man passed from this earth to the heavens.  Angelo Roncalli, most recently canonized and now better known as Saint John XXIII, left this earth at 7:49 p.m during that cold war era.  Death came at the Vatican which is surrounded by the Eternal City.  He was born at 10:15 am in Sotto il Monte, a small village about ten miles from Bergamo, Italy.  He would be the first born son, and fourth child born to his parents.  He grew up in poverty to parents who were sharecroppers.  The illness that would claim him, had already claimed two of his sisters, proving that family history is important in at least some forms of disease.  His was stomach cancer.   Having recently concluded reading a biography of a man recognized and respected world-wide, one comes to realize that few have practiced the Beatitudes to the degree he encapsulated them in his life. 

Pope John XXIII

It is well known to Roman Catholics the work he introduced as part of the Second Vatican Council, to open the windows and let in the fresh air.  A phrase often attributed to him, but likely not said by him.    It makes for good copy and a great sound bite.  But, he was more than that.  The October prior to his death, he would help solve the one crisis which would keep many in North America, if not much of the world, on the edge of their seats. This is the 1960’s when atomic weapons are prevalent, their power known, but yet détente was a far off reality.  It was his approach to Soviet Leader Khrushchev which would lead Khrushchev to withdraw the missiles from Cuba.   His activity is little recognized in American literature, and White House documents, probably due to the anti-Catholic feeling that would arise if the only Catholic president was seen asking the Pope for help.  Khrushchev would tell Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, that “What the Pope has done for world peace will go down in history.”  Yet, this aspect remains little known.   Some believe that it was Cuban Missile Crisis which propelled John to write Pacem in Terris, his last encyclical issued on Holy Thursday in the year of his death. 

What drew Pope John to dialogue with the atheistic communists from Russia?  Early in his career, he was as an apostolic visitor to Bulgaria.  He would later serve in Turkey as well.  Both postings thought to be at the outer reaches of the Vatican diplomatic corps, and dead ends.  Yet, it is was in these locations, having to work closely with the patriarchs of the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches and learning about the Slavs and their heritage that he developed an appreciation for the east and its traditions.  What he found was that dialogue was better than scolding, engagement more satisfactory than detachment. His policy of engagement of the Soviet Union was implemented against the advice of the Curia.  The problems with the Curia that Pope Francis was selected to fix, are not new, and when commentators talk about the Curial mentality being in the Renaissance, they may be too kind. 

John was often thought, by those who believed themselves more experienced, more learned, and better trained, to be naïve, and well, a dupe, or big oaf.  While he would joke about his size, his ability to deal with people was gentle and with subtlety.  He took to heart the saying of St. Bernard of Clarivaux, as noted by biographer Peter Hebbletwaite, “omni videre, multa dissimulare et pauca corrigere” meaning “To notice everything, turn a blind eye to much and to correct a few things” (p. 347).  He would know what was going on behind his back, and while he tolerated it, he was not necessarily happy, but would also forgive. 

Pope John XXIII

One story is illustrative of this.  The Secretary of State in the Vatican is rather powerful, and has a tendency to put their own spin on events.  They opposed John meeting with Khrushchev’s daughter and her husband in the early spring of 1963, and he would find a way around their opposition to meet with them after a general audience.  His interpreter was directed to make an account of the meeting and have it published in the Vatican newspaper, but that was not done.  He would make a comment on this display of disobedience in a letter of March 20, 1963.  As a member of the diplomatic corps he was always the company man, doing what he was directed to do, even though he had disagreement with the policy.  For a good company man to become the leader and see his efforts second guessed, and not put into action must have been painful. But, John understood something the learned members of the first section of the Secretariat of State did not:  “What is important is to co-operate with God for the salvation of souls and the whole world.  This is our true mission, which reaches its highest expression in the pope (p. 392).  As he once said to a fellow clergyman:  “You know it’s not true to say that the Spirit assists the Pope….The Holy Spirit doesn’t help the Pope, I’m simply his helper.  He did everything, the council is his idea.”  What a fresh idea, although after the first half the priest thought he was about to hear heresy.

Anyway, during the meeting with Khrushchev’s daughter and son-in-law, John would dismiss his Jesuit interpreter to speak alone in French with the two.  John would present Rada, Khrushchev’s daughter, with a rosary, knowing she would not use it, but because he would tell her, it reminded him of peace in his home, and that his mother would say it by the fireside and while preparing supper.  It was during this private conversation that he asks Rada:  “I know that you have three children, and I know their names, but I would like you to tell me their names, because when a mother speaks the names of her children, something very special happens” (P.  483). Yes, the bond between mother and child is very special.  However, did he mean this apply to when a mother speaks to the child using the formal first and middle name? In my experience the last thing a young boy wanted to hear was his mother call him by his formal first and last name.  This was often followed by “wait until your father gets home.”  Something special may have happened, but it was not in the child’s mind.  

Proud of his humble beginnings and his poverty

John's death would occur in just over two months from his meeting with the visitors from the Soviet Union.  On May 31, 1963, John received the Viaticum, for the journey to his next life.  Next, the papal sacristan, Bishop Peter Canisus Van Lierde, was about to anoint the five senses when John would interrupt and make a short speech, which Hebblethwaite reports, caused Bishop Van Lierde to be so overcome by emotion, that he forgets the right order.  John, would help him out (p. 502).  Little known is that the Hovel family would have a connection to this moving, once in a lifetime event.  For the papal sacristan, who anointed Good Pope John, would know the one surviving uncle of the clan.  It was through this connection that one of my siblings would watch the ceremony from Bishop Van Lierde’s apartment window when Karol Wojtyla was elevated to pontiff.  Of  course, Wojtyla is now known as St John Paul II.   So not only does the Hovel family have a connection to Al Capone via Joseph Sweeney, it also has a connection to the man who brought us Vatican II.    Peter Canisus Van Lierde would serve over forty years in service to Pontiff’s from Pius XII to John Paul II. 

Peter Canisus Van Lierde

John’s term as pope would be the second shortest since the advent of the twentieth century, with its shortness surpassed only by another former Patriarch of Venice, Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, who died within a month of his selection.  John would use the experience he gained as secretary to a Bishop, in the Vatican diplomatic corps, and as Patriarch of Venice to set the Church and the world on a new course.  Peter Steinfels reports that Pacem in Terris is the first encyclical issued not only to bishops, clergy and the faithful, but to “all men of good will.”  John’s meekness, however, would turn out to be his strength.  His poverty, his riches. His mercy his goodness.  As Hebblethwaite would write about John:  “In the modern world the remedies for error were mercy, charity, and the witness of the Christian life" (414).  As stated in the beatitudes:  “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”  This was his calling, this is the gift he gave the world, and this was his true triumph.  A good soul who embodied the Beatitudes. 

Quotes from:   Hebblethwaite, Peter 1984. Pope John XXIII: Shepherd of the Modern World

Images from Google images