This past Saturday, July 10, 2021 America lost one of the greatest patriots I had the pleasure to know and love.  The list of his personal accomplishments would take at least thirty pages to cover.  The man was a leader in so many ways, it remains difficult to summarily describe them collectively.  In an effort to reveal my thoughts about this incredible man, I thought it best to simply reprint a forward I wrote about Joe as we were preparing to celebrate his 104th Birthday. It was published in a small book that included his accomplishments    SEE: www.heraldtribune.com/story/obituaries/2021/07/12/centenarian-joe-newman-dies-leaves-108-year-legacy/7935016002/

​        Throughout his life, Joseph Newman remained a steadfast defender of American ideals and principles.  The consistent stance of Joe throughout his adult life was founded upon a basic tenet that all are created equal.  Joe had continuously written, spoken and lived a life demanding society recognize everyone, regardless of race, religion, economic status, healthy or sick mentally or physically disabled.  His ideology was simple - all people must have the right to enjoy their liberty to the fullest and in actual freedom.  By promoting this belief, Joseph Newman has consistently pursued the objective of nurturing an ideal society in which each individual shares the beautiful bounties of our great nation.  What may appear "elderly" on the outside hardly masks the man who maintains an abundance of exuberance for living, learning, explaining, debating and conjuring up a future brighter than our yesterdays.  Who else could fill that role except one that has lived those "yesterdays?"
     Some time ago, I asked Joseph Newman to present to my college-level American History classes.  While presenting, he was asked who the first president he had any recollection of.  His response?  "Woodrow Wilson!"  It still brings a smile to my face whenever I recall that moment when student's jaws literally dropped in awe.  Joe captured my students' undivided attention, as he does with everyone he encounters.  With a quick wit and smile, Joe is a walking talking primary source of historical knowledge.  Along with those memories come the vast experience of living through the Roaring Twenties, WWII, the Cold War, The Civil Rights Movement, Viet Nam, Watergate and every event on the political scene since.  His exposure to inventions and technology alone are enough to blow one's mind!  In fact, in 2014 Joe ran for Congress at the age of 101 and it was easy for him to promise he would only serve one term!
     Knowing Joe was truly an extraordinary gift and arguing with him and learning from him was as well.  One cannot avoid thinking harder after talking with Joe - especially when he ended conversations with a challenge of "you can do better!".  To me, he represented a link to a past so easily forgotten today, a past that witnessed a tremendous transformation of an evolving society, eventually reaching the hectic pace of current times.  Throughout his many and varied life experiences (and they are countless), his concerns for the future of our nation are perpetually hopeful.  He has seen the twists and turns, the good, the bad and the ugly of our public policy decisions.  Through it all, Joe remained steadfast in all of his convictions- that we are a great society and that hope still exists that Americans will do the right thing towards all that inhabit this great earth.
If there is one quote that befits Joe, it is one from Benjamin Franklin, America's original "elder" statesman" - "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." Trust me, these words accurately sum up Joseph Newman. 
        Rest in Peace Joe,  America was better off having you, even if was only for a brief 108+ years! 

        Happy July 4th! Independence Day is supposed to be a reminder that our entire history, including the good, the bad and the ugly is to be celebrated because our once small nation has grown into the mightiest Superpower in the World. America is so powerful, it had become the "shining example" of what freedom is - except in 2021, freedom no longer applies to most of us.  According to Republicans, freedom is only an illusion designed to create social and economic divisions.  All in an effort to keep us so divided, the Right Wing continues to chip away at fundamental rights to vote, enjoy autonomy over our own lives and bodies and freely express ourselves (See Critical Race Theory and efforts to stifle critical thinking in our public education systems).  Freedom to many Right Wingers today seems to be limited not to First Amendment protections of Free Speech, but instead a Second Amendment right to have our firearms and sophisticated weaponry speak for us instead. 
         When voting rights are being limited by the Right Wing coupled with an open disdain for anyone that could possibly consider voting against their policies, then those rights must be limited.  Except what exactly on this Fourth of July is the Republican vision for America?  It clearly does not include looking to the future by improving the daily lives of all, upgrading our infrastructure and utility grids or working towards effectively dealing with the obvious onset of the destruction of the Earth humans have been recklessly encouraging with our collective wasteful and careless treatment of our planet. 
        We have an entire political party with power whose sole purpose is to ensure their power is forever while forgetting that most Americans disagree with most of their positions.  America is no where near the goal JFK put to us "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!"  In 2021, it's about a cult of personality embracing the biggest con-man to ever hold the highest office in the world.  After his resounding defeat at the polls, certain media outlets continue to push narratives that are dedicated solely to eroding the publics' trust in the governmental institutions our Founders, Framers and predecessors worked so tirelessly to establish and fortify.  
       So this July 4, let's celebrate the past while embracing our future - one where Republicans are appreciated and understood for only standing for - corruption, greed, dishonestly, and above all else, Hypocrisy.  As Harry D. Truman once wrote; "Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination." We must stand guard to ensure our American way of life is not only sustained, but expanded.  If that means the expulsion of the modern day GOP, then so be it.  We must all ensure our democracy survives Trumpism and  the idiocracy it has spread in our nation.  Have a great week.