You're a man of great character, Lucian Truscott, and a man with no fear and a seeker of truth above all. It's like the deepest breath of pure fresh air that comes. Thank you.
Lucian has character Mary, I'll give you that, but as far as being without fear, I doubt it. I have never known a man without fear and I was trained by a Medal of Honor winner, it's what you do when faced with your fear that separates the men and women from the boys and girls. Would I want Lucian next to me in a firefight, hands down the answer is yes. I couldn't agree more with everything else you have said.
While I appreciate your elaboration, I do not believe fearless people, any of them, are without fear. I have enormous fear, have had all my life, but I hardly notice it because I know the right thing to do and I do it anyway, now, now that I'm old. I found out it's not worth it to be cowardly. Give me somebody who has fear and goes beyond it anytime. And I don't know Lucian personally, so far be it from me to say I know. Maybe I should have detailed it with acts without fear.
Far be it from me to nit pick you Mary. When I read your comment that jumped out at me, probably because of my own battles with fear. I'm afraid of heights, but I've scaled mountains and jumped out of perfectly good airplanes and spent years working as a rigger hanging rock-n-roll shows. I don't know Lucian personally either, but his writing indicates how he thinks, which says a lot about a person. I know I'd be proud to shake his hand and yours as well.
You know, you proved another little thing that's trite but true, it takes one to know one. :) And the handshaking is also mutual. And you also confirmed what was only suspicion, I am not the only one who harbors a lot of fear. I believe I think everyone else is braver.
Lucian, this picture and your prose are a wonderful gift to us all. The truth will set us free. And let’s remember, a fact is a stubborn thing! God bless you and God bless this on going experiment called America.
Puts a very relevant and very personal wrapper to what we think of when we use the term Jeffersonian. Thank you for contributing to the fabric of reconciliation and the energy of moving forward in unity.
With paternal and maternal ancestors who arrived here before we were a nation, I finally have Black family after my niece married an African-American and they had two daughters. Couldn't be prouder.
Just ate my black-eyed peas and hope the good luck isn't just for me but the nation and world.
The truth is often inconvenient, but it is no less true. We need to teach our kids to learn it, confront it and deal with it. Not revise it by pretending that we should spend a moment considering the "benefits" of slavery.
Just imagine how healing and instructive it would be if everyone who shared a slave-owning ancestor -- black and white and caramel -- found one another and posed for a photo and posted it on social media. That would be unifying. Thank you for setting the example with your cousin.
I really try not to clog up your comment section, but I really appreciate this entire column and the lines that exhort us to be grateful for how far we've come, and
not be afraid of where we have come from. So much more to say, but THANK YOU for your insightful personal memoirs.
There's nothing I can add that hasn't been said in the comments so far,, except if all Americans had your values, compassion and understanding and were of the caliber of your followers - those who comment and those who don't, this would truly be a great country.
One of the many reasons today's Rs/cons and Trumpists have to a degree been successful in banning books, altering text, and whitewashing American (under the Crown) and US History, is as taught was replete with glaring errors of omission, half-truths, outright falsehoods, censorship of differing degrees, turning villains into heroes, scores of water-walkers, and myths galore. Remain puzzled by scholars who made little or no effort to correct what they most certainly knew was highly flawed. Comes as no surprise that vacuum is being filled by America's darkest souls.
Do find that consistent with and a nexus to the 3most important founding and governing documents, 1st Constitution aka Articles of Confederation, DOI, and the 2nd US Constitution along with the proponents of originalism/textualism.
When I peer at the pic, see a metaphor for [all the historical] ~truth~ that has yet to be accepted as such and the lack of will to see that it is.
"That vacuum is being filled by America's darkest souls" -- so perceptive, and so true, and the best challenge I've heard issued to scholars, journalists, and all the rest of us to speak and write and contribute whatever we can to the story. Because being "polite," which is to say being silenced by our fear of others' reactions, has led us to a dark and darkening place. I don't do New Year's resolutions, but I just made one: to accept that challenge as best I can.
Agree with your framing of self-imposed silence, some of which is due to fear, is a contributory. Not sure if it is a default position or simply the ability to fight off the temptation to speak one's mind in the face of wrongs.
Mofos (for lack of a polite term) of every kind and degree both at home and abroad exploit and leverage flaws and weaknesses as well as general apathy, They're wired differently. What we can't imagine, they do. What we can imagine, they cannot. And the greatest difference is they act on it forcing most others to react , if at all, after the fact.
You're a man of great character, Lucian Truscott, and a man with no fear and a seeker of truth above all. It's like the deepest breath of pure fresh air that comes. Thank you.
Lucian has character Mary, I'll give you that, but as far as being without fear, I doubt it. I have never known a man without fear and I was trained by a Medal of Honor winner, it's what you do when faced with your fear that separates the men and women from the boys and girls. Would I want Lucian next to me in a firefight, hands down the answer is yes. I couldn't agree more with everything else you have said.
While I appreciate your elaboration, I do not believe fearless people, any of them, are without fear. I have enormous fear, have had all my life, but I hardly notice it because I know the right thing to do and I do it anyway, now, now that I'm old. I found out it's not worth it to be cowardly. Give me somebody who has fear and goes beyond it anytime. And I don't know Lucian personally, so far be it from me to say I know. Maybe I should have detailed it with acts without fear.
Far be it from me to nit pick you Mary. When I read your comment that jumped out at me, probably because of my own battles with fear. I'm afraid of heights, but I've scaled mountains and jumped out of perfectly good airplanes and spent years working as a rigger hanging rock-n-roll shows. I don't know Lucian personally either, but his writing indicates how he thinks, which says a lot about a person. I know I'd be proud to shake his hand and yours as well.
I would be proud to shake all of your hands, Mary, Dick and Lucian. Thank you for making my New Year happy.
The only antidote to fear is courage which all three of you have.
You know, you proved another little thing that's trite but true, it takes one to know one. :) And the handshaking is also mutual. And you also confirmed what was only suspicion, I am not the only one who harbors a lot of fear. I believe I think everyone else is braver.
“…”eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
"The truth only hurts when you want to believe a lie."
Jennifer McVey
You Let your true colours shine through! That’s why we respect and love what you have become!
May you continue to shine your light for many years to come!
Lucian, this picture and your prose are a wonderful gift to us all. The truth will set us free. And let’s remember, a fact is a stubborn thing! God bless you and God bless this on going experiment called America.
Puts a very relevant and very personal wrapper to what we think of when we use the term Jeffersonian. Thank you for contributing to the fabric of reconciliation and the energy of moving forward in unity.
With paternal and maternal ancestors who arrived here before we were a nation, I finally have Black family after my niece married an African-American and they had two daughters. Couldn't be prouder.
Just ate my black-eyed peas and hope the good luck isn't just for me but the nation and world.
As the son of General Truscott's 337th Reg. captain, I wrote the below about James Hemings. Click http://tinyurl.com/2bb7szc5.
A great story. It's amazing how childhood food stays in our memories. I still love Kraft spaghetti out of the box with sliced hot dogs.
Sounds absolutely yummy
Delightful!—at least to this mac 'n' cheese addict. Happy new year.
Why your voice carries. Thank you.
The truth is often inconvenient, but it is no less true. We need to teach our kids to learn it, confront it and deal with it. Not revise it by pretending that we should spend a moment considering the "benefits" of slavery.
Just imagine how healing and instructive it would be if everyone who shared a slave-owning ancestor -- black and white and caramel -- found one another and posed for a photo and posted it on social media. That would be unifying. Thank you for setting the example with your cousin.
I really try not to clog up your comment section, but I really appreciate this entire column and the lines that exhort us to be grateful for how far we've come, and
not be afraid of where we have come from. So much more to say, but THANK YOU for your insightful personal memoirs.
There's nothing I can add that hasn't been said in the comments so far,, except if all Americans had your values, compassion and understanding and were of the caliber of your followers - those who comment and those who don't, this would truly be a great country.
Thank you, Lucian. I feel privileged to have your voice and your writings in my life. Happy 2024 for the better.
I love the picture and the text. Happy new year, dear friend. xxL
Amen. Peace…
Here's to a productive and much happier new year Lucien. Stay strong.
One of the many reasons today's Rs/cons and Trumpists have to a degree been successful in banning books, altering text, and whitewashing American (under the Crown) and US History, is as taught was replete with glaring errors of omission, half-truths, outright falsehoods, censorship of differing degrees, turning villains into heroes, scores of water-walkers, and myths galore. Remain puzzled by scholars who made little or no effort to correct what they most certainly knew was highly flawed. Comes as no surprise that vacuum is being filled by America's darkest souls.
Do find that consistent with and a nexus to the 3most important founding and governing documents, 1st Constitution aka Articles of Confederation, DOI, and the 2nd US Constitution along with the proponents of originalism/textualism.
When I peer at the pic, see a metaphor for [all the historical] ~truth~ that has yet to be accepted as such and the lack of will to see that it is.
Am grateful,
"That vacuum is being filled by America's darkest souls" -- so perceptive, and so true, and the best challenge I've heard issued to scholars, journalists, and all the rest of us to speak and write and contribute whatever we can to the story. Because being "polite," which is to say being silenced by our fear of others' reactions, has led us to a dark and darkening place. I don't do New Year's resolutions, but I just made one: to accept that challenge as best I can.
As always am grateful for your kind words.
Agree with your framing of self-imposed silence, some of which is due to fear, is a contributory. Not sure if it is a default position or simply the ability to fight off the temptation to speak one's mind in the face of wrongs.
Mofos (for lack of a polite term) of every kind and degree both at home and abroad exploit and leverage flaws and weaknesses as well as general apathy, They're wired differently. What we can't imagine, they do. What we can imagine, they cannot. And the greatest difference is they act on it forcing most others to react , if at all, after the fact.