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Rita Richards Newhouse's avatar

In a democracy, the highest office is the office of citizen - Frankfurter.

A fun exercise. Democracy is;

Wearing your hair long, short or half shaved with a bun on top.

Taking pills in the AM with a glass of coke instead of a cup of coffee.

Sitting anywhere on a bus.

Choosing a chocolate ice cream cone instead of a vanilla.

Double parking in New York City.

Children reading Dr. Seuss.

Believing Texas no longer has a deep heart.

Listening to Alexa play AC/DC on sound seven.

Drawing hop scotch on a city street.

Laughing at Dr. Oz and his crudites platter.

Ordering a cheese burger in a French restaurant.

Calling Sequan Barkley the best.

Having wild flowers and weeds for a front yard.

Switching from Methodist to Presbyterian.

Tolerating the woman next door with seven cats.

Taking the Sociology course in Florida.

Saying you are 29 when you are .........................ok, 30!!

But mainly - heading the wrong way on the one way street of dictatorship.

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SANDY's avatar

White offers some good insights, with a flair, of course. The line I particularly like is "Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time." The word "suspicion" in this context makes me smile. Thanks, Steven.

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Earl Heflinger's avatar

It’s refreshing to read a piece on democracy written during that period. I fear that many of us are too jaded at the moment to think that clearly. That’s why your offerings on this and similar subjects are so important!

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Steven Beschloss's avatar

Thank you, Earl.

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Cindy O’Dell's avatar

Can we just replace the pledge of allegiance with this? I would say it every day without being compelled. Although I might also weep each time.

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Lynn Geri's avatar

10 red hearts for this article Steve.

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Ravi Kakarala's avatar

It is easy to forget what a great writer he was

The mustard on the hot dog

Indeed what is a hot dog wo mustard

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Donald Sinclair Richardson's avatar

Great lovely piece in the guise of an explanation to the very young.

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Lisa Beardsley's avatar

Stephen, how beautiful, inspiring and timely! Perfect for our times. Thank you.

We need to see the horizon: "Democracy is the score at the beginning of the ninth."

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Tom Quigley's avatar

Thank you Steven!

I agree with FDR!

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Susan Linehan's avatar

And, of course, Charlotte's Web is a banned book, for those contemplating the end of democracy

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kdsherpa's avatar

Beautiful! Thank you.

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Helen Stajninger's avatar

Love this so much. Thank you Steven!

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Ginger's avatar

So beautiful...

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SPW's avatar

Great piece and an excellent reminder. Thank you Steven for this.

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Charles Crabtree's avatar

White’s collections of essays are also not to be missed. Quo Vadimus is spectacular

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Diana Ruddick's avatar

Steven, thanks for sharing this. I had never seen it before, and I just love it.

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