This is a gorgeous essay…full of reason, heart, faith and hope which, until our present time, were always the arms that beckoned us when times got tough. I’m running for them now. I’m taking this heart, faith, hope, and grit by the hand. We’ll join hands with all freedom-loving citizens to walk through this wall of fire to a better place. We can, and we will. With no other choice, we’ll part the Red Sea and start across. In the Old Testament, the character “Nacshon” didn’t wait for the Egyptians to overtake the people who were overwhelmed by the prospect of drowning in the sea. There was no other way forward…no other path. Nacshon knew that the only way to freedom was across this immense and dangerous place. He swallowed his fear and started. Miraculously, the sea parted…an important metaphor for moving toward freedom even when things look impossible.
That is what we have to do. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”?
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
I do believe that we have more than enough proof, especially of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. IMHO, this is the way to proceed to start to right this sinking ship.
Right. Hope is what's left after everything else failed. It does seem apocalyptic. Beautifully written. Poignant references. Eisenhower was a real hero in every way.
Your positivity is a balm to my anxiety, Steven. I remain hopeful, but there are times when the sheer arrogance of the criminal president seems overwhelming.
The almost $2billion slush fund is as corrupt as it can be. Acting AG Blanche says he believes that the people think they want taxpayer funds to go to “right the wrongs against those convicted of J6 crimes”. He is absolutely wrong, I think any person with more than two brain cells can see the money is prepayment for another coup.
As you end your article, it is up to us. I take comfort in the fact it is a we rather than me. It’s just like Rosie the Riveter in World War II we can do it. Yes we can provided that we unite. Thank you for keeping us going.
Steve, you are a wonderful writer, and inspiring. I cried reading this. I wish I felt the same hope.
CITIZENS UNITED!!! (THIS was the beginning of.the end)
The most corrupt and seditious 6 SCOTUS in our history.
2nd Amendment BS that was written when people had muskets! We have more guns than people.
The Christofascists who are gunning for removal of Separation of Church and State.(I'm not Christian and please, no offense to anyone here who is, but I was born in a secular country. I'm not dying in one with a cross on the flag instead of stars and stripes)
Not only the most corrupt and demented mob boss president in history, but the billionaires (and the most obscene soon to be trillionaire) who do not pay their fair share of taxes...most of them mentally damaged from childhood!
A chief justice so corrupt that he had to twist himself into a pretzel giving this monster immunity (and any president after...which to me sounds like they never planned for another Democrat to ever be in power again)
Poison us, remove our healthcare, build AI data farms, lose our best and brightest researchers, doctors, and leaving us open to more pandemics we won't survive, climate change and all the rest, while the Epstein class who think they will live forever, hide out in their bunkers built around the world to wait it out until all of the riff-raff (us) are gone.
If this country is ever saved, it will take more than a generation. I will not be alive to see it.
This is more than just us now. It is global. He has sold our country out to the highest bidders.
He changed the entire world order.
The one thing that will stay with me until the day I die (assuming I still have all my marbles by then) was that shameful display of him and Vance screaming at a duly elected President Zelensky that he didn't have the cards, didn't say thank you enough, demeaned him for not being in a suit while his country is at war, and.Z's comment which chilled me to the bones.
"You think because an ocean separates you...."
I lived through 9/11. Watched it happen with my own eyes on my way to work. Two times in my life I felt the earth shift on its axis.
Thank you for this column and it's invitation to consider hope as resistance. Even before you got to Eisenhower I was thinking of how Germany came back after Hitler, a more contemporary considereation than our own historical perspectives. I am old enough to remember the early days after WWIII for both our countries, USA and Germany (and let's not forget Japan's re-emergence). As a writer, the sentence I most delighted in in this essay is: "He proves his utter indifference to the needs of most Americans and his capacity for corruption, criminality and cruelty on a daily basis as he bottomlessly pursues self-enrichment, power and vengeance." I wonder how many Germans were saying that when Hitler was still in power. Our free speeck is priceless and I admire you as a speaker of freedom.
Thank you for this ray of hope in our turbulent Nation. Your sentence:, paraphrased: "...exhausting but cannot kill our hope or break our commitment to American democracy" will keep me going as we rid our Nation of this mongrel. And the words of DDE are the cherry on top of an already great essay.
What an excellent essay, pointed and pointing, with the perfect example of Eisenhower’s perspective. A war hero that gets less attention than his accomplishments deserve.
Until Trump, the defined enemies of our society were easily identified. Communism, racial segregation, military dictatorships, and economic imbalances. We could muster the capacity to define, defend, and protect. Certainly, Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the USSR/Communism were targets we could all, generally, set our sights on to achieve, protect, or destroy, as the case may be. We could trust someone and be willing to allow many to lead us to an “answer.” Struggles? Definitely. Retreats? Many. But this period of history does seem to lack structure, assurance, and confidence more so than any time since WWII. Trump is against, not for. Trump veers, loses direction. Personifies bravado, not bravery. Yells when a shout or whisper would be better. Wobbles without balance. His selfishness, couched in his false understanding of what this country has been through and leading toward, cannot be what will return us to the future we need. A false prophet indeed.
Thank you Professor Beschloss for this inspiring article. Full of faith, hope and heartfelt reasoning.
Over 40 years ago my home burned down in a fire, lost everything, being a single mother of two small children trust me didn’t see anything “peachy” over the horizon. Yet, knew that an option of giving up was not even a possible thought process. “You create what you bake” as my great grandmother used to say. Were there sleepless nights, worrying how and what to do, how to afford a new home, retrieving somehow those memento’s of family photos and keepsakes that were either destroyed or scarred from that fire, Hell yes. But what was important was that the three of us survived, and we will accomplish something not just better but different. Have held onto that feeling for years… It’s not about what we may loose but what we all are willing to work for or fight for.
As this Memorial weekend is upon all of us. There’s a few mementos that were retrieved from that destruction that still have the scorch of flame on them. Sashes from both of my great grandmother’s who were both in the Suffrage Movement to ensure women had the right to vote. Various military medals and ribbons dating back to the Civil War that for years of my family services to this nation. Now all these mementos may look like a bunch of trash to some but what they represent to me, my children and grandchildren is something entirely different. They are a reminder that no matter how bad, or terrible things may seem you never, ever give up on something you believe in and cherish. Whether it be making a home, a loved one or a memory of something that you hold dear or a nation that may have given you different opportunities than any other. Both of my sons were in the military and a few of the grandchildren are. They all know what’s at stake and see this nation as Benjamin Franklin.
I’m a 69-year old mother and grandmother and have been to countries that have been “ruled” by the likes of these corrupt governments and have had enough of this crap ever taking place in this nation.
In the journals of Maryland delegate James McHenry after the Constitutional Convention outside of Philadelphia's Independence Hall in September 1787 Benjamin Franklin was asked “What kind of government was that they created?” Franklin’s response was simple, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
It’s well worth keeping and way past time in saying so..
Let us not meet each day with outrage, but rather, determination. Outrage is too exhausting and takes energy away from the task at hand. Determination gives energy and focus. So let us meet the task at hand with determination. And be grateful that the citizens still bear arms. If the midterms don't work, our last hope of retaining our freedom will likely be the cartridge box.
This is a gorgeous essay…full of reason, heart, faith and hope which, until our present time, were always the arms that beckoned us when times got tough. I’m running for them now. I’m taking this heart, faith, hope, and grit by the hand. We’ll join hands with all freedom-loving citizens to walk through this wall of fire to a better place. We can, and we will. With no other choice, we’ll part the Red Sea and start across. In the Old Testament, the character “Nacshon” didn’t wait for the Egyptians to overtake the people who were overwhelmed by the prospect of drowning in the sea. There was no other way forward…no other path. Nacshon knew that the only way to freedom was across this immense and dangerous place. He swallowed his fear and started. Miraculously, the sea parted…an important metaphor for moving toward freedom even when things look impossible.
That is what we have to do. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”?
Thank you, Ellen.
Thank YOU.
Well and wonderfully said. And the same goes to Steven Beschloss. Thank you. I’m writing my postcards for Indivisible with little brighter heart. 🙏
I second Ellen's comments, Steven: what a heartfelt and thoughtful essay!
Article II, Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
I do believe that we have more than enough proof, especially of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. IMHO, this is the way to proceed to start to right this sinking ship.
“If a regime is immoral, its subjects are free from all obligations to it.” - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Right. Hope is what's left after everything else failed. It does seem apocalyptic. Beautifully written. Poignant references. Eisenhower was a real hero in every way.
Thanks, JBR.
Your positivity is a balm to my anxiety, Steven. I remain hopeful, but there are times when the sheer arrogance of the criminal president seems overwhelming.
The almost $2billion slush fund is as corrupt as it can be. Acting AG Blanche says he believes that the people think they want taxpayer funds to go to “right the wrongs against those convicted of J6 crimes”. He is absolutely wrong, I think any person with more than two brain cells can see the money is prepayment for another coup.
Attack a police officer. Get paid by Trump. Thx, Sharon.
As you end your article, it is up to us. I take comfort in the fact it is a we rather than me. It’s just like Rosie the Riveter in World War II we can do it. Yes we can provided that we unite. Thank you for keeping us going.
All the analogies are to world war 2
Removing this guy will not fix the problem. The entire administration needs to go, root and stem. We must vote them out and take back our country.
100% FVera!
Steve, you are a wonderful writer, and inspiring. I cried reading this. I wish I felt the same hope.
CITIZENS UNITED!!! (THIS was the beginning of.the end)
The most corrupt and seditious 6 SCOTUS in our history.
2nd Amendment BS that was written when people had muskets! We have more guns than people.
The Christofascists who are gunning for removal of Separation of Church and State.(I'm not Christian and please, no offense to anyone here who is, but I was born in a secular country. I'm not dying in one with a cross on the flag instead of stars and stripes)
Not only the most corrupt and demented mob boss president in history, but the billionaires (and the most obscene soon to be trillionaire) who do not pay their fair share of taxes...most of them mentally damaged from childhood!
A chief justice so corrupt that he had to twist himself into a pretzel giving this monster immunity (and any president after...which to me sounds like they never planned for another Democrat to ever be in power again)
Poison us, remove our healthcare, build AI data farms, lose our best and brightest researchers, doctors, and leaving us open to more pandemics we won't survive, climate change and all the rest, while the Epstein class who think they will live forever, hide out in their bunkers built around the world to wait it out until all of the riff-raff (us) are gone.
If this country is ever saved, it will take more than a generation. I will not be alive to see it.
This is more than just us now. It is global. He has sold our country out to the highest bidders.
He changed the entire world order.
The one thing that will stay with me until the day I die (assuming I still have all my marbles by then) was that shameful display of him and Vance screaming at a duly elected President Zelensky that he didn't have the cards, didn't say thank you enough, demeaned him for not being in a suit while his country is at war, and.Z's comment which chilled me to the bones.
"You think because an ocean separates you...."
I lived through 9/11. Watched it happen with my own eyes on my way to work. Two times in my life I felt the earth shift on its axis.
9-11-2001
1-20-2025
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for this good read as we head into the Memorial Day weekend and we honor those who fought and gave so much for our democracy and country.
Thank you for this column and it's invitation to consider hope as resistance. Even before you got to Eisenhower I was thinking of how Germany came back after Hitler, a more contemporary considereation than our own historical perspectives. I am old enough to remember the early days after WWIII for both our countries, USA and Germany (and let's not forget Japan's re-emergence). As a writer, the sentence I most delighted in in this essay is: "He proves his utter indifference to the needs of most Americans and his capacity for corruption, criminality and cruelty on a daily basis as he bottomlessly pursues self-enrichment, power and vengeance." I wonder how many Germans were saying that when Hitler was still in power. Our free speeck is priceless and I admire you as a speaker of freedom.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words, Kay.
Thank you for this ray of hope in our turbulent Nation. Your sentence:, paraphrased: "...exhausting but cannot kill our hope or break our commitment to American democracy" will keep me going as we rid our Nation of this mongrel. And the words of DDE are the cherry on top of an already great essay.
What an excellent essay, pointed and pointing, with the perfect example of Eisenhower’s perspective. A war hero that gets less attention than his accomplishments deserve.
Until Trump, the defined enemies of our society were easily identified. Communism, racial segregation, military dictatorships, and economic imbalances. We could muster the capacity to define, defend, and protect. Certainly, Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the USSR/Communism were targets we could all, generally, set our sights on to achieve, protect, or destroy, as the case may be. We could trust someone and be willing to allow many to lead us to an “answer.” Struggles? Definitely. Retreats? Many. But this period of history does seem to lack structure, assurance, and confidence more so than any time since WWII. Trump is against, not for. Trump veers, loses direction. Personifies bravado, not bravery. Yells when a shout or whisper would be better. Wobbles without balance. His selfishness, couched in his false understanding of what this country has been through and leading toward, cannot be what will return us to the future we need. A false prophet indeed.
Thanks for your thoughts, Douglas.
Beautifully beautifully written and helpful very helpful
Thank you, Alexia.
Yes, Steven, thank you for this deeply needed essay on where we find ourselves. It has helped me have courage.
Thank you, Steven. I needed that.
Thank you Professor Beschloss for this inspiring article. Full of faith, hope and heartfelt reasoning.
Over 40 years ago my home burned down in a fire, lost everything, being a single mother of two small children trust me didn’t see anything “peachy” over the horizon. Yet, knew that an option of giving up was not even a possible thought process. “You create what you bake” as my great grandmother used to say. Were there sleepless nights, worrying how and what to do, how to afford a new home, retrieving somehow those memento’s of family photos and keepsakes that were either destroyed or scarred from that fire, Hell yes. But what was important was that the three of us survived, and we will accomplish something not just better but different. Have held onto that feeling for years… It’s not about what we may loose but what we all are willing to work for or fight for.
As this Memorial weekend is upon all of us. There’s a few mementos that were retrieved from that destruction that still have the scorch of flame on them. Sashes from both of my great grandmother’s who were both in the Suffrage Movement to ensure women had the right to vote. Various military medals and ribbons dating back to the Civil War that for years of my family services to this nation. Now all these mementos may look like a bunch of trash to some but what they represent to me, my children and grandchildren is something entirely different. They are a reminder that no matter how bad, or terrible things may seem you never, ever give up on something you believe in and cherish. Whether it be making a home, a loved one or a memory of something that you hold dear or a nation that may have given you different opportunities than any other. Both of my sons were in the military and a few of the grandchildren are. They all know what’s at stake and see this nation as Benjamin Franklin.
I’m a 69-year old mother and grandmother and have been to countries that have been “ruled” by the likes of these corrupt governments and have had enough of this crap ever taking place in this nation.
In the journals of Maryland delegate James McHenry after the Constitutional Convention outside of Philadelphia's Independence Hall in September 1787 Benjamin Franklin was asked “What kind of government was that they created?” Franklin’s response was simple, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
It’s well worth keeping and way past time in saying so..
Let us not meet each day with outrage, but rather, determination. Outrage is too exhausting and takes energy away from the task at hand. Determination gives energy and focus. So let us meet the task at hand with determination. And be grateful that the citizens still bear arms. If the midterms don't work, our last hope of retaining our freedom will likely be the cartridge box.