Tonight, just before midnight, we heard the news that 80-year-old Georgia Representative John Lewis has passed away from pancreatic cancer. As a young adult, Lewis was a “troublemaker,” breaking the laws of his state: he broke the laws upholding racial segregation. He organized voting registration drives and in 1960 was one of the thirteen original Freedom Riders, white and black students traveling together from Washington D.C. to New Orleans to challenge segregation. “It was very violent. I thought I was going to die. I was left lying at the Greyhound bus station in Montgomery unconscious,” Lewis later recalled.
I met John Lewis one night. Our little gang of radicals at the cow college I went to had gotten our guy elected as "Coordinator of Campus Speaers." Among the people who came the next year was John Lewis. I remember his speech 54 years later like it was yesterday. Achievement of the "beloed community" would make life better for all.
After the speech, we invited him to the coffeehouse we had established and talked all night. He spoke of politics thus: "If you get involved in politics, your job is to work yourself out of a job, to represent the people and educate them to where they control their lives." Fifteen years later I left professional politics when I realized what I was promoting was the opposite. He made a career of politics, but was never a "careerist."
I'm not only non-religious, I am anti-religious. but I believe in Saints. And I have met a few. Not the kind even Pope Francis would nominate, but truly Saints. My definition of that is a person whose life is a measuring stick against which we measure ourselves to know how far we have to go to be the person we want to be.
Last night I was praying for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this morning I learned of the passing of John Lewis.
Our elders have given, and continue to give, their all for the country, the Constitution, and the rule of law. Their example of sacrifice and steadfastness gives the lie to Trump and his minions who drape themselves in the flag as they undermine everything it represents.
I missed much of the civil rights movement. In 1963 I was still in an integrated high school in St. Louis, then went immediately into the Air Force, where I lived with, ate with and showered with black men. The U.S. military had been integrated since 1948, just as was my city of St. Louis but racism was lurking in both even to this day. When I fell in love with a black woman in 1980, my mother blindsided me with her hidden racism. She eventually came around and welcomed my black wife and later my grandson into her home where she saw that teen boys are the same no matter what the color of their skin. I think that integration in my lifetime helped me get over this traditional racism and I brot it home to mom that black ppl and white ppl “will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” A lot of good ppl struggled and died to end segregation in those other backward states in my lifetime. I hope we continue to move forward with integration after the backsliding & hatred that has erupted with this flawed, bigoted Repugnant control.
Some inspiration from John Lewis in his last moments. Thank you. I’m literally “freaking out” at the political climate right now. Trump seems too much like Hitler to me. I may be exaggerating, but it’s hard to not be worried ... especially as a teacher. What will happen in September? Appreciate the letter, as I wake every morning eager to read your words. You’ve clearly taken Mr. Lewis’s advice to heart, giving until you have no more to give. Thank you. Stay healthy and well.
Thank you, Professor, for enlightening my mind (once again) with your thoughtful tribute to Rep. John Lewis. He has been an inspiration to generations of Americans. Not being a Twitter follower, I had never seen his quote with which you closed your letter today. However, it is a quote I now plan to share with family and friends to help bring hope to us all and much deserved honor and reverence to Rep. Lewis.
Such an amazing man and an incredible life. Thank you, Heather!
John Meecham, the presidential historian, has been working on a book with John Lewis and as such, has spent a lot of time with him, especially in the last year. He shared some nice thoughts about him last night on “The 11th Hour” on MSNBC. They’re very *Christian-y*, so I hope no one gets offended.
He said that John Lewis is the only man he’s ever met who “meets the classical Christian definition of a saint. He was willing to die for his beliefs. He shed blood for his beliefs.” He felt Mr. Lewis could truly converse with the angels.
He went on to say that Mr. Lewis believed that If the *beloved community* were to orient our hearts and our minds to do the right thing, Listen to the small, still voice or conscience, that we could actually bring about the reign of justice and the kingdom of heaven on earth.
He was also the last living speaker from the March on Washington too.
And I was *praying* for RBG too. I’ve always sworn she’s going out of her chambers in a body bag - and not a moment before would she step down. I never thought she’d consider stepping down. I don’t think she’ll do that before January, regardless, if she can help it. So HUGE PRAYERS/LOVE/Positive vibes - whatever it takes! Sent to the little, stylish neck piece wearing, feminista, energizer bunny of an associate Supreme Court Justice.
I wish we could pause to reflect on the life of Representative Lewis, who has certainly died "in harness" wearing traces that he donned as a teenager and never took off, and never stopped straining against, trying to pull the American wagon up the mountain. But stormtroopers, as Speaker Pelosi accurately describes them, again walk our streets, this time wearing federal uniforms, not state ones. At the moment they prowl the streets of Portland; the President plans to send them to your town, too. To see a Twitter feed compiling the tactics of police during this time of suppression, go here: https://twitter.com/greg_doucette/status/1268772480153460736
While local elected officials in Portland have (perhaps impotently) asked the federal troops to leave, what is the position of local law enforcement? Have they abandoned their streets to anonymous federal agents in unmarked cars, who snatch people from sidewalks and take them away? Do they stand with these tactics? Oppose them? Can they at least form a separate presence, witnessing the suppression and perhaps trying to protect their fellow citizens from abuse? Do they want to?
In my youth, here in Georgia, the federal government was the force that opposed racial and political suppression, standing against local governments who used truncheons and shotguns, hatred and violence, to disperse peaceful protests. Now, the suppressors have taken the White House and are fanning out across the land, using the same tools, plus modern surveillance and data mining. Local governments, most typically cities, find themselves trying to carry Representative Lewis' torch into a very murky future.
Today's tribute to John Lewis and the "stormtrooper" warning about 45 made me think about how much I have come to rely on your daily analyses of the events in our world. There is definitely a shortage in our world of people with sound critical thinking skills, who have the education and writing skills to pull it all together. I am grateful you bring all of that to the table each day. Thank you. And may John Lewis Rest In Peace. He has earned it.
Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for reminding us over and over of our power and responsibility to bring good change. Even with your death, you remind us to fight the good fight. Rest now. It's up to us to carry on, to make nonviolent #goodtrouble when necessary to fight wrongdoing such as is happening in Portland, OR, and we fear in other places in our suffering country. I hope what's happening in Portland will initiate the same outcry as George Floyd's murder. Both are just variations of the same idea that might makes right.
We now need the courage of the Freedom Fighters and to multiply their numbers by millions throughout all the states pushing each Govenor to take Lyndon Johnson's role to protect the people from this presidential plague. If there are 13,000,000 people on the streets of American towns and cities PACT and Trump will cower in the corner like the cowards they are. As Representative Lewis said "when the people say NO...." R.I.P.
Representative John Lewis is a shining example of a life well lived. His message is inspiring to hearts weary of this administration's bullying, willful ignorance and outright lying.
I don't know about ya'll, but every time I post something I expect a knock on the door. After seeing what happened in Portland yesterday.... People keep asking: "How can this happen?" Well, it happened one spoonful at a time since 09/11. This is something that Bush Jr. needs to be held accountable for. If anyone believes all of this is happenstance then they are wallowing in ignorance.
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Rep. John Lewis, who is truly a guiding light in these times. Your historical perspective woven together with the appreciation for his contributions reminded me how John Lewis and other civil rights heroes did change minds and helped move us forward. There's a glint of hope in that history that pushes us forward to keep at this.
for the first time I am seeing what an authoritarian leader and government look like (as opposed to simply reading about them in school). The Portland story has almost pushed me over the edge. I just finished Mary Trump’s book and am more frightened for the next 6 months than I thought possible.
I met John Lewis one night. Our little gang of radicals at the cow college I went to had gotten our guy elected as "Coordinator of Campus Speaers." Among the people who came the next year was John Lewis. I remember his speech 54 years later like it was yesterday. Achievement of the "beloed community" would make life better for all.
After the speech, we invited him to the coffeehouse we had established and talked all night. He spoke of politics thus: "If you get involved in politics, your job is to work yourself out of a job, to represent the people and educate them to where they control their lives." Fifteen years later I left professional politics when I realized what I was promoting was the opposite. He made a career of politics, but was never a "careerist."
I'm not only non-religious, I am anti-religious. but I believe in Saints. And I have met a few. Not the kind even Pope Francis would nominate, but truly Saints. My definition of that is a person whose life is a measuring stick against which we measure ourselves to know how far we have to go to be the person we want to be.
John Lewis is a Saint.
Last night I was praying for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this morning I learned of the passing of John Lewis.
Our elders have given, and continue to give, their all for the country, the Constitution, and the rule of law. Their example of sacrifice and steadfastness gives the lie to Trump and his minions who drape themselves in the flag as they undermine everything it represents.
I missed much of the civil rights movement. In 1963 I was still in an integrated high school in St. Louis, then went immediately into the Air Force, where I lived with, ate with and showered with black men. The U.S. military had been integrated since 1948, just as was my city of St. Louis but racism was lurking in both even to this day. When I fell in love with a black woman in 1980, my mother blindsided me with her hidden racism. She eventually came around and welcomed my black wife and later my grandson into her home where she saw that teen boys are the same no matter what the color of their skin. I think that integration in my lifetime helped me get over this traditional racism and I brot it home to mom that black ppl and white ppl “will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” A lot of good ppl struggled and died to end segregation in those other backward states in my lifetime. I hope we continue to move forward with integration after the backsliding & hatred that has erupted with this flawed, bigoted Repugnant control.
Some inspiration from John Lewis in his last moments. Thank you. I’m literally “freaking out” at the political climate right now. Trump seems too much like Hitler to me. I may be exaggerating, but it’s hard to not be worried ... especially as a teacher. What will happen in September? Appreciate the letter, as I wake every morning eager to read your words. You’ve clearly taken Mr. Lewis’s advice to heart, giving until you have no more to give. Thank you. Stay healthy and well.
Thank you, Professor, for enlightening my mind (once again) with your thoughtful tribute to Rep. John Lewis. He has been an inspiration to generations of Americans. Not being a Twitter follower, I had never seen his quote with which you closed your letter today. However, it is a quote I now plan to share with family and friends to help bring hope to us all and much deserved honor and reverence to Rep. Lewis.
Such an amazing man and an incredible life. Thank you, Heather!
John Meecham, the presidential historian, has been working on a book with John Lewis and as such, has spent a lot of time with him, especially in the last year. He shared some nice thoughts about him last night on “The 11th Hour” on MSNBC. They’re very *Christian-y*, so I hope no one gets offended.
He said that John Lewis is the only man he’s ever met who “meets the classical Christian definition of a saint. He was willing to die for his beliefs. He shed blood for his beliefs.” He felt Mr. Lewis could truly converse with the angels.
He went on to say that Mr. Lewis believed that If the *beloved community* were to orient our hearts and our minds to do the right thing, Listen to the small, still voice or conscience, that we could actually bring about the reign of justice and the kingdom of heaven on earth.
He was also the last living speaker from the March on Washington too.
And I was *praying* for RBG too. I’ve always sworn she’s going out of her chambers in a body bag - and not a moment before would she step down. I never thought she’d consider stepping down. I don’t think she’ll do that before January, regardless, if she can help it. So HUGE PRAYERS/LOVE/Positive vibes - whatever it takes! Sent to the little, stylish neck piece wearing, feminista, energizer bunny of an associate Supreme Court Justice.
I wish we could pause to reflect on the life of Representative Lewis, who has certainly died "in harness" wearing traces that he donned as a teenager and never took off, and never stopped straining against, trying to pull the American wagon up the mountain. But stormtroopers, as Speaker Pelosi accurately describes them, again walk our streets, this time wearing federal uniforms, not state ones. At the moment they prowl the streets of Portland; the President plans to send them to your town, too. To see a Twitter feed compiling the tactics of police during this time of suppression, go here: https://twitter.com/greg_doucette/status/1268772480153460736
While local elected officials in Portland have (perhaps impotently) asked the federal troops to leave, what is the position of local law enforcement? Have they abandoned their streets to anonymous federal agents in unmarked cars, who snatch people from sidewalks and take them away? Do they stand with these tactics? Oppose them? Can they at least form a separate presence, witnessing the suppression and perhaps trying to protect their fellow citizens from abuse? Do they want to?
In my youth, here in Georgia, the federal government was the force that opposed racial and political suppression, standing against local governments who used truncheons and shotguns, hatred and violence, to disperse peaceful protests. Now, the suppressors have taken the White House and are fanning out across the land, using the same tools, plus modern surveillance and data mining. Local governments, most typically cities, find themselves trying to carry Representative Lewis' torch into a very murky future.
'Pray that his shade leads them forward.
Today's tribute to John Lewis and the "stormtrooper" warning about 45 made me think about how much I have come to rely on your daily analyses of the events in our world. There is definitely a shortage in our world of people with sound critical thinking skills, who have the education and writing skills to pull it all together. I am grateful you bring all of that to the table each day. Thank you. And may John Lewis Rest In Peace. He has earned it.
Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for reminding us over and over of our power and responsibility to bring good change. Even with your death, you remind us to fight the good fight. Rest now. It's up to us to carry on, to make nonviolent #goodtrouble when necessary to fight wrongdoing such as is happening in Portland, OR, and we fear in other places in our suffering country. I hope what's happening in Portland will initiate the same outcry as George Floyd's murder. Both are just variations of the same idea that might makes right.
This is a powerful column, aligning historical context with contemporary mores to bring clarity to our public dialogue. Thank you once again.
We now need the courage of the Freedom Fighters and to multiply their numbers by millions throughout all the states pushing each Govenor to take Lyndon Johnson's role to protect the people from this presidential plague. If there are 13,000,000 people on the streets of American towns and cities PACT and Trump will cower in the corner like the cowards they are. As Representative Lewis said "when the people say NO...." R.I.P.
Representative John Lewis is a shining example of a life well lived. His message is inspiring to hearts weary of this administration's bullying, willful ignorance and outright lying.
I don't know about ya'll, but every time I post something I expect a knock on the door. After seeing what happened in Portland yesterday.... People keep asking: "How can this happen?" Well, it happened one spoonful at a time since 09/11. This is something that Bush Jr. needs to be held accountable for. If anyone believes all of this is happenstance then they are wallowing in ignorance.
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Rep. John Lewis, who is truly a guiding light in these times. Your historical perspective woven together with the appreciation for his contributions reminded me how John Lewis and other civil rights heroes did change minds and helped move us forward. There's a glint of hope in that history that pushes us forward to keep at this.
Once again, thank you for such a moving letter of hope and respect; as well as, fear and loathing. And, you leave us with hope. You are a daily gift.
for the first time I am seeing what an authoritarian leader and government look like (as opposed to simply reading about them in school). The Portland story has almost pushed me over the edge. I just finished Mary Trump’s book and am more frightened for the next 6 months than I thought possible.