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Albert E. Burke: Difference between revisions
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==Way of Thinking== | ==Way of Thinking== | ||
<span style="font-family:sans-serif; font-size:120%;">[https://sites.google.com/site/dralberteburke/the-burke-center-for-environmental-and-international-studies The Burke Center for Environmental and International Studies] | |||
[https://sites.google.com/site/dralberteburke/environmentalist Environmentalist]</span> | |||
The excerpt below from <mark>''Enough Good Men'' [Nov 1962]</mark> in the <mark>chapter ''Dirt, People and History—I''</mark> is a fine example of how Dr. Burke related historical events to the environment around us. The only aspect missing in merely this printed word, is the timing and the inflection in the way Dr. Burke presented it: <mark>Origin of "A Pact With the Unborn" —</mark> | |||
That kind of freedom grew among a people with <mark>elbowroom</mark>; few Americans in a big land. With plenty of elbowroom, twenty-three million Americans back in 1889 were free to turn their Oklahoman upside down <mark>irresponsibly</mark>; and they didn't mind too much when the United States government stepped in to help them. Today's much larger American population has less of that "elbowroom," on farmlands, in mines, in good water, good air, or in any natural resource. Today's American has less, and poorer quality resources to work and live with. We are no longer free to do as we please with them; but many among us today still mind very much that, since stepping in to help deal with problems like that emergency in 1890, the government has never really stepped out of what were once our private affairs. | |||
This <mark>resentment</mark> has led to a new parlor game in this country during the <mark>last thirty years ['30s-'50s]</mark>, a dangerous <mark>game of name-calling</mark> called "<mark>creeping socialism</mark>." It is played by too many Americans today who <mark>simplify things too much</mark>. Often they <mark>know little to nothing</mark> about the kind of American history made by <mark>irresponsible men who forced the government into what were then our private affairs</mark>. That record clearly <mark>shows what happens when individual Americans misuse their private affairs by making them public problems</mark>. When that point is reached, the government always steps in. | |||
Americans who play this dangerous new <mark>game of "creeping socialism"</mark> see that government, their <mark>government, as one of the greatest dangers to our future as a free people</mark>. In doing so they <mark>misuse the word "socialism"</mark> and they <mark>misread their own history</mark>. The <mark>problem has never been "creeping socialism" in our American government. It has always been creeping irresponsibility among too many Americans</mark>. | |||
<html><div class="left vid margin-r" style="width:160px; clear:both;"><div><iframe width="150" height="80" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8hwqdQ0SkjQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Daniel Boone (TV series) — theme song</div></html>[[wikipedia:Daniel_Boone_(1964_TV_series)|Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)]] | Wikipedia — popular shortly after Dr. Burke published his book ''Enough Good Men'' (Nov 1962) that referenced "elbowroom". | |||
[[wikipedia:Daniel_Boone|Daniel Boone]] | Wikipedia | |||
Elbowroom was a prominent theme in early 20th century poem ''Daniel Boone'' by American poet Arthur Guiterman. | |||
[[wikipedia:Arthur_Guiterman|Arthur Guiterman]] | Wikipedia | |||
''[https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/daniel-boone-1 Daniel Boone]'' by Arthur Guiterman | |||
Shakespeare may have coined elbowroom in his 1597 play “King John.” The dying king in the final act is carried out into the orchard, situated on the castle grounds; breathing the fresh air, King John says, “Ah ... now my soul hath elbow room.” | |||
=="Creeping Socialism"== | =="Creeping Socialism"== | ||