After the Storm

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Erik Hare | 18 Comments

You first see the lightening spark out of the angry clouds. Perhaps a sense of anxiety rose as the pressure dropped. By the time the heavy wet smell of rain came you may have had a sharp taste of fear in the back of your throat. The deafening roar as the atmosphere falls around you covers sirens wailing out the obvious in the wind.

The thunderstorms that roll through the Midwest leave a mark on every sense as the experience washes over the lives of those caught in it. The recent debt ceiling debate in Washington progressed like a storm, building its way to a climax that never had a chance to live up to its intro. With the rain passed the damage assessment will take time – but the mark on everyone’s heart and mind is clear. We’re going to watch storms more closely for at least a while.

What that means after this political storm is not obvious, but it is visceral.

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Rathskeller

Posted on 20 July 2011 by Erik Hare | 20 Comments

The tower rises from the heart of West Seventh, defining and defying the passage of time and the lay of the community. The Schmidt Brewery is the West End to many people because it rises like an old oak from secure roots to dominate the skyline longer than anyone can remember. Its endurance is remarkable because it cannot be ignored yet somehow has been neglected, too big to care for and yet too important to imagine life without.

That’s how the Fort Road Federation, through the help of the City of Saint Paul, came to acquire the property for redevelopment. Decades of tireless work by many people, led by City Councilmember Dave Thune, has reached another turning point for this symbol of a community and its endurance. After years of planning and haggling it has a new owner and, soon, a new use.

I toured the site as member of the Federation’s Board of Directors. I’d like to show you one small but vital part of this great site, the Rathskeller. It is one of the hidden jewels of Saint Paul, soon to be uncovered once again.

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Gentleman

Posted on 11 July 2011 by Erik Hare | 19 Comments

The charcoal fire cooled to a weak glow as the burgers settled into our stomachs after a lazy Fourth of July dinner in the backyard. My kids and I talked, as we always do after a meal, about whatever wistfully entered our minds as we passed the heaps of quantity time I’ve taught them to treasure.

“I wonder what Jefferson would say if we could bring him to today,” my daughter asked. I stalled as I wondered about it. My son, more into science than public policy, thought Benjamin Franklin would be more interesting. I latched onto this because “Bonhomme Richard” was more outgoing experienced traversing new cultures, so his measured response would be based on careful observation. “I think all the political correctness would seem strange to him,” my daughter added. And that’s when it came to me.

“No, I don’t think so,” I answered as fatherly as I could. “I think he would see that as nothing more than a kind politeness – the way a gentleman should behave in a different world.” And I realized that it was that simple concept – being a “gentleman” – that is missing in so much of our public discourse and gives a greater meaning to the bits of politeness and respect we have left.

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Founding Fathers

Posted on 4 July 2011 by Erik Hare | 20 Comments

Most nations emerged slowly from the mists of time, perhaps with some legendary figure like King Arthur to mark when their history might as well begin. Others have a hero like Fr. Hidalgo, who stood up and said it was time for a new nation. Ireland had two heroes, de Valera and Collins, destined to become rivals. Many nations like Canada formed gradually as their parent nation slowly watched them grow up.

Not the USofA. We are a nation that, nearly uniquely, has a collection of “Founding Fathers” who had their own roles, intellects, and egos. That makes their lesson more difficult than other nations but even more critical. They only can be spoken of as a group to the extent that they learned to put their differences aside and force themselves to be something greater than they were as individuals. When that message is forgotten something deep at the heart of our nation is lost as well.

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Google+

Posted on 29 June 2011 by Erik Hare | 19 Comments

I have never been one to write about the latest new web-based gadget, especially not before it has launched. You, my readers, told me the last time that I asked, that social media gizmos were not something that you wanted to hear about. But the announcement of google+ has me more excited about a web tool than I have been in a long time.

It’s not just because I see a strong competitor for facebook, a platform I dislike. There is a philosophy behind this new platform that is far stronger than the elements of their presentation.

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