I drove out to the Debs Dinner with a DSA comrade who's also probably the first open socialist elected to office in Indiana since the time of Debs.
As we drove home, I turned to him and said that this was sort of an epic moment, I wonder whether there will be a story about in on the nightly news or pape back in Indy. There wasn't.
Thank you for writing this story. Thank you for keeping the fire alive.
Thank you so much for pointing out the snide reductionism in the discourse about “red” and “blue” states. These are not immutable characteristics - in large part they’ve been cultivated over the decades by powerful interests with particular goals. IA has changed from purple to red just in the 15 years since I started grad school here. But even so, there are more Dems and likeminded people in the woodwork than most outside pundits realize - and not just in the college towns.
Very well done. Agree that much as I love Debs, he takes a back seat to Larry Legend! (Whom I like to fantasize is a lefty based solely on his friendship with Bill Walton and my own wish fulfillment.)
Here’s that audio documentary Bernie made (or at least narrated) on Debs from back in the day:
I dreamt of Eugene Debs last night. My word. How prophetic is this article. Thank you Nolan Hamilton. You have struck a responsive chord. We must uplift Debs vision for America
I was in the UTU for 45 years working on the railroad out of Jefferson City Mo. Never heard this story, thank you for enlightening me. My wife and I keep attending the No Kings rallies there but I still can't figure out how to actually get a result that makes sense.
Thanks for this piece! Without it I wouldn't have known this event happened. Maybe one day this country will honor Debs as it should. (Meanwhile the local AFL-CIO has endorsed a slate of right-wingers for city council and school committee. Ugh!)
As a Hoosier, there are many reasons I am discouraged and disgusted with my state, not least of which is because it is allegedly the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, Debs is the only thing I'm proud of. However, Terre Haute being so close to Illinois I think he's probably as much theirs as ours.
“Courage, my friend. ‘Tis not too late to build a better world.”
In my own feeble practice of cultivating hope I've been thinking a lot about what a better world could look like and what that social and political compact might entail.
From our government we demand a radical commitment to human dignity.
From ourselves and each other we demand a radical commitment to human decency.
A place where a child who has none of my advantages, let alone the uncountable advantages of a billionaires child, could not just survive but thrive.
Where safety, contentment or the possibility of joy aren't incumbent purely on the accident of birth.
Eloquently said, dear Hamilton. You made us feel the momentum of Terra Haute. Solidarity is catching. Keep stomping and stumping with Sara, AOC, and Bernie...in the loving spirit of Mr. Debs.
Thanks for capturing the perfect antidote to despair -- which is not an option!
I attended with nearly 20 members of Railroad Workers United (RWU).
In 1905, when Debs founded one of the first industrial unions in the U.S., he wrote "Why should the railroad employees be parceled out among a score of different organizations? They are all employed in the same service. Their interests are mutual. They ought to be able to act together as one."
In 1918, he again proved that he was ahead of his time: "She alone who suffers the agony of birth shall have control of the creative functions with which she is endowed."
LONG LIVE THE EXAMPLE OF EUGENE V DEBS!! SOLIDARITY FOREVER!!
I drove out to the Debs Dinner with a DSA comrade who's also probably the first open socialist elected to office in Indiana since the time of Debs.
As we drove home, I turned to him and said that this was sort of an epic moment, I wonder whether there will be a story about in on the nightly news or pape back in Indy. There wasn't.
Thank you for writing this story. Thank you for keeping the fire alive.
Great article! Thank you so much! Uplifting and inspiring!
Fantastic and important reporting!!!!
Thank you so much for pointing out the snide reductionism in the discourse about “red” and “blue” states. These are not immutable characteristics - in large part they’ve been cultivated over the decades by powerful interests with particular goals. IA has changed from purple to red just in the 15 years since I started grad school here. But even so, there are more Dems and likeminded people in the woodwork than most outside pundits realize - and not just in the college towns.
Spectacular article. Proud to have been in attendance! I may (or may not!) have been the one that yelled "Bullshit!".
✊️
I know I'm exposing my ignorance, but thanks for a great intro to Eugene Debs.
Very well done. Agree that much as I love Debs, he takes a back seat to Larry Legend! (Whom I like to fantasize is a lefty based solely on his friendship with Bill Walton and my own wish fulfillment.)
Here’s that audio documentary Bernie made (or at least narrated) on Debs from back in the day:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oY2mQxm4SNQ&pp=ygUNU2FuZGVycyBkZWJzIA%3D%3D
There's a story about Larry Bird touring the Debs house
I saw that! Here’s hoping.
I dreamt of Eugene Debs last night. My word. How prophetic is this article. Thank you Nolan Hamilton. You have struck a responsive chord. We must uplift Debs vision for America
This was such a great read. Very inspiring.
I was in the UTU for 45 years working on the railroad out of Jefferson City Mo. Never heard this story, thank you for enlightening me. My wife and I keep attending the No Kings rallies there but I still can't figure out how to actually get a result that makes sense.
Thanks for this piece! Without it I wouldn't have known this event happened. Maybe one day this country will honor Debs as it should. (Meanwhile the local AFL-CIO has endorsed a slate of right-wingers for city council and school committee. Ugh!)
As a Hoosier, there are many reasons I am discouraged and disgusted with my state, not least of which is because it is allegedly the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, Debs is the only thing I'm proud of. However, Terre Haute being so close to Illinois I think he's probably as much theirs as ours.
“Courage, my friend. ‘Tis not too late to build a better world.”
In my own feeble practice of cultivating hope I've been thinking a lot about what a better world could look like and what that social and political compact might entail.
From our government we demand a radical commitment to human dignity.
From ourselves and each other we demand a radical commitment to human decency.
A place where a child who has none of my advantages, let alone the uncountable advantages of a billionaires child, could not just survive but thrive.
Where safety, contentment or the possibility of joy aren't incumbent purely on the accident of birth.
What a world that could be.
Inspiring, and we could all use a little inspiration right now. Thank you for this.
Eloquently said, dear Hamilton. You made us feel the momentum of Terra Haute. Solidarity is catching. Keep stomping and stumping with Sara, AOC, and Bernie...in the loving spirit of Mr. Debs.
Thanks for capturing the perfect antidote to despair -- which is not an option!
I attended with nearly 20 members of Railroad Workers United (RWU).
In 1905, when Debs founded one of the first industrial unions in the U.S., he wrote "Why should the railroad employees be parceled out among a score of different organizations? They are all employed in the same service. Their interests are mutual. They ought to be able to act together as one."
In 1918, he again proved that he was ahead of his time: "She alone who suffers the agony of birth shall have control of the creative functions with which she is endowed."
LONG LIVE THE EXAMPLE OF EUGENE V DEBS!! SOLIDARITY FOREVER!!