Rodger Recommends: Contrarians

At a time in both American and world politics, where the concept of compromise is labeled disloyal or even traitorous, I like to study influential people who made an entire career out of such behavior. My favorite was the human paradox, George Bernard Shaw. He was celibate until he was 29 and from that time on a womanizer. He drank like an Irishman and challenged English society including loyalty in war time. He refused to behave.

He was an Irish playwright, music and literary critic, author, and political commentator who at one time or another embraced Marxism and Fascism, Socialism, and the world of a wildly successful artist with all of its trappings. His writings were often political and always critiques of the society he lived in. He labeled his critics. He used satire. He abhorred racism but embraced eugenics, or the use of selective breeding to create better humans. He championed evolutionary rather than revolutionary reform of a world that he felt was unjust. That is until the dictatorships of the early 1900’s in Italy and Germany and Russia seemed on the verge of reforming society. His embracing of authoritarian leadership for a more just world collapsed as those same leaders led the world into the first world war and then the second.

In our times, we might label such men as hypocrites for revising their beliefs. We denounce men of strong beliefs who advance them with words, actions, and method that we don’t like. GBS as he signed most of his work was passionately right until he was wrong, outspoken in his words until they were proven prophetic. His life from the late 1800s until 1950 was one where those who disagreed with him did so with passion and those who somehow followed his mental gyrations to what he saw as a better world supported him. He was the only man to win both an Oscar for film work in the US and the Nobel Prize. Even those who disagreed with him often came to recognize his amazing ability to define us. 

I encourage my readers to learn a little about this walking paradox from our past. It might help us understand each other. I like to reread some of his work when crafting a character who fits my model of a reluctant hero.

The reasonable man adapts his life to the world around him.

The unreasonable man seeks to adapt the world to himself.

Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. (GBS)

Rodger's Top 5: Most-Important Presidents In American Politics

As a writer who writes both historical adventures and current event thrillers, I pay a lot of attention to politics and how present political currents contrast with those in the past. With that in mind, I thought I would devote this column to the Five Presidents who I believe were most important in American politics.

George Washington: The man who could be king, instead retired at the end of the Revolutionary War. Later as President of the Constitutional Convention he helped hammer out the compromises that led to adoption of The Constitution of the United States. As President of the country, he worked diligently not to interfere with policy making which was reserved to Congress. He left the Presidency frustrated by the divisions created by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and warned of the future divisions of powerful political parties.

Abraham Lincoln: As a young attorney, Lincoln was outspoken about the evils of slavery. As the Republican candidate for President, he so scared the Southern political base that his name didn’t even appear on several Southern States ballots. As President he tried to walk a more middle ground, but the outbreak of the Civil War forced his focus on preserving the Union and the federal role in ending slavery. His legacy includes The United States and the end of

Slavery, and a strong Republican Party focused on liberty not popularity.

Teddy Roosevelt: Perhaps our most vigorous president, he charted a new direction for the country by making the government arbiter of economic disagreement, primarily between labor and the all-powerful business trusts which he broke up under the Sherman act. He was our first conservationist, protecting America’s land treasures. He pressed the country into a leadership role in international affairs, under the motto, “speak softly but carry a big stick.” He saw his role as “steward of the people.” He was America’s first populist Republican President.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Our only four term president, FDR’s first term began as the Great Depression threw 13 million men out of work and collapsed almost every bank in the country. He used the power of the federal government to create new banking controls, massive public relief programs, Social Security, and income-based taxes. He professed a neutral foreign policy, but with the rise of authoritarian governments in Europe and Japan, he began quietly arming other democracies and building America’s military. He left a legacy of government intrusion into the lives of its citizens, (which got him re-elected three times), and the USA as a world power.

Woodrow Wilson: Among his achievements was the prohibition of child labor, federal support for an 8-hour workday, and government limits on unfair business practices. But Wilson did far more damage than good. The son of a Ku Klux Klan leader and rabid racist he dismantled almost all of the reconstruction legislation that had been created to bring former slaves into the general economy of the country. His internationalist foreign policy included supporting the Communist Revolution in Russia, only to be betrayed by the Bolsheviks who took Russia out of World War I just as the United States took up the majority of fighting on the Eastern Front. Feeling betrayed he unleashed his Attorney General and the legal system on perceived enemies and radicals, creating a legacy of judicial persecution.

Rodger’s Two Cents: The Palmer Raids

Be aware of the risks of collective punishment.

In my Rodger’s Top 5 post for this month, I take a shot at the man I believe was our worst president, Woodrow Wilson. One of his most damaging decisions was the appointment of Mitchell Palmer as Attorney General. Wilson was our first self-identified Progressive President, and one of our biggest hypocrites. Faced with the double-cross of the Bolsheviks in Russia, whom he had quietly supported, Wilson unleashed a wave of raids on the country to root out communists, socialists, anarchists, and other radicals. To be fair, the country had seen a small wave of anarchist attacks including letter bombs sent to influential politicians from a tiny group who followed the Italian anarchist Luigi Galleani. But Palmer heard politically challenging speech behind every bush.

Wilson had warned against what he called hyphenated-Americans. He had already purged black Americans from the government and rolled back enforcement of his predecessors’ laws to bring former slaves into the fabric of the country. Beginning in November of 1919, Attorney General Palmer ignored due process and the warrant system to launch a series of raids against “radicals” in the country, especially the same Communists that Wilson had helped overthrow the government of Russia. The targets included Italian immigrants, Jewish immigrants, labor activists, and other “threats.”

These raids did not target individuals, but groups and locations where radicals met. Much of the activity was coordinated by newly appointed 24-year-old J. Edger Hoover. Palmer had given him the go ahead to use almost any means necessary to round up and deport these menaces to society. On November 7, 1919, the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, raids on The Russian Workers Party in 12 cities commenced. Many were threatened and beaten, even group of teachers conducting night classes at a targeted building were arrested. All of this was justified by Palmer’s “intelligence” that radicals were going to launch a nationwide effort to overthrow the democracy on May Day 1920.

Over a three-month period, more than 10,000 were arrested, but most of the cases were thrown out over lack of evidence. In New York, over 650 were arrested, but only 43 were ever deported, most over simple immigration law violations. Eventually about 500 in total were deported. When the May Day rebellion against democracy failed to materialize, Palmer’s credibility collapsed, but his efforts and the methods of Hoover to use the justice system to root out opposition had become part of our political fabric.

Today, in a divided nation, both sides label the other and the use of warped judicial processes to subdue our opponents is still with us. Collective labeling and fear mongering has become political strategy. The use of the justice system as part of that is our greatest threat.

Rodger That: DEI Is A Political Movement

Sometimes I am guilty of accepting too much at face value. For example, the term DEI, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion makes a lot of sense to me. We don’t live in a perfect world, but a society where we see diversity around us certainly broadens our perspective. We are stronger when we include people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. I struggle with the equity thing, only because to achieve total equity eliminates the power of reward for individual effort.

In my book, Awake: We’re Not So Divided, I wrote about a visit to a prison, where there is probably as much equality as anywhere in society due to the circumstances of being part of an incarcerated group. The food is the same, living conditions the same, recreation the same, reward system the same, pretty damned equal. But ask any prisoner which he prefers, equality or liberty and liberty wins every time.

DEI is a political movement. In the history of this country we seem to embark on a new movement about every 20 years. Often these are justified by some kind of science. Social science is less exact than physical science, and it is used to justify movements. But history teaches us that science itself can be proven wrong. At one time science said the world was flat. In the early 1700s science said white European people were more advanced than all others. In the last 50 years, I can’t even recall how many things I like to eat that science said were bad for me before they were good for me and vice versa.

Almost all political movements, like DEI come along and replace one that came before; sometimes with unexpected results. The question is, what is DEI replacing, and what has been gained or lost. I’m thinking about this because research for my upcoming Team Walker book is at least hinting at how our nation’s enemies are manipulating the sources we use to justify political movements and even the science.

Rodger Recommends: Finding Voices Outside Your Echo Chamber

You never know where the inspiration for a good story might come from, or a key character or setting. One thing about writing adventure or thrillers is that a story is no good without a crisis that needs fixing or a problem that, without a protagonist's intervention, will become a crisis.

I like for my readers to understand why the bad guys (or girls) are bad. The first beta reader of my first book a long time ago, loved the story, but she couldn’t get past how my hero was too good to be believable. So where do you get ideas to humanize evil or to rub a little mud on the face of a hero?

I devote more than an hour each day to news programs and to blogs and newsletters. You probably also commit some time to what is being said about the world. But for me, to find the inspiration for good and bad, and tips about where history might be misleading or a current event is being manipulated, it is important to commit myself to sources on each side.

For broadcast news that includes PBS, MSNBC, FOX and OAN. I monitor a dozen different podcasts and e-magazines. It is really amazing when the left, left-left and the right and right-right align on an issue or person or place. It’s nice to see a little agreement. But there is never a story there.

Where we differ is the story of America. If I can take readers to someplace they will never go to, or an issue they might never pay attention to, then I have a story. I find that comes most often from personally finding voices outside my echo chamber.

Noatak Christmas

The Noatak Valley of Alaska is remote, stunningly beautiful, and still missing many of the accoutrements of modern urban life. Most of its inhabitants are Alaska Native, still hunting and gathering the necessities of a rich and secluded life.

The heavy door shuddered as Wyatt threw his shoulder against it, stumbling into the overheated cabin. He wiped caked snow from his eyebrows and trimmed beard. “I not hear your machine,” said Agatha, rushing across the tiny room to help her husband from his Parka. She hung it on a peg behind the tiny decorated tree.

“Broke down about a mile from here. The storm hit about an hour after the helicopter took off with Travis. It must be blowin’ fifty out there. Thank God it’s just spittin’ snow and not too cold. Easy walk except for the wind.”

“How bad was the wreck?” Agatha asked. “The radio don’t say when they called us for help. Only says he crashed over on Snowshoe Lake. Two more minutes, he’d a been here.” “My brother got out before the Cessna burned. He was talking all goofy when I got there, all mixed up about Squirrel’s present. Kept talking about a Ruger when I ordered a Winchester. The Army paramedic on the rescue helicopter thinks it’s just a concussion. He broke both legs, but they will heal.”

“Can we go back tomorrow and salvage any of the supplies? What about the mail-order presents?”

“There is no reason to walk three miles and back. There’s just a pile of cinders and melted aluminum.”

Agatha poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wyatt. He pulled a chair over next to the wood stove and began unlacing his boots. He tugged off his canvas pants and hung them next to the tree. “You and Squirrel finished stringing the popcorn. Is Squirrel asleep?”

Agatha retreated to the table and picked up the otter skin parka she had been sewing. She pointed at the loft and smiled. “I’ll finish Squirrel’s new coat tonight.” Her hands looked tiny holding the long metal needle she used to sew leather. “We got our present. Travis is alive.”

The wind howled outside. The only sound inside the cabin was the crackle of burning spruce logs. Wyatt sat, nursing his steaming tea. He mentally took inventory of their supplies. Things would be tight, but they would be okay for a couple of months, plenty of time to get another order on an airplane from Fairbanks. “I’ll order Squirrel another .22 rifle. An eight-year-old boy should learn to shoot. He’ll be disappointed that there is nothing under the tree.”

“The village will be serving the Christmas Love Feast tomorrow,” said Agatha. “I wish the ham and the rest of dinner had survived.” She refilled her own tea mug. “I will bake a moose roast. We will use the last of our potatoes. I have canned corn.”

Her husband said nothing, just sat rubbing his feet. He glanced at his watch. “It’s after midnight. Merry Christmas to the prettiest girl in the Noatak country.”

Agatha smiled. “I guess Santa got lost in the storm, maybe. He’ll probably have to send his presents some other way,” she added looking up at the loft. “It’s time for bed.” The smell of frying Spam awoke both father and son. “Can we use the radio to see if Santa is really lost?” asked Squirrel. “Maybe he is looking for Thomas, that’s how I signed my letter to him.” The boy ate the last of his pancakes, staring at the tree.

“If he got lost, he’ll have to send his presents some other way,” replied Agatha. “Maybe the helicopter scared his reindeer but I’m glad that Uncle Travis is okay.” The boy excused himself and pulled on his canvass coat then tugged his hat and gloves from the line above the stove. “I’ll refill the woodbin.”

He tugged open the cabin door, and tripped, tumbling into the snow, then screamed.

Both mother and father were out the door instantly. There on the ground lay Squirrel. In front of him a roly-poly, long haired yellow puppy sat staring at him. The dog had a ribbon around his neck and a tag. “What’s the tag say?” asked a startled Agatha.

Squirrel pulled the puppy into his arms. He looked at the tag. “It says Ruger.”

###

Rodger That: The Difference Between Conspiracies and Fiction Writing

One of the great joys of being a writer is that my books introduce me to people from all walks of life and all persuasions. One of my most passionate new readers is a young man, a veteran with a new family, a good job and fascinating conversational skills. He follows at least a half-dozen Facebook Influencers, podcasts and on-line narrations from “patriot conspiracy theorists.”

He asked me today what I thought of a couple of “current conspiracy theories.” We took a few minutes to discuss, not the theories themselves, but rather how he came to hear about them. What became clear was that, like someone who writes historical thrillers, the people who promote these conspiracies begin with a nugget of truth and then build a story around that nugget. Like promoting fiction, the more the story interacts with what the reader already believes or tears at something they hold dear, the more the readers engage with the story and the more they pass it on.

There are two fundamental differences between writing fiction and promoting conspiracies. Fiction writers admit that the story is made up and the good ones write it in a way that the reader not only doesn’t care but enjoys the story more because their primary reason for reading it is enjoyment. Conspiracy writers write in a way that the readers are so challenged that they cannot walk away from the story without deciding that it is or is not truth.

A good novel asks the reader to engage with the writer to fill in the character’s profiles, to visualize the settings as suggested by the writer, and to quickly determine whether the plot is credible. I encourage my readers, who come away from one of my stories wanting more information on the subject to do a little research of their own.

Most conspiracy writers approach their work very differently. They tell the followers what is right, what is real and provide a narrow set of facts to prove it. Readers who question the premise, are encouraged to go to other conspiracy writers. They reinforce each other’s ideas in much the same way that Facebook Influencers support each other. I am not saying that some conspiracy stories are not pointing to important issues that need to be explored. But many are nonsense.

How do you sort it all out? First, trust your own eyes. Most of us are highly experienced in recognizing what is real. Second, trust your head to guide your heart, not the other way around. Finally do a little digging of your own, do your own fact checking.

If you really love complex plots and conspiracy, and enjoy getting drawn into them, find a good fiction author you like and let them take you into the unknown. They won’t expect anything more from you than reading their next book.

Rodger's Top 5: Christmas Joys

1. I’m old enough to remember ranch houses without running water, and intermittent electricity. I loved carrying wood from the woodshed, whole milk from the barn, and the glow of kerosene lamps on Christmas trees decorated with homemade ornaments and strings of popcorn.

2. My own kids love books. I love finding a book or two as presents and the joy of them taking gift cards to the bookstore to select their own.

3. I grew up both within a church community and outside of it. I am never closer to God than when I’m outdoors, surrounded by beauty unblemished by man. I try to spend part of every Christmas on cross country skis or snowshoes with Carmen, making our own trails.

4. It was only decades ago when the people of the Middle East, especially the Abraham faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all watched warmly as each celebrated their most cherished holidays. The propaganda of the Nazis, looking for allies among the Islamic peoples began to erode that and the policies from the Iranian Revolution, (part of the plot from my book The Shadow Game), drove wedges between the groups. Among my dreams for the future is a refocusing on what we share instead of how we differ.

5. Among my Christmas joys in recent years is our annual holiday trip to Costco where we load up the car with pies, and turkeys, hams and other goodies to deliver to local groups helping others.

Rodger Recommends: Gone Fishing

Anyone who has read my blog or Facebook posts over the years knows that I have a passion for the outdoors. It is a critical part of my life and my personal well-being. Sitting on a rock and watching a river run, usually with a fly rod next to me is therapy. So is rowing a boat, trolling for trout on a lake or sitting in the back of a small boat looking for dorado and sailfish in Mexico.

Imagine my joy to find that a recent study done by Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, Ulster University and Queens University in Belfast quantified the value of hours of fishing. Those who took part in angling more regularly were almost 17% less likely to report being diagnosed with mental health conditions. Those who fished more frequently saw an even greater impact.

Fishing people shed stress just by being there, they come home more relaxed and the focus on fishing allows them to ‘blank out’ other concerns on their mind. They have better mental health and fishing also encourages more physical activity. Both mental health and physical health improve, even for those with health issues.

One British fisherman added, “Being in the great outdoors is good for the soul.”

With traces of snow in my yard this October morning, and a love of fishing in Alaska, you probably will not be able to reach me for a couple of days in the next week as I cram in a little more mental health fishing before the waters turn to ice.

Wherever you are, I encourage you to join me. Fall fishing with the turning colors and crisp air is really special.

Rodger That: Desire Driven Judgment

There was a time when I set out to be a VERY wealthy businessman. I owned and was running two fast growing successful companies. It became obvious that investments in three related fields could be successful and would help drive the success of my existing efforts. So, over a one-year period, I invested in three new startups. I found great staff people and field employees, but to pull it off, I didn’t hire any more strategic managers. All five firms began to take off. Working 70-hour weeks became the norm. I’d been single for years, so no problem there.

Then one day, a diagnosed fatty tumor lump turned out to be a very rare vascular sarcoma cancer. The doctors had no idea how to treat it, but I had one who was willing to try. His therapy included surgery which crippled my mobility and radiation therapy which sapped me of strength. I was gone from my office for weeks, and then my energy levels only allowed 20-hour work weeks. Within months, my mini empire was collapsing. I’d been warned that I was biting off too much, but desire based on past experience was a hard thing to rein in; too many tradeoffs. Over the next year, two of the startups failed. I was able to save the third by selling it to my employees for about half of what I had invested. With only half the energy to run one company I sold one of my established businesses to my employees, netting about what I’d invested years before. I continued to run the last company, but my life had changed. I’d lost about 80% of my net worth, but my kids were still doing well in college and my dog still loved me. All of a sudden, my priorities had nothing to do with wealth. That’s when I began setting up my life to pursue a lifelong passion for writing. It was a great call.

Sometimes we make dumb decisions driven by desire. I’m reminded of this period in my life as I watch what is going on this month in Washington DC. I’d watched months before as one man was so driven to become the Speaker of the House that he piled concession on concession and bad call after bad call. He won the Speaker’s chair even as many told him he was building a house of cards. Commitments he’d made became impossible to keep as situations beyond his control evolved. I don’t know how the race to elect a new speaker will turn out, but for Kevin McCarthy, I hope it leads him to a greater personal dream.