Editor’s Note: The passing of an influential and sometimes inspiring Supreme Court Justice has already had a striking impact on our electoral process. It has also revealed some interesting deficiencies in our educational process. For example, the notion that we are a “democracy” seems to be widespread. This logically stems from the failure of our parents and schools to explain why we are a “democratic republic” from our founding, formed in revolt against a foreign king. We could remedy this as a basic feature of our nation’s governance with an amendment to the Constitution, but of course we would then have to discuss why we are what we are. Amending the Constitution is intended to be a sober and universal process, which is not what we seem to be about these days. The implications of all this are profound. One faction of our binary political system appears to be in favor of burning down the most successful society in today’s complex world. Volume and emotion have always been with us, but this is something new as a determining factor. Our trusted author Point Loma has some thoughts on that which are worth consideration. Me? I am going to try to go downtown and vote today and get my part of the process out of the way. It is a remarkable first day of autumn here in the Olde Dominion- CAVU, if you will, and ancient warbirds are flying over the farmhouse in preparation for a celebration of a now-ancient victory over Fascism.
I will let you know how it goes in this little corner of the Republic. It is fun to be a part of history, isn’t it?
– Vic

Author’s Note – I was working on this piece Friday night when word came that RBG had passed from the scene. I’m not going to pick up that thread since I’m sure Vic is hard at work trying to put it into his unique perspective and I won’t be able to do it any more justice than piling on. However, I will observe that, If anything, this event is like lighting the afterburners on the upcoming election campaigns. You just know that President Trump is going to push for a replacement and the amount of shrill outrage and hyperbole will exceed the hysteria over Bork, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh combined. I have a lot of fears about the near future but one that will strike closest to home is that the crazies and the mob (is there any difference?) will feel even more empowered to loot, burn, rape, and rampage on what was once our fine land. And of course, we also have our friends the Chinese, Russians, Iranians, and North Koreans warming up their own versions of “Plan America.” This will not be pretty, but as Vic likes to say, it will be interesting.

Forrest Has left the Building…

I sadly learned that Winston, known as “The Bard of Point Clear, Alabama,” had passed away earlier last week during the height of Hurricane Sally’s destruction of the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coasts. A military historian and writer, he was best known for his novel “Forrest Gump” which was a multi-academy award winning film (six in all) in 1994 starring Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Gary Sinise, and others – you’ve probably seen it.

Like many of us, I have seen the film multiple times and unlike many, I also read the book. There are significant differences – mostly to appeal to audiences and take advantage of having Tom Hanks as the star (ironically Winston got $350,000 for the rights to the screenplay, and Tom Hanks got $20M in the lead role. Winston was supposed to share in the profits but was told by Paramount Studios that the film, which grossed over $600M, lost money…welcome to Hollywood). In both, however, there are similarities to Winston’s life growing up in Mobile, graduating from the University of Alabama, and serving in the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division during Viet Nam.

Like many Mobilians in the 1970s, Winston moved to Point Clear sometime later in the decade, and was a neighbor although I really didn’t know him at the time, since I left there 40 years ago to seek (and found!) adventure as a career Naval officer. But I knew who he was and where he lived – a simple sign by US Highway 98 in Point Clear, and a quiet, distinguished lifestyle. He only published something like 16 books, but Forrest Gump and its film rendition were a grand slam. He was a kind, gentle, funny, and decent guy.

WEB Griffin
Despite that omission in my education, I was able to rectify that somewhat during last year’s memorial service for WEB Griffin, another military writer of some prominence who I did know well growing up, like since 1963 when both our families moved to the Fairhope, Alabama area at the same time. Griffin was almost an exact opposite of Winston in some ways – profane and irreverent with a biting wit and sense of irony and humor; and generally accompanied with a stinking cigar and usually a strong drink in either hand. He always had a story to tell – usually some funny parable or life lesson story he had picked up the hard way while in the Army and later on as a best-selling author, all under the guise of giving me career advice. His memorial service was held in Point Clear at the Grand Hotel, where we grew up, and there were a few local luminaries in attendance – one of them was Winston. So, I finally got to make his acquaintance there and spend a couple of hours that fine but cool afternoon soaking up his stories and wisdom. Griffin wrote something like 300 books that we know of, many of them best sellers, but never sold his script rights to the TV and movie studios for any of his books, despite many offers at the highest levels of management.

Griffin’s son and I remain close friends and he is the one who informed me of Winston’s passing when I called down to Alabama to see how they had fared during Sally. That place is still suffering under the lash of that miserable cyclonic bitch. It is going to take a long time to recover, so say your prayers for them, Winston, RBG, and the country.

He also told me something even more chilling now that he has joined us on the wrong side of 60 – we’re next, time is getting short, and it is later than you think.

I remain your faithful servant.

Copyright 2020 Point Loma
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