WE THE PEOPLE...WILL SURVIVE
Vol 80 - June 20, 2026
FROM THE WRITER’S DESK
Welcome to another issue of Webber's Whipping Post.
First things first - Happy Anniversary to my Wife
WE THE PEOPLE…WILL SURVIVE
Commentary by Alan N Webber
“Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.”
That was the statement released by the Commodores after they withdrew from President Trump’s planned celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, joining five other acts that also pulled out of the event.
Ironically, their statement perfectly illustrates the problem with politics in America today.
If they truly support the betterment of all Americans, why not participate in a celebration honoring the nation itself?
We’re told some performers didn’t want to be associated with an event connected to Trump because they wanted to appeal to their entire fan base, not just Trump supporters. Though by pulling out, they managed to alienate millions of Trump-supporting Americans anyway. That’s a curious strategy.
Next month, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. Think about that for a moment. Two hundred and fifty years.
Through wars, depressions, political scandals, social upheaval, economic booms and busts, and every imaginable disagreement, the American experiment has endured. Yet somehow we’ve reached a point where many people can’t agree to celebrate our country’s birthday.
Opponents of the event argue there are more pressing issues facing the nation, including economic concerns, social justice causes, and international conflicts. Fair enough. Those are important issues.
But when exactly has America ever been free of pressing issues?
The Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence while risking execution for treason…
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT
Ship of Fools - The men from Saxon Brothers are back - this time chasing something far more dangerous than freight. Available December 2, 2026.
Like where these stories go? I’ve built a series of literary tales centered around Victorian authors. Available wherever eBooks are sold. Browse the full collection, read samples, and choose your preferred bookstore.
Guest Opinion by Chris Sorensen
GROWING UP IN THE 70’S & 80’S
A Different World from Today
For those like me who grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, childhood was an experience that often feels worlds apart from what young people know today. While every generation believes its youth was unique, there is something undeniably different about growing up before smartphones, social media, GPS tracking, and instant access to information. Life moved at a slower pace, friendships were built face-to-face, and independence was learned through experience rather than supervision.
One of the biggest differences was the freedom we enjoyed. Parents typically sent us outside in the morning with a simple instruction: be home when the streetlights come on. There were no cell phones to check in with, no location-sharing apps, and often no one knew exactly where we were throughout the day. We spent hours riding bikes (they were not electric), exploring woods, building forts, playing pickup games, and creating adventures from our own imagination.
Safety standards were also very different. We rode bicycles without helmets, played on metal playground equipment that became scorching hot in the summer, and launched toy cars off homemade ramps. Scrapes, bruises, and occasional broken bones were considered part of growing up. Parents expected us to learn from our mistakes and develop resilience along the way.
Entertainment in the 70s and 80s required patience and creativity. Television offered only a handful of channels, and favorite shows aired at specific times. If you missed an episode, there was no streaming service waiting to replay it. Saturday morning cartoons…
CUB’S CORNER
Standing just 5’6”, Robert “Hack” Wilson proved that baseball greatness isn’t measured in inches.
Although he played for four different Major League clubs, it was his years with the Chicago Cubs that cemented his place in baseball history. In 1930, Wilson delivered one of the greatest hitting seasons ever recorded, belting 56 home runs, a National League record for 68 years, while driving in an incredible 191 runs, a Major League mark that remains untouched nearly a century later.
Wilson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, ensuring that one of the Cubs’ greatest sluggers would never be forgotten.
Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue
by Tobey Keith
The first in a series of songs honoring America as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
Few artists captured the spirit of patriotism quite like Toby Keith. Throughout his career, he recorded a number of songs celebrating the American experience, the men and women who serve our country, and the freedoms we often take for granted.
Though Toby passed away in 2024, his music continues to resonate with millions of Americans. He was unapologetically patriotic, deeply supportive of our military, and proud of the nation he called home.
Did this newsletter remind you of anything from your own life?
Hit Reply and tell us about it.
COUNTDOWN TO 250
Paul Harvey - Freedom Has Never Been Free
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That’s a wrap, folks!
— AW