Sorry if this comes across almost like an "assignment," but in the spirit of friendship, conversation, deeper thought, and all the issues that sometimes come up here . . . may I share this podcast done recently by my very close childhood friend, Mr. Chuck F. Sams III? Have known him since grade school, and he is truly one of my 4-5 best friends in the world. He's also now our current US Director of National Parks, for which all his friends are tremendously proud.
In this podcast (which would be superb for a long walk or two), he goes over all kinds of ground. Some of it might give you a better understanding of where some of my comments come from and Chuck and I aren't at all far apart. He is a Democrat, and I am Independent, probably emotional lean more Democrat, economically just slightly Republican.
Chuck was nicknamed "Boogie" by his grandmother at age 2 because of how he'd dance in front of the TV out on the Umatilla Indian Reservation when funky 70s music would come on. All through childhood and still today, he is "Boogie Sams" to his friends. We love him dearly. By the way, my friends and other class leaders got him over the top as the first-ever Native American student body President at our high school in 1987. This was a HUGE deal in Pendleton as it marked a true moment of increasing reconciliation and cooperation between the town and the Rez, something that has only grown in the last 30 years.
In this podcast, he covers so many DEEP issues that resonate, I truly think that people on this board would greatly enjoy. If you do, please feel free to post some comments as it would bring joy to me. In particular, I can point you to three major unmissable things:
1) I had dinner with Boog last December and heard the opening story about his swearing in at the Lincoln Memorial on the exact spot where Dr. Martin Luther King made his I Have a Dream speech in person. It's a very powerful story of why Boog chose the Lincoln Memorial for this moment.
2) Mid-way, he relays a story involving his grandfather, Chuck Sams, Sr., that talks about maintaining salmon weirs in the Blue Mountains. The power and beauty of this story I first heard as a child, but the conclusion a little after college. It moves me to tears. Don't miss it.
3) The ending story about Boog's military service and the true significance of medals and honors might even be one level more powerful. I played it for my Dad, a 25-year Oregon National Guard vet, and he cried because he had been slightly careless with one of his medals. You can bet the others are now well-preserved to eventually go to me.
The deeper meaning of this last part and how awareness of that kind of idea is something that could really help our world. So while kind of like an assignment, may I please ask if you consider listening to this? I hope it comes like a gift. https://www.ivoox.com/en/10-director-charles-sams-audios-mp3_rf_93738822_1.html
Honestly, I think David would get a lot out of this. Could I ask that perhaps Dan alert him somehow?
