There is nothing about this I don't love. I have been thinking for decades that we are hopefully heading for a time, given the ability to work remotely, and people just getting sick of all the trappings that are now considered necessary .... where more people will just head for these nooks and crannies and live their best lives! Thank you for writing about this so eloquently.
Well hammered truth my friend. Gone are those good Ole days where blistered hands, sore feet supplied all the family needs. My dad grew up in the depression era. I learned a lot from my dad. He was a self made business man. I worked for my dad and mother half my life. Tended to my dad's care during the second half. Families today have lost their way. No family value shared. It was ingrained in me at an early age and it lives within me today. I've passed those values onto my two adult sons. Life moves at a much faster pace today but we must not leave family members behind. I greatly enjoyed your message today. Thank you kindly for sharing. Enjoy the weekend ahead..Carry on..
I agree, Judith -- families have lost their way in a hundred ways, and we've all suffered as a result. I am extremely thankful for the histories of early American days that have been preserved. Without them, we'd be in far deeper trouble than we already are. Thank God there is still a sort of "blueprint" contained in those histories. God bless your family and enjoy the weekend as well!
When I was a child, I overheard my grandfather say to my mother, “that man doesn’t have the gumption of a maggot.” I’m quite sure my eyes got big and I sat up in my chair. I didn’t ever want my grandfather to think that about me. 60 years later, it still echoes in my soul like it was yesterday. I do love comfort. But, I think that echo of my grandfather has served me well.
As I was scrolling through my emails this morning, trying to delete all the excess, I said to myself “who is this Hickman’s Hinterlands??” Surely I don’t have time for this.
But…better double check? Maybe I do?
And once again I was sucked right in to this beautiful writing. This time coming from a run down potentially lovely shithole in upstate New York where spring is just around the corner after a hard winter. Sounds like you’re among the few left actually living an exciting and adventurous life.
I’m not going to forget you next time your email pops up. I’ll be waiting for it.
One notable example left out of this critique is the storied gumption of the American Union striker. From the coal mines of West Virginia to the gold mines of Colorado, the gumption of the workers in the strikers unions led them to confront the robber barons of their day and demand pay requisite to their worth, and there was nothing whinny about it.
Well said. It’s quite fascinating to contrast the old-school left of those days with today’s endlessly whiny left. Those old union boys were manly, serious, tough — a breed of socialist type they just don’t seem to make anymore.
Unfortunately, much of the blue collar muscle that might deliver the modern day left out of the university safe space (a space not only safe for the weak of heart, but simultaneously safe for those corrupted by power), has been co-opted by a sophisticated marketing campaign designed to breed a worker who maintains a schizophrenic and unquestioned loyalty to state violence, authority and the thin blue line, yet simultaneously holds the inherent assumption that social change can only be realized by tearing down governmental institutions and running to the arms of exceptional men (I.e. billionaires) for deliverance. Every American worker whose chest wells up with pride to see “Gulf of America” written boldly across the gulf on google maps, or from the bombing of the Houthis, is one less striker available to muster the gumption and self-integrity required to stand up and demand equal representation in both the government and the workplace. The issue with the left today isn’t that they expect handouts from big brother, but that they don’t demand with bold tenacity and deadly determination, that their government end its unholy alliance with corporate interests and billionaires and begin to once again serve the people whose labor actually pays the interest on the national debt.
Thank you for sharing your observations about the need for gumption so eloquently.
I reflected back on to my 56 years of life. I was raised on TV and a combination of public and private typical US schooling.
At 18 years old my dad had made me enroll in a local College, and although I was getting good grades I was depressed discouraged and aimless. I quite, college after one semester, left home for the inner city of Chicago, where I spent the next 7 years, and never looked back!
After Chicago I spent 10 years in Guatemala Central America, and not with any "sending organization," ended up meeting my wife at a wedding in Missouri, spent time in Sweden and Norway, and have since raised nine children, with my wife, in the inner city of St Louis, Missouri.
We own our own house, miraculously, have never made more than 53K per year and a combination of homeschooling and other educational outlets for our children (whom have always been fed home cooked meals from scratch with the highest quality ingredients we have been able to procure either from dumpsters, donations, or good deals and buying in bulk.)
Gumption definitely still exists, it is just rare and probably not as intense as it was in the past.
Keep writing, Andy, and keep encouraging those out there who need to try their hand at exercising the gumption that is hiding within them!
I think the loss of gumption was inevitable, a result of progress or technology. This was a difficult read for me since no "one" or any group is particularly blamed, as I understand nuance is a tricky deal in this day and age. I want to dislike your writing but something keeps me reading. I suppose I personally define gumption as brutal individualism (which I don't necessarily believe is a good thing) and I read you as a modern day Kerouac. And I never decided if I liked Kerouac, either. Reading your stuff takes a little gumption.
Well, then, I reckon you ought to like this plan to resettle our nation on a new American frontier, to build new Jerusalems all over this land. That would put a little gumption in their--I mean our--souls.
Mr. Hickman, thank you for this essay; it is very dense with a lot of thought behind it to chew on. We don't hear these thoughts from many young people today, an absence that I attribute in part to who controls the dialogue and perhaps the hopeful fact that those same young people with gumption are just to busy getting things done to bother to talk about it. You are right about the mixed bag of modernity. In my seventh decade now, I loathe both the constant technological change and that in society at large, as well as the meaningless outrage of the outraged. We live in the same little ranch house in my hometown that we moved into 45 years ago and raised our two kids in. It was fine then and remains so, and like anything, is as good as the maintenance it receives. I'm glad that you are rebuilding your little corner of America and hope that what you are doing catches on. Best of luck to you and your family in your future.
“That old, “get-your-ass-in-gear,” tearin’ across the prairie, kissing mother goodbye and taking a train out to the territory, cut-your-own-shingles and deliver-the-twins-in-the-sodhouse type mentality”
Brilliantly put - I will measure my degenerate self to that level of Spartan strength from now on. No more whining after comfort and convenience, instead: embrace the struggle and take pride in it.
Please take these great essays and make a wonderful book with them! (I’ll beg.)
There is nothing about this I don't love. I have been thinking for decades that we are hopefully heading for a time, given the ability to work remotely, and people just getting sick of all the trappings that are now considered necessary .... where more people will just head for these nooks and crannies and live their best lives! Thank you for writing about this so eloquently.
Well hammered truth my friend. Gone are those good Ole days where blistered hands, sore feet supplied all the family needs. My dad grew up in the depression era. I learned a lot from my dad. He was a self made business man. I worked for my dad and mother half my life. Tended to my dad's care during the second half. Families today have lost their way. No family value shared. It was ingrained in me at an early age and it lives within me today. I've passed those values onto my two adult sons. Life moves at a much faster pace today but we must not leave family members behind. I greatly enjoyed your message today. Thank you kindly for sharing. Enjoy the weekend ahead..Carry on..
I agree, Judith -- families have lost their way in a hundred ways, and we've all suffered as a result. I am extremely thankful for the histories of early American days that have been preserved. Without them, we'd be in far deeper trouble than we already are. Thank God there is still a sort of "blueprint" contained in those histories. God bless your family and enjoy the weekend as well!
When I was a child, I overheard my grandfather say to my mother, “that man doesn’t have the gumption of a maggot.” I’m quite sure my eyes got big and I sat up in my chair. I didn’t ever want my grandfather to think that about me. 60 years later, it still echoes in my soul like it was yesterday. I do love comfort. But, I think that echo of my grandfather has served me well.
Nothing but LOVE for this piece. So right, for so many reasons and in so many ways. Thank you!
I’m so glad SOMEBODY is talking about this! I’m not on lots of social media though, so maybe more people are and I haven’t heard of it yet.
You have some great ideas that seem plausible and yet because of our social ills hardly any young person is game.
Thanks for this interesting and inspiring post.
As I was scrolling through my emails this morning, trying to delete all the excess, I said to myself “who is this Hickman’s Hinterlands??” Surely I don’t have time for this.
But…better double check? Maybe I do?
And once again I was sucked right in to this beautiful writing. This time coming from a run down potentially lovely shithole in upstate New York where spring is just around the corner after a hard winter. Sounds like you’re among the few left actually living an exciting and adventurous life.
I’m not going to forget you next time your email pops up. I’ll be waiting for it.
Comfort indeed is spiritual death. I have a piece planned on this topic, so thank you for for such an enlightening read!
Gumption-it’s such a great word!
Wow! Keep banging this drum, sweet music it is!
One notable example left out of this critique is the storied gumption of the American Union striker. From the coal mines of West Virginia to the gold mines of Colorado, the gumption of the workers in the strikers unions led them to confront the robber barons of their day and demand pay requisite to their worth, and there was nothing whinny about it.
Well said. It’s quite fascinating to contrast the old-school left of those days with today’s endlessly whiny left. Those old union boys were manly, serious, tough — a breed of socialist type they just don’t seem to make anymore.
Unfortunately, much of the blue collar muscle that might deliver the modern day left out of the university safe space (a space not only safe for the weak of heart, but simultaneously safe for those corrupted by power), has been co-opted by a sophisticated marketing campaign designed to breed a worker who maintains a schizophrenic and unquestioned loyalty to state violence, authority and the thin blue line, yet simultaneously holds the inherent assumption that social change can only be realized by tearing down governmental institutions and running to the arms of exceptional men (I.e. billionaires) for deliverance. Every American worker whose chest wells up with pride to see “Gulf of America” written boldly across the gulf on google maps, or from the bombing of the Houthis, is one less striker available to muster the gumption and self-integrity required to stand up and demand equal representation in both the government and the workplace. The issue with the left today isn’t that they expect handouts from big brother, but that they don’t demand with bold tenacity and deadly determination, that their government end its unholy alliance with corporate interests and billionaires and begin to once again serve the people whose labor actually pays the interest on the national debt.
Thank you for sharing your observations about the need for gumption so eloquently.
I reflected back on to my 56 years of life. I was raised on TV and a combination of public and private typical US schooling.
At 18 years old my dad had made me enroll in a local College, and although I was getting good grades I was depressed discouraged and aimless. I quite, college after one semester, left home for the inner city of Chicago, where I spent the next 7 years, and never looked back!
After Chicago I spent 10 years in Guatemala Central America, and not with any "sending organization," ended up meeting my wife at a wedding in Missouri, spent time in Sweden and Norway, and have since raised nine children, with my wife, in the inner city of St Louis, Missouri.
We own our own house, miraculously, have never made more than 53K per year and a combination of homeschooling and other educational outlets for our children (whom have always been fed home cooked meals from scratch with the highest quality ingredients we have been able to procure either from dumpsters, donations, or good deals and buying in bulk.)
Gumption definitely still exists, it is just rare and probably not as intense as it was in the past.
Keep writing, Andy, and keep encouraging those out there who need to try their hand at exercising the gumption that is hiding within them!
I think the loss of gumption was inevitable, a result of progress or technology. This was a difficult read for me since no "one" or any group is particularly blamed, as I understand nuance is a tricky deal in this day and age. I want to dislike your writing but something keeps me reading. I suppose I personally define gumption as brutal individualism (which I don't necessarily believe is a good thing) and I read you as a modern day Kerouac. And I never decided if I liked Kerouac, either. Reading your stuff takes a little gumption.
Well, then, I reckon you ought to like this plan to resettle our nation on a new American frontier, to build new Jerusalems all over this land. That would put a little gumption in their--I mean our--souls.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0C9HKW
Mr. Hickman, thank you for this essay; it is very dense with a lot of thought behind it to chew on. We don't hear these thoughts from many young people today, an absence that I attribute in part to who controls the dialogue and perhaps the hopeful fact that those same young people with gumption are just to busy getting things done to bother to talk about it. You are right about the mixed bag of modernity. In my seventh decade now, I loathe both the constant technological change and that in society at large, as well as the meaningless outrage of the outraged. We live in the same little ranch house in my hometown that we moved into 45 years ago and raised our two kids in. It was fine then and remains so, and like anything, is as good as the maintenance it receives. I'm glad that you are rebuilding your little corner of America and hope that what you are doing catches on. Best of luck to you and your family in your future.
“That old, “get-your-ass-in-gear,” tearin’ across the prairie, kissing mother goodbye and taking a train out to the territory, cut-your-own-shingles and deliver-the-twins-in-the-sodhouse type mentality”
Brilliantly put - I will measure my degenerate self to that level of Spartan strength from now on. No more whining after comfort and convenience, instead: embrace the struggle and take pride in it.