Our Species At a Crossroads And Wisdom Must Prevail

Nicholas F. Benton

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

“With so many things coming back in style, I can’t wait until morals, respect and intelligence become a trend again.” – Actor Denzel Washington.

I have commented more than once about the decline in these traits among the American people defining the period between Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. in 1963 and the “Greed is Good” speech of the main character in the 1987 movie, “Wall Street.”

Both speeches reflected the prevailing mores of their era, and the contrast between the short two dozen years between 1963 and the rise of the civil rights movement and what had become the dominant national sentiment was by 1987, nearing the completion of Reagan’s second term, was stunning.

As one with seminary training, graduating cum laude from the Pacific School of Religion in 1969, and by virtue of being gay when it was still a huge stigma but at the same time a great challenge as defined by Dr. King, being marginalized in many ways, I had a unique vantage point and perspective from which, on a day to day basis, to witness first hand this national descent from high-minded idealism to crude selfishness.

America was built on the former, and has seen its very existence threatened by the latter. Denzel Washington is right, Unless there is a reversion to morals, respect and intelligence in this period just ahead, we will not make it, either as a democracy, as a nation or as a species.

I am sure that as our exploration of the wider universe of which we are a part proceeds, among the many shocking things we will find are planets that once hosted intelligent life, but that for one reason or another, saw that life fail.

I contend that we will find it was not just one issue, like an inability to respond to the challenge of climate change, for example, that was responsible, but the fail- ure of an overall disposition of a social order to step up and push forward the very essential features of socialization in the face of rising pressures to fracture it in the name of self-centered greed and avarice.

In his important 2020 book, “Wiser, the Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion and What Makes Us Good,” author Dilip Jeste writes on the value of wisdom over mere intelligence or the pursuit of happiness. “We all know wise people,” he writes. “They’re smart. Intelligence is an integral part of wisdom. But they are also warmhearted and compassionate.

“They are sophisticated, not simply or only in terms of academics or business, but in the ways of the world and of people. They are open-minded. They listen and make others feel heard. They are reflective, unselfish, and problem focused. They are willing to act on on their beliefs and convictions, to do what is right, first or alone.

“Wise people become trusted advisers because they possess characteristic sagacity, happiness and a calm demeanor we can rely on. They seem to instinctively know how to handle the personal problems that others find overwhelming. Wise people stand still and resolute amid chaos and uncertainty. They are different. And the rest of us would like to be more like them.

“Many of the wise people you know are probably old or at least older. Wisdom and advanced age seem synonymous. Consider the great works of legend and literature: Moses, Helen Keller and Toni Morrison, Gandalf, Aubus Dumbledore and Yoda (who undoubtedly picked up a few things over his 900 year life).”

While for some this is grounds for refuting the notion that age, in itself, is a disqualifier, whether it is President Biden or any number of octogenarian rock stars from the 1960s or 1970s, or, as I wrote last week, grandmothers.

With the wild contrast today between the audacious selfserving immortality of Trump, on the one hand, and the challenges the Webb telescope implies for us as a species, on the other, our very survival depends on making the right decisions on which vector we will choose to take on the ride into our shared future. So, all aboard!

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Not all baseball fans study history, and not all history scholars follow baseball.

But Johnathan Thomas, exlocal Little Leaguer and acting historian of the Washington Golf and Country Club, united the camps on May 11, treating fans to yesteryear tales from the diamonds of Arlington.

Thomas took a 21st century approach to his presentation sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society at Marymount University—giving pee-wee league veterans such as I the chance as adults to look back with more savvy.

Drawing on his personal collection along with scrapbooks from coaches, the nostalgist from a multi-generation Arlington family showcased photos of early 20th-century black semi-pro teams—the Virginia Black Sox, the Arlington Athletics and the Green Valley Quick Steps. They played African-American squads from Georgetown, Anacostia and Annapolis on Peyton Field near today’s Green Valley. (It wasn’t until 1946 that Arlington County purchased the recently renovated Jennie Dean Park on that site, and integration of school and youth leagues came in 1961.)

After Arlington left Alexandria County in 1920, as Thomas confirmed via clippings, Judge William Gloth was first chairman of white adult teams organized during a 1922 Clarendon Carnival baseball night, a festival and game planned between the Arlington Athletic Club and D.C.’s Rex Athletic Club. Arlington schools, beginning with Cherrydale, began fielding teams in 1923.

It would be a while before hometown boys made the majors, but Culpepper, Va., native Eppa Rixey Jr., nephew of Admiral Presley Rixey––whose land both the country club and Marymount stand today—pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies from 1912-33. Once Washington-Lee (now Liberty) High School opened in 1925, an array of future pro players cycled through. The “first W-L superstar” was George McQuinn, ’27, who went onto play first base for the St. Louis Browns before founding McQuinn’s Sporting Goods in Clarendon. W-L’s class of ’38 included star athlete Forrest Tucker, who got sidetracked into acting, and multi-sport star Vince Kirchner ’41, who was drafted in the minor leagues.

The speaker seemed most impressed with W-L ’66 grad Clay Kirby, who, after terrifying batters in both Little League and high school, pitched powerfully for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Thomas showed his baseball card, along with a rare one of his next-door neighbor, Jay Franklin, my 12-year-old Arlington All-Star teammate in 1965 (moved to Vienna when I-66 was built), who was tapped for a three-game “cup of coffee” pitching for the Padres in 1971.

Highlights for me were the Little Major League memories, which Thomas documented as launching in 1951 at “Four Mile Run Play Field”—now Barcroft Park. Give credit to the spon- sors—McQuinn’s, Arlington Kiwanis, Arlington, Arlington Motors, M.T. Broyhill & Sons, Yeatman’s Hardware and Red Shield (Salvation Army). Thomas’ props included his own Arlington Trust shirt. Also shown on all-star teams were Italian Store owner Bobby Tramonte (in 1966) and the speaker’s brother Harry Thomas (1967). The speaker showed a beautiful photo of my brother Tom riding the bench as a nine-yearold for Optimist Club in 1961 at Bluemont Park.

I asked whether he could give credit, after all these decades, to moms and dads who gave of themselves driving us to practice and games. Mrs. Thomas, who had four sons, he replied, counted 87 games she attended in a single year.

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The Wakefield High School Education Foundation will induct seven alums to its Hall of Fame June 12. Watch for Dave Bautista, ’88, world champion professional wrestler and Hollywood actor; Robert Carpenter, ’63, pioneer in healthcare and biotech industries, National Medal of Technology winner; Tonya Chapman, ’84, Arlington police officer who became city manager of Portsmouth, Va.; Portia Clark, ’77, Nauck (now Green Valley) community leader and history activist; Ronald Heinemann, ’57, Hampden-Sydney College U.S. history professor who wrote on the Depression and New Deal in Virginia; Karen Loucks Rinedollar, ’81, founded Project Linus to distribute handmade blankets to the needy; and Nancy Rexroth, ’64, photographic art pioneer displayed at Corcoran Gallery and Library of Congress.