You are quite right about the impact of travel but too many Americans choose to go abroad rather than investigate the beauty and complexity of their own country. My wife and I just finished a trip on the Mississippi River and I posted my impressions on Substack.
The point is both physical and moral, that in seeing new places, especially our own with a chance to engage very directly with people, seeing things from their side, we can appreciate what a marvel this nation has been, despite its faults.
To my dear Friend Roger Simon, and Cheryl. Congratulations on this next endevor of yours. Im along for the ride and continue to marvel at your insights on all topics of life!
I just stumbled on this and I consider it a fortuitous coincidence of sorts! Fortuitous because I enjoyed your writing in the old days (but never subscribed to Epoch Times for -- reasons) and wished you were available elsewhere.
And a coincidence because early in my Foreign Service career (1970, to be precise) I was stationed in Tanzania for three years. And had the very good fortune of falling in with a young American who was working on anti-poaching efforts and was intimately familiar with the (then) very game-rich parts of Tanzania where a person could hunt. We would jump in my Land Rover on a moment's notice and head into the interior of a country that was even MORE game-rich before the Wildlife Department had been corrupted and sold trophy tags regardless of seasons and populations. We would hire a guide and tracker, and pursue game long before professional hunters learned they could lock up huge concessions so resident hunters had only small strips of land to hunt.
AND, I earned my Tanzanian pilot's license and belonged to a flying club so was able to fly all over the country, including tourist lodges, as well as take hunting safaris with my American friend and set up camp almost anywhere we wanted, and bag a number of big game trophies.
On top of which I had read everything Hemingway had published, so was familiar with his ruminations on life and Africa. I even met one of his sons, who lived in Arusha and worked for the Tanzanian Wildlife Department, and who regrettably had to turn down my invitation to join our little group for a three-day safari in the central portion of the country because he had wildlife obligations that week.
Tanzania was an amazing place to live, and I share your awe at the country and its abundant wildlife. And am very happy to find you on Substack. Welcome back to the world!
So glad to find you, and, not surprisingly, on a new journey! I’m really happy to be reading your work again (and now your wife’s) as I missed your opinion pieces in The Epoch Times. This was a particularly interesting piece about life in Africa.
Are you finished with Epoch Times? I have to confess that I let my subscription lapse because they were so crazy repetitive and Falun Gong-centric that I just couldn't take it any longer.
As always, I love to read your commentary. I'll definitely be watching for your substack updates - and I can't wait to "meet" your lovely bride here.
Being an American Refugee from the People's Republic of Oregon, I love to keep up with you and your observations, and the picture of the trip that you paint gave such great mental images. I would love to travel out of thebUS, particularly to Scotland, but a fear of flying over large bodies of water will keep me here. I need to explore our own turf more - there's so very much of it!!
Congratulations on your Substack. Your experiences in Tanzania reminded me of my many walks through the Wankie game reserve and other wild areas of bush during my army call-ups during the terrorist war in 1970s Rhodesia. Those without the benefit of guides or rangers. You are right that being in the unspoiled bush is a religious experience.
Loved this Roger: I was unable to take my planned vacation this year due to hurricanes and other work/life interruptions, but I felt like I went on mini-safari reading this. Thank you!
How wonderful to read Roger Simon without being interrupted by an Epoch Times pop-up.
"The Big Fix" was an excellent movie. It would make an interesting TV period piece, with Moses Wine coming to political maturity over the years. Given Richard Dreyfus' current interests, Moses might wind up as a PI/high school civics teacher.
OK, it took me awhile to make the time to read this. It's been sitting in my inbox all these weeks. And well worth the wait. There is sooo much to read with so much happening around us. This is definitely a welcome change of pace. And I, for one, absolutely love animals as creatures of the God Who made them, with some kind of animal soul behind those eyes. Yes, even if it would eat me if I got too close. Someday . . .
Congratulations on your new venture! I look forward to coming along for the ride!
Great read as usual. Thanks again for your thoughts and sharing your adventures as well.
Great to hear (and read) from you! It’s a pleasure to read your work in whatever form. Looking forward to more!
Good read, well worth it.
Great posting. Makes me want to go to Africa, where I have not been in about 15 years.
You are quite right about the impact of travel but too many Americans choose to go abroad rather than investigate the beauty and complexity of their own country. My wife and I just finished a trip on the Mississippi River and I posted my impressions on Substack.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-146965909?source=queue&autoPlay=false
The point is both physical and moral, that in seeing new places, especially our own with a chance to engage very directly with people, seeing things from their side, we can appreciate what a marvel this nation has been, despite its faults.
And there is no (or little) language barrier!
To my dear Friend Roger Simon, and Cheryl. Congratulations on this next endevor of yours. Im along for the ride and continue to marvel at your insights on all topics of life!
Dave M
I just stumbled on this and I consider it a fortuitous coincidence of sorts! Fortuitous because I enjoyed your writing in the old days (but never subscribed to Epoch Times for -- reasons) and wished you were available elsewhere.
And a coincidence because early in my Foreign Service career (1970, to be precise) I was stationed in Tanzania for three years. And had the very good fortune of falling in with a young American who was working on anti-poaching efforts and was intimately familiar with the (then) very game-rich parts of Tanzania where a person could hunt. We would jump in my Land Rover on a moment's notice and head into the interior of a country that was even MORE game-rich before the Wildlife Department had been corrupted and sold trophy tags regardless of seasons and populations. We would hire a guide and tracker, and pursue game long before professional hunters learned they could lock up huge concessions so resident hunters had only small strips of land to hunt.
AND, I earned my Tanzanian pilot's license and belonged to a flying club so was able to fly all over the country, including tourist lodges, as well as take hunting safaris with my American friend and set up camp almost anywhere we wanted, and bag a number of big game trophies.
On top of which I had read everything Hemingway had published, so was familiar with his ruminations on life and Africa. I even met one of his sons, who lived in Arusha and worked for the Tanzanian Wildlife Department, and who regrettably had to turn down my invitation to join our little group for a three-day safari in the central portion of the country because he had wildlife obligations that week.
Tanzania was an amazing place to live, and I share your awe at the country and its abundant wildlife. And am very happy to find you on Substack. Welcome back to the world!
So glad to find you, and, not surprisingly, on a new journey! I’m really happy to be reading your work again (and now your wife’s) as I missed your opinion pieces in The Epoch Times. This was a particularly interesting piece about life in Africa.
Are you finished with Epoch Times? I have to confess that I let my subscription lapse because they were so crazy repetitive and Falun Gong-centric that I just couldn't take it any longer.
As always, I love to read your commentary. I'll definitely be watching for your substack updates - and I can't wait to "meet" your lovely bride here.
Being an American Refugee from the People's Republic of Oregon, I love to keep up with you and your observations, and the picture of the trip that you paint gave such great mental images. I would love to travel out of thebUS, particularly to Scotland, but a fear of flying over large bodies of water will keep me here. I need to explore our own turf more - there's so very much of it!!
Congratulations on your Substack. Your experiences in Tanzania reminded me of my many walks through the Wankie game reserve and other wild areas of bush during my army call-ups during the terrorist war in 1970s Rhodesia. Those without the benefit of guides or rangers. You are right that being in the unspoiled bush is a religious experience.
Loved this Roger: I was unable to take my planned vacation this year due to hurricanes and other work/life interruptions, but I felt like I went on mini-safari reading this. Thank you!
Bravi!
How wonderful to read Roger Simon without being interrupted by an Epoch Times pop-up.
"The Big Fix" was an excellent movie. It would make an interesting TV period piece, with Moses Wine coming to political maturity over the years. Given Richard Dreyfus' current interests, Moses might wind up as a PI/high school civics teacher.
Fascinating! We just signed on...Watching for great things!
OK, it took me awhile to make the time to read this. It's been sitting in my inbox all these weeks. And well worth the wait. There is sooo much to read with so much happening around us. This is definitely a welcome change of pace. And I, for one, absolutely love animals as creatures of the God Who made them, with some kind of animal soul behind those eyes. Yes, even if it would eat me if I got too close. Someday . . .