Our House, a History

Published May 3, 2019 in Warp & Woof Our House, a History 35 Years in Our Arlington Home William Sundwick Our 1983 marriage presented us with two one-bedroom condos in Arlington, Virginia. We chose to live in mine (a tad nicer?), while my wife put hers on the market. The plan was to start shoppingContinue reading “Our House, a History”

First Six Weeks

Published March 7, 2019 in Warp & Woof First Six Weeks Has the 116th Congress Inspired Yet? William Sundwick Legislation is a slow process. On January 3, 2019 a new Congress was sworn in. The once and future queen, Nancy Pelosi, became the nearly uncontested House Speaker. And Democrats, for the first time since theContinue reading “First Six Weeks”

Cold War

Published February 7, 2019 in Warp & Woof Cold War Deeper Context for Pawel Pawlikowski’s Film? William Sundwick Despite its title, Cold War is first and foremost a love story — a very Polish love story. Pawel Pawlikowski, as auteur, has already produced one Oscar-winning film, 2013’s Ida. Cold War is a contender for theContinue reading “Cold War”

2018 Election Recap

Published November 15, 2018 in Warp & Woof 2018 Election Recap Blue Ripple or Wave? William Sundwick It didn’t take long after the 2016 election for organizing to start. The Women’s March the day after the Inauguration was an affirmation of public disdain for the newly elected president and everything he stood for. So angry,Continue reading “2018 Election Recap”

Community Organizing

Published November 1, 2018 in Warp & Woof Community Organizing VOICE, the IAF in Northern Virginia William Sundwick Saul Alinsky and Bishop Bernard James Shell founded the Industrial Areas Foundation in Chicago in 1940. Their idea was to mobilize diverse faith communities of urban poor and working-class people lacking in political power. It was aContinue reading “Community Organizing”

Vanishing City or Phoenix from the Ashes?

Published October 18, 2018 in Warp & Woof Vanishing City or Phoenix from the Ashes? Flint Series, Chapter 6 William Sundwick Gordon Young published Tear-Down in 2013. It’s his memoir of returning to Flint as an adult after presumably leaving the city forever to pursue a journalism career in San Francisco. It was written beforeContinue reading “Vanishing City or Phoenix from the Ashes?”

Exit Strategy

Published October 11, 2018 in Warp & Woof Exit Strategy Was Getting Out Inevitable? Flint Series, Chapter 5 William Sundwick Sometimes I think that friendships are simply a matter of convenience. While many people seem to make life-long friendships with kids they grew up with, my experience has been different. I lost contact with myContinue reading “Exit Strategy”

Wasteland vs. Intellectual Ferment

Published October 4, 2018 in Warp & Woof Wasteland vs. Intellectual Ferment Or, My Parents’ World vs. My World, High School Years Flint Series, Chapter 4 William Sundwick Flint Central High School was a new adventure. High school then comprised three years: grades ten, eleven, and twelve. That meant one of my early high schoolContinue reading “Wasteland vs. Intellectual Ferment”

Arrival and Insertion, 1953-62

Published September 27, 2018 in Warp & Woof Arrival and Insertion, 1953-62 The Flint Series, Chapter 3 William Sundwick Flint grew rapidly in the early fifties. The 1950 Census pegged its population at about 163-thousand, but by 1960 it was 197-thousand. We all noticed it. New neighborhoods, like our Ballenger Highway neighborhood, were adding singleContinue reading “Arrival and Insertion, 1953-62”

Disaster Strikes: The Beecher Tornado, 1953

Published September 21, 2018 in Warp & Woof Disaster Strikes: The Beecher Tornado, 1953 We Move to Flint in Its Wake The Flint Series, Chapter 2 William Sundwick F5 tornadoes are rare in Michigan. The most destructive category of storm on the Fujita Scale hit Flint in 1953, one of the ten worst on recordContinue reading “Disaster Strikes: The Beecher Tornado, 1953”