2005
Week 18
May 6, 2005

Hi -

A national-level natural history scientist was amazed when he saw the mosaic evolution ribbon entwined on the floor of the rotunda. The World-Herald reported last week (April 26) that Dr. Monks wondered who got the early sea creatures right 75 years ago, when few knew. The answer: Dr. Barbour, a researcher right here at UN, knew and shared his drawings with Hildreth Meiere, the New York lead artist for the new capitol.

One of my favorite stories to tell fourth graders who come through is how she and her recruits ground and fitted the thousands of pieces of white Italian and black Belgian marble in a warehouse in New York City, transferred them to large sheets of brown paper, then moved them to railroad flat beds and came to unload the precious cargo from the tracks which came right up to edge of the rotunda. I was delighted with the article because I have long felt we do not have enough knowledge and appreciation of this amazing gift from the past. I am proud of the gift.

Professor Barbour included little known and long extinct sea creatures in the sequence of God's creation. The endless ribbon goes on to the woolly mammoth, which was probably hunted by Native Americans. So the art story touches us. All of this surrounds massive circles, 11 feet and 15 feet across, and panels nearly 20 feet long. The theme is creation of water, fire, earth and air, surrounded by Mother Earth in the gifts of crops, children, Garden of Eden, mountains and rivers. The human figures are, um, shall we say "strongly built" and, with one exception, without clothing. That provokes some startled remarks from fourth grade boys. The girls take it as matter of fact.

Surrounding all of this, including fresco reliefs of the outside, are "interwoven themes of history, law, religion and human accomplishment," as the W-H put it. Including labor, virtue and the "noble life." In the north hall are more recent colored mosaics of a blizzard, plowing, tree planting, railroad and building of the capitol, all in rich detail. I am skipping over winged angels, Moses, the history of settlement which surrounds the top of the chamber in gold relief on mahogany, and the random-colored pillars to represent a pluralistic people. (They were very aware of our diverse cultures through the early fights between nationalistic groups.)

I apologize for taking so much space for this, but it is exciting to me. Art clearly changes how we think. No task is more important than that. If we were working down there inside a concrete box we would be a sad lot indeed. And an impoverished people, no matter how much taxes we administered. The art is our answer to Creationists, shallow anti-Creationists, grumps, and those who take the easy route to put down anything from Nebraska. We are a lively people. Art to express that is well worth the cost.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we pushed the budget through the first round as I had projected, without changes of note. A few joked on the floor that we on the Appropriations Committee are held by an iron claw that allows no change. One said we are nice normal people until we work with the budget for a while and then we are held by the iron claw and use it like a bear claw on anyone who objects.

Hmmm. That may be how it feels to the rest, but it is not some iron will. Rather, we are held together by a tough shared experience. We have worked hard and long to evaluate over 70 agencies, have negotiated out serious differences, have finally met our bottom-line goal and are ready to stand together when someone from the outside starts to pick at a piece of it. It is the power of true community.

We did agree to refund the Women's Commission. Senator Chambers made an impassioned plea to respect the challenges of women and families. That was a bit of therapy for Ruth. She remembers Ernie ridiculing the commission 25-30 years ago, when she was chair. The governor, who shall remain nameless, strongly resisted their thought that there was domestic violence in the state, and that single mothers could be victims of hassles. It was not fun.

Only 25 years later and there is a seismic shift. Imagine. We now have a variety of massive programs to give support to most any circumstance. On the committee we had dropped their funding so that they could fly free. They were left organized in statute, but could get foundation funding and move out of the subservient role they have had, coming to us every year, like a child for an allowance, so that they could continue to lobby us. It was time to move on.

I am extremely disappointed they did not go independent. Maybe they could not -- I am not casting blame. But they ought not to be our child anymore, dancing to the governor's tune or worrying about challenging it. I do hope they can come up with a new vision for the future that will match the power of the vision from the past.

Everyone believes we need to restructure our tax system, but we cannot agree on how to do this in an even way. We have 20 senators leaving in one year, from term limits, and will lose all that senior wisdom. We know that tax policy will soon be guided mostly by special interests. It could be chaos. "Don't tax me, but tax that one behind the tree." We have one year to develop a set of principles which will guide the next generation.

Did you catch the New Yorker's suggestions for Living Wills? "Do not resuscitate me before noon." "If I am unable to recognize my friends on my birthday, I still expect gifts." "I do not wish to be kept alive by any machine that has a 'Popcorn' setting." "If my doctor pronounces me brain-dead, I would like to see the new Ashton Kutcher movie." "In lieu of flowers or donations, I would prefer rioting."

How about a good riot after we adjourn?

Lowen