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Richard A. Hesse, Emeritus Professor of Law at Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire, presented a talk titled, “Free Speech in a Free Society,” at Folsom Tavern on the grounds of the American Independence Museum in Exeter, New Hampshire, on September 17, 2009. The information was organized and presented in a flawless manner, reflecting the many years that this individual has taught classes in Law.

In greeting the public, in the small, intimate quarters of an upstairs meeting room that was filled to capacity, the speaker mentioned that the topic of free speech is very appropriate because 1) It is “Constitution Day,” and 2) There are two drafts of the Constitution in the museum, complete with “cross-outs, annotations, and doodling” in the margins. We always realized that the American Independence Museum is a very special landmark in our state, and this is something else to its credit!

The talk was extremely compelling. Practical examples were set forth that described how law might be applied across a large array of potential situations. The one example that looms large, in coming away from the talk, is that free speech is necessary in society in order to create a “marketplace of ideas.” When all ideas are not heard, someone’s personal expression is limited, which can be frustrating to an individual, and the situation can create social disharmony. The person who is not allowed to have his say (at a town meeting, or elsewhere) may choose more destructive means of expression (like making a Molotov cocktail in his basement).

I think we’ve all seen in the news the results of what can happen to those whose ideas are not considered. They may be the ones who suddenly “go postal.” (This is my statement, not that of Dr. Hesse).

I loved this presentation! The meaning of the First Amendment (”Government can make no law …”) was explained, as well as the concepts that surround free speech in our society. The lecture was just one of many in a series endowed by grants from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, a group that plans to host Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, and other books, as the keynote speaker this coming month, (October 13, at a dinner, by pre-registration).

The professor spoke for 50 minutes and then took questions. My intent is not to give away his whole talk, but just to tell you enough so that you will want to attend yourself, if and when he presents the topic again. As always, we are so grateful for these marvelous lectures that are so informative. I feel that I have a much better understanding of this topic now, thanks to Dr. Hesse. We have attended perhaps 11 of these lectures this season and each one has added so much to our appreciation of many facets of Humanities, from Music to Poetry to Symbology of Gravestones, and so much more! Thank you!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Sailing on Narragansett Bay, RI, photo by James Cummings. “We can’t change the course of the winds; we can only adjust the sails.”

This is an inside view of recent happenings in the quilt industry and its current state of affairs. Cranston Printworks in Webster, Massachusetts no longer prints fabrics. They were the last holdout for American printed fabrics, as far as I know.

Fabrics are being produced overseas, as are most printed books with color pages. Why? One reason is that the United States has environmental laws that control manufacturers’ pollutants. I am told that in China and other places, rivers run red with dye. Another reason is “cheap labor.”

Thinking that “more” is always better, companies who produce books churn them out by the dozens. Quilt book manufacturers cater to those quilters who still demand new patterns. The result is little or no inclusion of quilt history. These companies are basically all competing for the same market.

Long arm machines and machine quilters rule the day. Long arm, room size machines now sell for up to $50,000, with the average costing about $30,000. Bernina sewing machines sell for about $10,000. and are computerized.

“Fast” and “done” are the two operative words for machine work. Hand-piecers and hand-quilters are seen as dull and boring people, mainly because their craft/art is not making big bucks for the dealers, or teachers of long-arm techniques.

On the other hand, long arm quilting is a cottage industry. Done well, long arm quilting is as beautiful as any other quilting. The operative words are “done well.” Personally, I do not care for the overall, pantograph look that overlays piecework. That’s what we see, in show after show.

Recently, there was a huge take-over in the magazine industry with one money company buying out a number of magazine titles; one major one was in an 11th hour situation, facing bankruptcy.

Due to the economy, advertisers are not paying their bills to any of the magazines. This has resulted in some designers not being paid at all, or getting an “I owe you,” and others who work for magazines experiencing a long delay before being paid.

One by one, quilt shops all over the country are calling it quits altogether and closing their doors forever. They simply cannot juggle all the costs of staying in business as a store-front entity. Some former shop owners now sell their wares on the Internet, not an ideal situation, given rising postage costs.

Quilters have been hit by the recession and everyone who has anything to do with quilting, on a professional level, seems to be suffering. I did not go to Quilt Market, where business owners buy fabrics, etc. to stock their shelves. I heard that it was a dismal turnout a few months ago.

So, like a row of Dominoes, everything seems to be falling. The stash of quilting fabrics that quilters like to accumulate because we love fabric, is not helping the shops to stay in business. However, our stashes will keep us going with projects for a long time to come, and so will the hundreds of books, patterns, and other quilt-related items that most quilters acquire.

Those who don’t know better can dream that we are all still in a boom time in the quilting industry. Not so at all, from what I can determine. The energy is still there, and the interest, but right now, I fear for the lasting effects of this recession.

Patricia Cummings, nationally-certified master craftsman in quilting, and professional quilt historian and writer, lecturer, designer, and quilt judge
Quilter’s Muse Publications

First of all, let me say that I have never been a fan of Michael Jackson, simply because I was not familiar with his music. The inescapable fact is that he was omnipresent in the media. Unfortunately, stories did not focus on his apparent talent, but rather who his friends were, and the growing number of surgical operations he underwent to change his appearance.

Last night, I watched the “first” of the television coverage (for me). I turned on “Dateline,” in the evening, and saw the review of his memorial service that had happened earlier in the day in Los Angeles. The service featured impressive accolades and tears, big-name stars, and music, as the gold casket covered with red flowers sat at the front of the hall. The whole event was “Michael.” His image was projected, time and again, and I could see why he had so many adoring fans. In his earlier photos, he has an almost effeminate, vulnerable demeanor. One image, an illuminated view of Jackson, strongly resembled Christ on the Cross.

As a youth, he was very cute and very talented. As an adult, he was his own person, with a unique look, a super dance style, and he was a composer as well as a singer.

In spite of his success, he appeared to be a very troubled individual who did not quite like himself. The doctors who operated on him so many times, for no reason at all except his vanity, if the media is to be believed, should be ashamed of themselves. I suppose anyone will do anything, if the price is right, no matter how outrageous. Before our very eyes, he was disfigured in an irreparable manner, and in recent news footage, he looked gaunt and worried, at a trial in which he was acquitted of child molestation charges. Seeing him going to and from the courthouse was like viewing a specter of his former self.

When someone dies, it is true that we often want to forget their problems on earth, in the hope that they have achieved peace in a higher state of existence, namely, heaven. I don’t know if “MJ” believed in heaven. With all of his money, he could not create heaven on earth. Apparently, he could not even create tranquility in his own life, and that is truly sad. For many superstars, the face they show to the world is not a true reflection of their private struggles.

A barrier to being happy is having an addiction to fame and/or money. Once the addiction is in place, there is not enough fame and there is not enough money … ever! Neither of those (gifts?) can save a person from himself. It seemed as though MJ may have been his own worst enemy. If he had realized just how much he was loved, would he be dead, now? There are many questions to be answered. More than anyone else, I am sure his close friends and family hope for some answers, so that they can better accept this loss.

Like Elvis, Michael Jackson died young. That can be a blessing. No one has to see him getting creaky, walking with a cane, or sitting in a wheelchair. The autopsy results are still not in. I would take a wild guess that he was not a victim of anyone else, only himself, and perhaps inadvertently. If fans are mourning, I believe that they are sad to lose the “image” that Michael Jackson presented to the world. His unique talent has been removed from us. In the end, to the casual observer, he seemed to be a tragic figure. If he were 92, would thousands be sad at losing him? Somehow, we always mourn the most those whose young lives are cut short, unexpectedly.

Fame and money are false friends. Like life itself, they will leave you. People only live on through the memories of those left behind, and even that is a fleeting state when those people are no more. Oh yes, buildings and highways are sometimes named for famous people.

No doubt, Michael Jackson was a super star! He has left behind videos, recorded music, and children! I appreciate the fact that he helped to open the door of opportunity for others, by paving the way with his own actions. All of these things comprise his legacy.

Having achieved all that he did, we have to give thanks for his life, but not more so than for any life, even that of a sparrow, for all that live on God’s green earth are special in their own right. Always, when we acknowledge death, we think about what “could have been.”

“Do not stand at my grave and mourn – I am not here …”

Michael Jackson, “Rest in Peace.”

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Today was a very special and joyous day for Americans. In a way, it represented an end to long years of struggle for Black Americans to be seen as capable and acceptable. With a willing spirit, millions of Americans and friends around the world have embraced the notion that Barack Obama will serve well in the office of president. We saw a sign today outside of a business in a small New Hampshire community. It said, simply, “God Bless the President.” That sentiment expresses what we are all feeling about now. We were ready for a change, and change has finally come. The new president is a deep-thinking, educated, no-nonsense kind of a man, a man whose eloquence was mocked, during the election, but who is unsurpassed in delivering great speeches and firing up the crowd to be on his side. Who could not trust him? If he referred to any notes during his speech today, that was not apparent.

Sense and sensibility have prevailed. Everyone is happy. However, the president knows better than anyone that he will have to work hard to retain the trust of the American people. In the end, talk is cheap, and action speaks louder than words.

As my astute husband pointed out, over breakfast, the companies who are laying off workers are short-sighted. When the economy turns around, as it must, and as it always has, those same companies will not have trained workers and will not be able to compete in the marketplace. In essence, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

As far as education goes, the state of California has issued a letter to all employees, including my nephew who is head of a department at a state university. They have all been given the word that, instead of a paycheck, they should expect to receive “I owe you” notes, in lieu of money. Unfortunately, paper notes do not pay the mortgage, or the groceries, or put gas in the car, but California is bankrupt.

I have no fears. Barack Obama has surrounded himself with intellectuals and proven thinkers, not people who have financial motives for securing family business interests, and that is refreshing. With so many people focused on “getting it right,” I strongly believe that the change we all desire will happen, and will happen, as soon as possible. It is very difficult to undo some of the mistakes that have been made, or to extract ourselves from foreign soil, since we are so enmeshed there. The road ahead is long and winding, but somehow, I do not believe that this president will lose his way.

Let me join the chorus in wishing the new president and his family the very best, and to the cynics, I say this, “Yes We Can,” remembering his words. Let his presidency truly be a “patchwork” of the American Dream.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

For one half hour, every night, we faithfully watch the “nightly news.” To hear more news than that, would be overload, but we like to keep up with major events happening in the U.S. and around the world, so 30 minutes is a sufficient dose.

Lately, on a daily basis, we have been hearing about the economy and the Dow Jones’ averages and Bull markets or lack thereof. All of these Wall Street reports have seemed distant (to us). Perhaps that is because New England has not been the hardest hit area, so far, or so it has seemed. In New Hampshire, most of us have barely noticed the recession, until we think about it.

Case in point, yesterday, we walked into a national chain store and were unprepared to see totally empty shelves in a good part of the store and the yellow caution tape that cordoned off areas not to be entered. A sign revealed that our local “Linen ‘n Things” is going out of business. Not finding what we wanted, we went into the mall across the way. Hardly anyone was shopping, and there were deep discounts for those who were willing to spend their dollars there.

At this time of year, our mailboxes are usually bulging with company catalogs, but not this Christmas season. The mailman’s pack is much lighter, and the ads that have come in are not the usual thick, lush catalogs; they are thin, and sent once, not a zillion times. The cost of paper has skyrocketed, and so has ink, making the electronic transmission of information seem more and more like a less risky alternative for presentation of ads, and with a far greater effect.

This all feels as though we are entering another age. The economic experts state that we have been in a recession for a year now, and that the common folk are just catching on to the idea. There has been a trickle down effect, with the giants in industry having been the first to notice. Today, “the little guys” live from paycheck to paycheck, wondering if their job will be the next one cut, with hardly a moment’s notice.

While all of this is scary, it is making everyone take a closer look at how we all spend (or save) money, and that is not such a bad thing. The official advice is to pay off credit card bills, if you can, downsize your lifestyle (smaller car, etc.), and save money in an account you never touch, in an amount that equals six to eight months of your income, should your paychecks stop. All this is easier said than done for most people, but these are goals that we can begin to implement, over time.

Mainly, learning to live a more self-sufficient life can be its own reward. The smell of homemade bread baking is a wonderful experience, even if it is in a bread maker, and not made from “scratch.” Homemade soups and casseroles that can be heated up again quickly for a repeat meal, without too much fuss, are a wonderful help in this busy season. In addition, plan your errands so that you can logically move from one geographical site to another, in a manner that saves miles (and gasoline). So much of this is just common sense, but you’d be amazed at how the “little things” can add up to a less costly and more satisfying life.

If you have the time and the know-how, homemade gifts are a lovely idea. A knitted cap, stuffed animals that are sewn, a quilt for a doll bed, or a doll bed itself, homemade socks, or homemade fudge or cookies, will be much appreciated. Used book stores often have books for children that are in “as new” condition. Don’t overlook places like Goodwill, or the Salvation Army store. Sometimes an unwanted item can be a “treasure.” In some cases, valuable quilts have been found there.

In whatever manner you celebrate the holidays, there are things you can do to make them fun. Decorate your table, even if the new tablecloth or table mats are ones you have made yourself.

Think of the “old days,” when popcorn and cranberries, or linked chains of paper were used to trim the tree.

Why am I saying all of this? I guess I just want to remind people that it is not always expensive gifts that make holidays happy. Time spent with loved ones is one of the keys. Hearing from friends or seeing them is another joy of the season. If we all dwell on our losses, (and who doesn’t have adversity), or if we linger over what we don’t have, we are bound to be miserable. However, keeping the true meaning of the season in mind, our hearts will be lifted, and we will be able to share Joy with others. Giving a gift to someone else always makes the giver feel happier. For now, forget the dire news of the economic prognosticators, and just enjoy the season, with good measure.

“Be of good cheer, Charlie Brown.”

Patricia Cummings, author of “Christmas Stockings, Legendary Christmas Stories”