I just got home from a weekend trip to New Orleans. I do my best to reflect on what I learned from each trip. If you have never been, go! The food is everything, and the people are wonderful.

The World War II museum is a must see between hurricane’s and po boys. We only had a half day, you really need a full day to see everything. I learned that Alaska’s Aleutian Islands were invaded by and briefly occupied by the Japanese. I learned more about my own father’s campaign as part of the artillery units in the Italian campaign.

The most important lesson I learned from the museum is the sacrifice by all Americans, fighting and at home, to make this nation the industrial juggernaut that it became post WWII. I don’t think the MAGA crowd understands what would be required more than a generation later for the US to achieve that same level of domestic prosperity for all Americans. Tariffs are not going to fix that.

The other lesson I was reminder that I am reminded of on every trip. Kindness matters. People are people. We all want the same things and we are stronger when we pull from the same side. Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.