The times: global pandemic; race riots; political unrest; economic hardship; Cold War with China. At the time when the world order seems unstable and the very fabric of our democracy feels threadbare, we all hope for a leader who can unite and guide us through these a-changin' times.

Politicians have no lock on such leadership. Throughout history, inspiration, guidance and a uniting vision have been the gifts and the sacrifices on the part of those representing all walks of life, including military leaders, farmers, scientists, businessmen, and of course great artists. One sign of a truly great society is its openness to overcoming problems -- whether they be war, famine, pandemics, economic depressions, or some combination thereof -- by identifying and electing great leaders. 

Learning from our past to chart a course for our future, Bob Dylan, singer, songwriter and the winner of a Noble Prize in Literature, steps forward at the age of 79 with a new album called “Murder Most Foul.” In a mere 17-minutes, Dylan teaches a great lesson on the history of our past 50 years, providing a dark vision of where we are today as a solid foundation to build a great future on.

Take the time to listen to the title track of this album on YouTube with subtitles, and read Peggy Noonan’s review titled “Bob Dylan, a Genius Amongst Us.”

America is not perfect by any means, but we are all fortunate to live here, including Robert Allen Zimmerman, the skinny Jewish kid from Minnesota.