The latest buzz is all about how the government is going after Fox News and trying to destroy them. I've seen some pretty compelling evidence that this is the case and I have to wonder why the other news agencies aren't as wound up as Fox is getting. Don't they understand that if they let this happen to Fox it sets a very dangerous precedent? Right now Fox is the bastard child that needs to be put in their place. Next it could be CNN, ABC, NBC, pick one! All it would take is pissing off those in power and {poof!} you’re gone! Then the paranoia sets in and all the remaining news agencies start walking on egg shells and only reporting what they’re told to report. Sound familiar?
I was station-surfing on the radio this evening on the drive home from work and ran across Glenn Beck. Now, I normally stay away from talk radio because it just makes my blood pressure go up but I heard Glenn mention Pravda and it made me think: If we allow the government to shut down a news agency simply because they disagree with the reporting or the editorials of the hosts, how long will it be before we end up with a “state news agency” that will only tell us sunshine and daisies even when it’s raining crap?
Regardless of whether you’re a conservative or a liberal, democrat or republican, you should be worried that one of the fundamental beliefs of our founding fathers is in danger of being eliminated. If we can’t speak our minds without fear of retribution from the government then we are no longer a free country.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Who did what, said who?
Frustrating week so far and it's only Tuesday! Nothing is adding up and there is a lot of effort trying to get it figured out. The only good news is that one recurring issue is being shut down from happening in the future. It's sad that it had to be shut down but it can't continue the way it is now.
Whew!
Whew!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
What ever happened to... Al Jolson?
So, Judy and I went to see the opening performance of the Oregon Symphony Pop's Series last night and were treated to a wonderful evening of George and Ira Gershwin. We heard pieces from Porgy and Bess, Funny Face, An American in Paris and, of course, Rhapsody in Blue. There was a guest baritone to sing many of the songs and a guest painist for Rhapsody. The most surprising thing for me was the song "Swanee" rocketing Gershwin to notoriety in 1919 when Al Jolson sang it in New York.
Now, I've listened to music all my life. My mom was an accomplished pianist before she married and we always had piano music, albums, etc. I was exposed to musicals; I grew up with Arthur Feidler and the Boston Pops Orchestra; I listened to The Ray Conniff Singers at Christmas and knew who Rosemary Clooney was before her nephew hit the screen (Come On-a My House is one of my favorites). I know who Al Jolson is and I know what he was famous for... his black-face routine. What I didn't know is that George Gershwin wrote Swanee.
It got me thinking. How many people know about Uncle Remus with Briar Rabbit and Zip-a-dee-doo-da? I don't discount the fact that slavery was a bad thing. I hope the whole world learns that slavery is bad and needs to be abolished globally. But, how much history are we ignoring or forgetting for the sake of other's feelings?
For years, Germany has been trying to tear down the remains of the concentration camps to remove the blight from their history yet the Jewish communities say no. They are proud of the fact that they survived and will never forget. They want the world to remember. Why should slavery be any different? A great deal of history and culture came out of slavery and it should not be buried for the sake of our egos. It should not only be allowed to be remembered by one group of people.
If we, as a species, are going to learn from the past and build a better future, we need to embrace our history and keep it close as a reminder as we move forward.
Now, I've listened to music all my life. My mom was an accomplished pianist before she married and we always had piano music, albums, etc. I was exposed to musicals; I grew up with Arthur Feidler and the Boston Pops Orchestra; I listened to The Ray Conniff Singers at Christmas and knew who Rosemary Clooney was before her nephew hit the screen (Come On-a My House is one of my favorites). I know who Al Jolson is and I know what he was famous for... his black-face routine. What I didn't know is that George Gershwin wrote Swanee.
It got me thinking. How many people know about Uncle Remus with Briar Rabbit and Zip-a-dee-doo-da? I don't discount the fact that slavery was a bad thing. I hope the whole world learns that slavery is bad and needs to be abolished globally. But, how much history are we ignoring or forgetting for the sake of other's feelings?
For years, Germany has been trying to tear down the remains of the concentration camps to remove the blight from their history yet the Jewish communities say no. They are proud of the fact that they survived and will never forget. They want the world to remember. Why should slavery be any different? A great deal of history and culture came out of slavery and it should not be buried for the sake of our egos. It should not only be allowed to be remembered by one group of people.
If we, as a species, are going to learn from the past and build a better future, we need to embrace our history and keep it close as a reminder as we move forward.
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