"Everyone, once they pass the age of seventy, becomes a historian." A decent respect for the opinion of mankind demands an explanation for writing History of a Calamity (10 chapters already published)
I, too, spent most of my career in broadcast TV news. I remember in the 1980's the ABC TV news bureau in Paris got a message from the then head of news from NYC. It said: due to the many complaints about stories being 90 seconds long, from now on stories will be limited to 75 seconds.
Many times over the years the bureau chiefs would tell me to go out on the street and get some vox pops (man on the street opinions). He would tell me to get at least 2 pro and 2 against whatever the issue was we were reporting.
A few (100) years ago, we would have been sitting around a campfire as you shared these stories of how we got here. Thank you for your perspective that mirrors my own and so many of my peers. It is spot on, Michael. These 10 chapters are as illuminating as they are bittersweet. I look forward to more, and to the finished book to gift to so many of my younger friends.
My first memory of this divide was the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Judge Borke. The divide and lack of civility was clearly on display. The public discourse has continually gone downhill from there.
The other thing I have observed is that while there will never be a world without some racism, (humans are instinctively wired to fear the unknown and the different) the current supply of racist incidents in the USA is way less than the political and charlatan demand for them. The evidence for this is the number of fake racial events created to fill the void. The politicians rile up racial groups for votes at every opportunity (real or fake), and the charlatans ring the racism dinner bell at every opportunity (real or fake) to make money. As long as accusations of racism are profitable in votes, clicks and money, the amount of racism in the USA will appear larger in the media than it really is, and our divides will grow.
Claire, thanks for sharing this. I look forward to reading the rest as time allows.
Hello I just had to say, I accidentally ‘discovered’ you yesterday via your brilliant series of essays on R3 ; Bohemians in T-Shirts. A Google search to find out more about you brought me to this article. I’m neither writer nor critic but I do have a fascination for history and the pursuit of knowledge and the way you write appeals to me fully. So I will now subscribe here and am eager to encounter more of your writing. Jane, Cambridge UK.
This is a book I long to read. Clarity, and all the long experience of writing, bring such gifts, that we can read, share with those other generations, and truly believe we do understand better.
Just found you Michael, through London friends. Your analysis here runs so close to what is happening in Australia where I live.
The right-wing is starving public schools of resources, funding. And it's trying to get hold of the curriculum. History is being turned into glorification of Western civilisation.
Excellent piece, it brought back a flood of memories earlier than yours and with them my own sorrows of our downward slide. History is my refuge though, the awareness that what has happened to us in our lifetime has happened over and over again in other societies and that somehow, through the crucible of heartbreak and broken promises the dreams of those who have learned to love and respect others despite the realities we face, prevail time and again. I’m glad to be old enough now to know that my days are nearly over. I’ve seen and experienced enough to not mind that I am now simply an observer, an elder with tales to tell.
Mr. Goldfarb's tale is part-wistful and part-wise, although it suffers from one glaringly incorrect premise: For President Donald Trump--whatever his temperamental extremes--is not an, "authoritarian, neofascist."
P.S. I will miss New York (which seems to be swiftly, and, perhaps, irreversibly, fundamentally transform(ing)"--à la Barack Obama) into, "a $hithole (city)."
Another excellent essay. I hope that you'll understand what I mean when I say that each new piece puts me at my keyboard trying to acknowledge and respond but in the end I usually don't send it. Your work truly engages my memory.
I, too, spent most of my career in broadcast TV news. I remember in the 1980's the ABC TV news bureau in Paris got a message from the then head of news from NYC. It said: due to the many complaints about stories being 90 seconds long, from now on stories will be limited to 75 seconds.
Many times over the years the bureau chiefs would tell me to go out on the street and get some vox pops (man on the street opinions). He would tell me to get at least 2 pro and 2 against whatever the issue was we were reporting.
vox pops ... the real last refuge of scoundrel editors
And every reporter hated doing them.
absolutely
A few (100) years ago, we would have been sitting around a campfire as you shared these stories of how we got here. Thank you for your perspective that mirrors my own and so many of my peers. It is spot on, Michael. These 10 chapters are as illuminating as they are bittersweet. I look forward to more, and to the finished book to gift to so many of my younger friends.
Thank you and be well.
My first memory of this divide was the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Judge Borke. The divide and lack of civility was clearly on display. The public discourse has continually gone downhill from there.
The other thing I have observed is that while there will never be a world without some racism, (humans are instinctively wired to fear the unknown and the different) the current supply of racist incidents in the USA is way less than the political and charlatan demand for them. The evidence for this is the number of fake racial events created to fill the void. The politicians rile up racial groups for votes at every opportunity (real or fake), and the charlatans ring the racism dinner bell at every opportunity (real or fake) to make money. As long as accusations of racism are profitable in votes, clicks and money, the amount of racism in the USA will appear larger in the media than it really is, and our divides will grow.
Claire, thanks for sharing this. I look forward to reading the rest as time allows.
Hello I just had to say, I accidentally ‘discovered’ you yesterday via your brilliant series of essays on R3 ; Bohemians in T-Shirts. A Google search to find out more about you brought me to this article. I’m neither writer nor critic but I do have a fascination for history and the pursuit of knowledge and the way you write appeals to me fully. So I will now subscribe here and am eager to encounter more of your writing. Jane, Cambridge UK.
Jane,
Thanks. I look forward to your thoughts on the other chapters that I've published here.. Best, Michael
This is a book I long to read. Clarity, and all the long experience of writing, bring such gifts, that we can read, share with those other generations, and truly believe we do understand better.
Than you for letting us hear these stories.
Just found you Michael, through London friends. Your analysis here runs so close to what is happening in Australia where I live.
The right-wing is starving public schools of resources, funding. And it's trying to get hold of the curriculum. History is being turned into glorification of Western civilisation.
Glad to see that my work is making it to Oz. Thanks for subscribing
Wonderful, thank you!
Excellent piece, it brought back a flood of memories earlier than yours and with them my own sorrows of our downward slide. History is my refuge though, the awareness that what has happened to us in our lifetime has happened over and over again in other societies and that somehow, through the crucible of heartbreak and broken promises the dreams of those who have learned to love and respect others despite the realities we face, prevail time and again. I’m glad to be old enough now to know that my days are nearly over. I’ve seen and experienced enough to not mind that I am now simply an observer, an elder with tales to tell.
Brilliant, just brilliant, cannot wait to have the whole finished book in my hands!
Mr. Goldfarb's tale is part-wistful and part-wise, although it suffers from one glaringly incorrect premise: For President Donald Trump--whatever his temperamental extremes--is not an, "authoritarian, neofascist."
P.S. I will miss New York (which seems to be swiftly, and, perhaps, irreversibly, fundamentally transform(ing)"--à la Barack Obama) into, "a $hithole (city)."
Another excellent essay. I hope that you'll understand what I mean when I say that each new piece puts me at my keyboard trying to acknowledge and respond but in the end I usually don't send it. Your work truly engages my memory.