Ty a slight glimmer of hope 🤞🤞based on last night’s election results … good. But recent polls, anecdotal opinion that the young electorate will sit the next one out ( “we don’t like Biden” ), our House in collapse, etc. has me worried to say the least. Expand that to the Ukraine “yesterday’s news,
Hamas, and now Israel with minor restraint… no, I think we be sinking further into the deep muddy.
Thanks for the link. Hogg is great … voting & running: “this project matters. Because it's showing young people that, yes, our system is broken, but it's not unfixable. We can work to fix it and make it better as a generation.” Recently read a millennial Harvard fellow’s piece in the Globe, claimed to understand the mindset generationX and why they don’t like Joe and would prefer to sit the next one out. I was shaken, angry and appalled at his arrogance and the notion they could sit it out. Hogg is the antidote and is to be applauded for his actions, or are the activists. They are the answer and we need their vote!
I should note my question for the password reverification (for my protection) requirement by Substack every time I attempt to comment. Not tech or security savvy, but since they’re sending me your blog , shouldn’t they know who I am? Sorry, minor vent….
Re/ the encounter in Newton: sounds like this was a good old fashioned protest rally. The French call such events "manifestations," and it's worth considering what became manifest at this rally. Based on what unfolded—the confrontations, the recriminations—was the rally a constructive or productive act? Not a rhetorical question; just wondering and asking.
It's a good and valid question, Charles. I think there was a mix of genuine and performative outrage at play, and a desire to put one's sorrow to social use. I'm not convinced any minds were changed; indeed, they may have only been hardened. You're welcome to see it as self-serving. But it was good to witness the connection between several generations of activists and to see information being shared and contextualized in necessary ways. And, honestly, I hope the Israeli guy made the people he was arguing examine and sharpen their rhetoric.
I am a new subscriber (not yet paid) as I became familiar with you one night while watching CNN. I enjoy reading your reviews though I must confess I have trouble keeping up with the volume. I always glance at the first few paragraphs to see if there is something appealing to me. BUT I had no idea that you ever ventured into non-film related opinions. Wow. I thought you absolutely nailed it in this piece. You put into words what most people no doubt feel. At least those people who have feelings. I was taken by the exchange with the Israeli family and your summary of the exchange. It required a sensitivity that you wove into your narrative. I was moved by your writing and simply wished to express my thanks. It's nice getting to know you and your work.
Thank you! And don't worry about the volume. My wife says I write too much, and she's correct, but after three-plus decades doing this, I feel compelled to keep putting stuff out there. You do not need to feel compelled to read it all!
Thank you so much for this column. It restores my faith in humanity. Yes, life is suffering, but everything changes. I hope it's changing for the better.
"The pundits of the mainstream news media (my former employers included), who seem desperate to sell us a coming dystopia because they know we can’t stop clicking on it." I so agree. This is what I wrote to the NYTimes this morning after looking at their headlines:
To the Editor,
Is it really necessary to refer negatively to Biden in the first sentence of this front page story today?
"President Biden is unpopular, but the winning streak for his party and its policies has been extended through another election night"
Why not "Winning streak for the Democratic party and its policies has been extended through another election night.” Your constant click-baity harping on Biden’s supposed weakness only serves to reinforce that idea - and you seem to do it almost every day. I find this puzzling - and disturbing.
I do not understand why supposely 'liberal' media like the NYT is so relentlessly negative on Biden rather than looking at the solid progress his adminstration is making in spite of the adversial House. Recently I read an article in Politico about 'Conservative GenZ Boot Campl and was surprised, dismayed, and appalled (Larry Carr) to see that it was about training young MAGA people at for entry-level positions in the government, something started by J.D. Vance. WHY would POLITICO use the term 'conservative' for something so extreme? This is not rhetorical. I'm truly baffled.
Ty, thanks for your comments. After the voting from yesterday, I started feeling better than I've had in a while. And although polls are thrown at us daily, I think there's hope that democracy is alive and well.
A rally for a cease fire and peace I feel is different than a pro-Israel or pro-Palestine demonstration. Losing our ability to have civil discourse with those whom we disagree does not bode well for the country. I disagree on your explanation of the source of hatred being fear and pain. The hatred in this case is being taught to innocent Palestinian babies through their whole lives.Hate the Jews, hate Israel.
I'd like to feel more hopeful but it is hard. We just watched Alexandra Pelosi's very brave "The Insurrectionist Next Door". It made me aware again of how differently the world looks to other people. Can books, films, music and theater help us empathize with people who think differently? I still don't understand a father whose children hear him proudly performing his rap "F.....k Joe Biden" and discussing how many "likes" it got. I don't understand conspiracy believers. I don't know what the answer is to competing claims in the middle east but I am pretty sure it doesn't involve dead children.
Eyeless in Newton certainly merits a subscription. You have spoken with hope and grit. "The arc of the moral universe is long", but if we don't generate and sustain the determination to work on creating a compassionate world, we won't round the bend to justice.
I just finished reading your thoughts on yesterdays election. Thank you!! If it weren't 11:00 at night, I, as you sister, would call and respond at length to your post. I am so glad you have the means to share these thoughts with many others. Let's talk soon :-)
Ty a slight glimmer of hope 🤞🤞based on last night’s election results … good. But recent polls, anecdotal opinion that the young electorate will sit the next one out ( “we don’t like Biden” ), our House in collapse, etc. has me worried to say the least. Expand that to the Ukraine “yesterday’s news,
Hamas, and now Israel with minor restraint… no, I think we be sinking further into the deep muddy.
Hope, I’m wrong.
Hope you're wrong, too, Larry. I prefer to err on the side of optimism. If that makes me naive, so be it.
Been reading Philip Kerr’s Prague Fatale, guessing it is effecting my outlook. I’ll try to snap out of it.
Pay attention to GenZ. They grew up with school drills for shootings and are sick of the hypocrisy of politicians that keep assault weapons accessible. They are interesting people., starting to get organized. One example. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/09/1191455776/young-voters-david-hogg-pac-campaign-elections-genz-millennial
Thanks for the link. Hogg is great … voting & running: “this project matters. Because it's showing young people that, yes, our system is broken, but it's not unfixable. We can work to fix it and make it better as a generation.” Recently read a millennial Harvard fellow’s piece in the Globe, claimed to understand the mindset generationX and why they don’t like Joe and would prefer to sit the next one out. I was shaken, angry and appalled at his arrogance and the notion they could sit it out. Hogg is the antidote and is to be applauded for his actions, or are the activists. They are the answer and we need their vote!
Very good commentary. Actually enjoyed reading it. Not something I have been able to on this subject before. Thanks
I should note my question for the password reverification (for my protection) requirement by Substack every time I attempt to comment. Not tech or security savvy, but since they’re sending me your blog , shouldn’t they know who I am? Sorry, minor vent….
Re/ the encounter in Newton: sounds like this was a good old fashioned protest rally. The French call such events "manifestations," and it's worth considering what became manifest at this rally. Based on what unfolded—the confrontations, the recriminations—was the rally a constructive or productive act? Not a rhetorical question; just wondering and asking.
It's a good and valid question, Charles. I think there was a mix of genuine and performative outrage at play, and a desire to put one's sorrow to social use. I'm not convinced any minds were changed; indeed, they may have only been hardened. You're welcome to see it as self-serving. But it was good to witness the connection between several generations of activists and to see information being shared and contextualized in necessary ways. And, honestly, I hope the Israeli guy made the people he was arguing examine and sharpen their rhetoric.
I am a new subscriber (not yet paid) as I became familiar with you one night while watching CNN. I enjoy reading your reviews though I must confess I have trouble keeping up with the volume. I always glance at the first few paragraphs to see if there is something appealing to me. BUT I had no idea that you ever ventured into non-film related opinions. Wow. I thought you absolutely nailed it in this piece. You put into words what most people no doubt feel. At least those people who have feelings. I was taken by the exchange with the Israeli family and your summary of the exchange. It required a sensitivity that you wove into your narrative. I was moved by your writing and simply wished to express my thanks. It's nice getting to know you and your work.
Thank you! And don't worry about the volume. My wife says I write too much, and she's correct, but after three-plus decades doing this, I feel compelled to keep putting stuff out there. You do not need to feel compelled to read it all!
You always put life in a perspective I can embrace and yet make me want to understand what I cannot endorse.
A very wonderful piece, Ty. Thank you for this wise obervation/reflection. I will be charing.
“The many accomplishments of the present administration.” Sorry pal, you lost me there. Good News
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/27/biden-performance-media-israel-gaza-war/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk4NzI0ODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzAwMTEwNzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTg3MjQ4MDAsImp0aSI6IjgxOWFiN2IyLTA2NWYtNGQ1NS04YTRiLTBiM2FmYTMyMmVjNiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9vcGluaW9ucy8yMDIzLzEwLzI3L2JpZGVuLXBlcmZvcm1hbmNlLW1lZGlhLWlzcmFlbC1nYXphLXdhci8ifQ.9_IuT2cWuonDETnxU5IND_yGhDh6vKLMaADjiZMO72c
https://twitter.com/ShirleyCottle/status/1722325921397416212
Thank you so much for this column. It restores my faith in humanity. Yes, life is suffering, but everything changes. I hope it's changing for the better.
Thank you! A joy to read, ironically.
"The pundits of the mainstream news media (my former employers included), who seem desperate to sell us a coming dystopia because they know we can’t stop clicking on it." I so agree. This is what I wrote to the NYTimes this morning after looking at their headlines:
To the Editor,
Is it really necessary to refer negatively to Biden in the first sentence of this front page story today?
"President Biden is unpopular, but the winning streak for his party and its policies has been extended through another election night"
Why not "Winning streak for the Democratic party and its policies has been extended through another election night.” Your constant click-baity harping on Biden’s supposed weakness only serves to reinforce that idea - and you seem to do it almost every day. I find this puzzling - and disturbing.
I do not understand why supposely 'liberal' media like the NYT is so relentlessly negative on Biden rather than looking at the solid progress his adminstration is making in spite of the adversial House. Recently I read an article in Politico about 'Conservative GenZ Boot Campl and was surprised, dismayed, and appalled (Larry Carr) to see that it was about training young MAGA people at for entry-level positions in the government, something started by J.D. Vance. WHY would POLITICO use the term 'conservative' for something so extreme? This is not rhetorical. I'm truly baffled.
Ty, thanks for your comments. After the voting from yesterday, I started feeling better than I've had in a while. And although polls are thrown at us daily, I think there's hope that democracy is alive and well.
A rally for a cease fire and peace I feel is different than a pro-Israel or pro-Palestine demonstration. Losing our ability to have civil discourse with those whom we disagree does not bode well for the country. I disagree on your explanation of the source of hatred being fear and pain. The hatred in this case is being taught to innocent Palestinian babies through their whole lives.Hate the Jews, hate Israel.
I'd like to feel more hopeful but it is hard. We just watched Alexandra Pelosi's very brave "The Insurrectionist Next Door". It made me aware again of how differently the world looks to other people. Can books, films, music and theater help us empathize with people who think differently? I still don't understand a father whose children hear him proudly performing his rap "F.....k Joe Biden" and discussing how many "likes" it got. I don't understand conspiracy believers. I don't know what the answer is to competing claims in the middle east but I am pretty sure it doesn't involve dead children.
Eyeless in Newton certainly merits a subscription. You have spoken with hope and grit. "The arc of the moral universe is long", but if we don't generate and sustain the determination to work on creating a compassionate world, we won't round the bend to justice.
I just finished reading your thoughts on yesterdays election. Thank you!! If it weren't 11:00 at night, I, as you sister, would call and respond at length to your post. I am so glad you have the means to share these thoughts with many others. Let's talk soon :-)