On Utility

“Smoke ’em if you got ’em, smoke ’em if you got ’em,” my new mentor would repeat, practically endlessly, as I learned the ropes as a new Associate Producer in Atlanta.

Each time I found a story I considered worthy and gathered the courage to propose it for inclusion in our show that day, I was met with incredulous silence that asked, even before verbalization: do you have a visual of this event you find so worthwhile? Do you understand that if it was not caught on videotape we do not care?

Video-illustrated stories, I needed to learn, were highly sought for a reason, even if seemingly regardless of newsworthiness.

Looking Inward

In his farewell address, Ronald Reagan said “watch closely, and don’t be afraid to see what you see.”

While I realize the matter’s gotten some attention, I feel revelations this past week that two television news networks seemingly diametrically opposed ideologically are funded by the same corporation are notable.

Gaudí famously spoke of the relationship between originality and origins; and it is worth revisiting the idea.

Increasingly, curated newsfeeds seem misleading and controlled; and, while I understand the argument being made for a post-truth journalism, to a degree and in theory, (it makes sense to accentuate some facts over others when working to keep in a solutions-oriented frame of mind, for example), I do not believe that the form we are seeing today is benign. This is as it still seems to me that the reason some facts are obscured while others are highlighted is generally not for the purpose of promoting the greater good. Today, while it seems rundown curation is as slanted by the promotion of power-interested opinion as it is by business-interested sensationalism, it is important for dissenters to note, when attempting to reach others, that the means for doing so are dominated aggressively.

To remain in power, a corrupt media infrastructure would arguably need to impose a caste system to automate scapegoating for the chronic societal problems a permanent transition from democracy to a media company oligarchy would cause. This sector’s capriciousness in imposing such a system is evidence of its purpose; but its strategy arguably has no legitimate origin.

If one believes her dissenting opinion is valid and that this would be obvious should it be reviewed in comparison to advertised opinions of news corporations by an impartial arbiter, one may do well to remember that there at least appear to be very few remaining impartial arbiters. Should one attempt to use her voice, news corporations are likely either to attempt to subsume it or capitalize on any opportunity to amplify her flaws.

On Talking Anyway

Regarding slow change, we often hear the analogy of the frog in warming water. It seems worth noting that, despite occasional variations, at no time in any telling of this cautionary tale is the hearer encouraged to give the frog calming talk therapy. (In an urgently problematic situation, one wouldn’t retaliate against, but would rather thank, the person who pulled the fire alarm. Right?)

I believe it may be important for anyone with the greater good at heart to speak as solutions they propose are arguably likely to do more good than those supported by a corrupt (but, crucially, redeemable) media sector that seems willing to destroy our treasured country for the thrill of running it for half an hour.

As a girl born and raised in Plymouth, MA, I firmly associate our Union’s origins with 1620; but, from what I have heard, the New York Times’ recent editorial project helped underscore important observations about extant elements of the American confederacy and other forms of race-based injustice in continued need of attention. Still, the relationship of news corporations, whose business model needs heavy critique, with the particular framing of the ideology called “woke-ism” is conspicuous. I have written at length before about an important distinction between coaching and bullying – namely, malicious or benevolent intent toward the one being corrected – and I feel this may be what is missing in the “woke-ism” debate.

I believe transgenderism is legitimate, relatedly, but, given the sudden ubiquitousness of debate about it, I also believe it important for us all to consider the possibility that we’ve allowed the merger of our for-profit and for-power media infrastructures to become so overbearing and oppressive that we are allowing an entire generation, affected by narratives repurposed for corporate capture and the silencing of non-corporate media voice, to grow up fearing that the only opportunity they will ever have to be seen or heard in this world is by literally having body parts removed. Even if only one percent of transitioners regret it, they are a lot.

For those who have soul-searched and believe they are right, it certainly seems important to persist.

On Sources

Given all of the emphasis placed of late on further taxing the rich to fund social programs, it seems worth revisiting the fundamental question of how immense wealth is obtained in the first place and whether this ought to be addressed on its own merits.

Although, as a stopgap and while larger systems are being reviewed, it is certainly reasonable for a large tax to be on the table, if targeted moneys are obtained legitimately, would not large-scale and recurring extractions be questionable? On the other hand, if there were a flaw in the system permitting the very rich to become so immorally, would not large-scale and recurring extractions be even more questionable?

It is as if such a system is born of a complete hopelessness that creative and predatory strategies for wealth accumulation can be disentangled. Takings, of course, are not the world’s only source of wealth, and there is room in dialogues (even if not in modern lectures) about economic design for the acknowledgement of creativity and novel contribution.

Because no human system will ever root out all corruption, and because as a public mandate it is important for every society to protect, support, and encourage anyone struggling, it obviously makes sense for reasonable levels of taxation to continue and, maybe, increase. Although the trillions under consideration sound like a lot, they may well be an appropriate level for currently needed programs.

Regardless, the approach seems relatively uncreative, and it may be worth wondering whether other strategies may be hidden or obscured.

On Heroes

Given all of the talk recently about the dominance of so-called elites, I believe it may be worth re-naming this group, the visibles. This is as we live in an information landscape dominated by the confident and connected, not always the qualified; and these tend to be adept at identifying and preying on the timid. The term elite should arguably track with greater fidelity to concepts of nurturing and protection.

Given the event’s 20-year anniversary, I have revisited stories about 9/11 recently and was overwhelmed by records of so very many stories of true heroism. (Is there, incidentally, a more American profession than firefighting? Nursing may be a tie, and we all must rotate into public affairs; but why are these professions not more venerated?)

One story in particular was about a rescuer who, over the course of just a couple of hours, applied the enormity of his athletic prowess as a committed marathoner in climbing flight after flight after flight of narrow stairs, his considerable learnedness as a dedicated student of engineering in navigating a severely compromised elevator system, and a reserve of integrity and willingness to serve that must have been built over the course of a lifetime.

When turned on its head, advice to use every outward resource at one’s disposal takes on a completely different meaning as witness these men who could not possibly have been decision-making based on external outputs alone. They were undoubtedly guided by the heart and resolved to do what they could.

On Doing What You Can

Not long ago, I did community development work in a neighborhood where I knew my great-grandparents had moved after the end of World War I. (My great-grandfather had been a commodore for the British Navy and my great-grandmother had been raised in a family that operated a bed and breakfast in Scotland; after I believe an opportunity in America had arisen for him to continue captaining ships, she resolved to express her hospitality skills in her adopted home.)

Like many, I knew the neighborhood had seen serious tumult many decades later and that families like mine were displaced with violence by families who had endured generations of indignity and deprivation. (My great-grandmother, I believe well into her 80s, was burglarized multiple times but, from what I understand, always met the threat with fearlessness and generosity, until one family did attack her very violently, even knocking out her teeth and leaving her in a closet after making the case that, because they had numerous children, they should be able to have her house. Another widow down the street, in her 90s, was assaulted even more horrifically, including a rape; and I do not believe such incidents were isolated.)

Before this, my understanding is that my great-grandmother, who I believe never stopped missing her homeland, did what she could. Because she wanted to bloom – and help others bloom – where planted, she helped newcomers get settled into the neighborhood, housed boarders, and hired those in need to express their creativity, such as by teaching her children music lessons, in exchange for providing home furnishings.

I do not believe my great-grandmother had a racist bone in her body, but have been told she vigorously objected to each of her daughters’ weddings to boys of German descent. (Nevermind the fact that they were born in America, fought on our side in World War II, were shot and shot and shot, and lived to be able tell about it all – not that they ever did.) Eventually she changed her mind about them, including my grandfather – a war hero and very successful Army boxer who, for his part, had learned how to fight while growing up brawling Italians from the neighborhood next door who may have looked at him in the same way he looked at them. Everyone is capable of learning and softening, and I do believe there are moments for celebrating progress toward meaningful unity made in our maturing democracy already.

On Stepping Up

As suburban girls (although I ended up moving to a more urban area by high school), many of us were raised (partly by movies) to believe that, while we were in the suburbs, we were not of the suburbs; and we needed to get ready for the day that would surely come when we would be called on to help discern between the good guys and the bad guys downtown. Apart from the fact that our lives would ultimately build up to some sort of elaborate public dance performance (obviously), that’s pretty much all we knew.

This week’s revelations by a social media whistleblower completely changed my feelings associated with the little dialogue currently permitted about media company misdeeds as, even though I have listened to the same problems being re-stated over and over and over again with sadness for so many years, for the first time, I … laughed. Although this whistleblower has arguably merely re-stated one of the largest problems facing the world for the past several decades – the influence of an essential but unchecked for-profit and, increasingly, for-power media sector – her contribution represents major courage. Still, apart from her contention that answers lay in more regulation, she has arguably failed to articulate much at all about the characteristics of a suitable solution. (How can it decentralize without balkanizing public affairs dialogue for example? I proposed a solution several years ago but would love to know others’.)

You may say this woman was so heavy-handed in her criticism of existing systems without putting forward any sort of alternative as to be practically Marxist. Even so, she was bravely and considerately doing what she could do, which is, arguably, a lot more than most. (It is incidentally bizarre how ready neo-marxists seem to be to talk about domination of the means of production without discussing domination of the means of communication.)

While I realize these were no one’s words, the following parody describes what listening to a recent televised interview felt like:

Anchorman: Sorry, we only have a moment to chat with you. You may have already heard, but a beautiful woman went missing recently. (Rubs fingers together to signal a cash interest.)

Whistleblower: No problem.

Anchorman: I’ve read your report, and have to say I am shocked, shocked, that these clowns, who would incidentally deign to challenge the hegemony of television news’ get-vulnerable-older-people-addicted-to-rage business model with a get-vulnerable-young-people addicted to rage business model, would have the audacity to look at the effects of their work and … and … sorry, I’m having trouble getting this out … self-reflect. (shudders)

Whistleblower: They stole your bad idea but started combining it with honesty, basically.

Anchorman: What would have been next? Problem-solving for goodness’ sake? I mean, you’re telling me these people had the gall to write down things that are true on paper? Paper?!?! Next thing you know they’re going to start saying true things out loud. Don’t they know anything about the for-profit media world?

Whistleblower: I’m not sure they were ever going to action their own intelligen-

Anchorman: You could have gone to their advisory board first.

Whistleblower: I think what’s important here is that social media product users took the bait legacy media consumers fall for every day.

Anchorman: So what you’re saying is, even though they’re mercilessly distracted by sensationalism, it’s safe to conclude Americans are so inherently defective they’re in need of our corporations’ services to tell them what to think, do, and say; and the answer is more regulation of individual voice.

Whistleblower: You said it senator, um, anchorman.

Anchorman: Excuse me. Sherri! Are you picking up on this wire? The girl’s socks were pink and yellow striped! I can just feel America’s addiction to this story is waning, and needs this information. I don’t care if you have to break into Big Brother!!!

WB, this is a topic requiring considerable knowledge, expertise, education, and specialized experience. I will therefore consult another anchorman about it.

Whistleblower: You all seem to be very coordinated. Do you work together behind the scenes?

Anchorman: (smiles and produce a small rectangle) Institute for the Prevention of Problem-Solving – IPPS for short. Here, let me give you my card.

Whistleblower: (whistles) Diamond-studded.

Anchorman: We’re very good at what we do.

Whistleblower: I did the right thing, right? Just calling out social media and joining, without critiquing, legacy media?

Anchorman: You’d have been bumping right up against the IPPS, WB.

Excuse me. Sherri!!!

WB, Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Whistleblower: I’m just glad I was able to get all this off my chest. Thank you.

Anchorman: No, thank you.

Every time a person speaks up about companies operating beneath the dignity of America at massive scale and, yet, on American soil, I breathe a little bit easier.

While I realize many people have severe criticisms of the so-called metoo movement, I believe literally every day of my life has been markedly better since those who spoke up so bravely, miraculously, were allowed to do so (especially before their efforts were hijacked by media corporations that would silence proposed solutions). I do believe it’s interesting how frequently the most corrupt sectors of our country have so suddenly seemed to turn on a dime regarding unresolved human rights matters with an almost constant refrain of move on, turn the page, and embrace a new season – as if the season to consider and address individual liberties alongside the collective – in the United States of America – were over.

On Assignment

One inspiring story I have heard about my great-grandfather’s adventures as a commodore, surviving being torpedoed in World War I, and determining to follow his heart and remain true to his nautical calling even after the war, was actually of a passenger on one voyage, Helen Keller, who, after their journey, took the time and put forth the effort to write him what I am told was a beautiful thank you letter. Although under more regular circumstances, this would not sound an extraordinary act, it was, because this heroine was exploring, and doing, all she could.

Writing this blog post, I was inspired to re-watch Cinderella Man and feel reminded there is purpose for all talents.

Two of the country’s most vigorously opposed television news networks are propped up by the same organization; and, yet again, the same gamblers are handicapping one fighting dog, so to speak, and hopping the other up on steroid-like advantage, all for at least apparently nothing but to sell tickets to the show, all while the world warms, women in Afghanistan quietly hold untold answers to world problems, and kids are indoctrinated with convenient, but errant, racism. But none of this need affect citizens’ decisions to be guided by the heart and do everything they can – to be Americans, in other words.

After this week’s news, I more adamantly believe our system of publicly-trading media companies should be further revisited. It would seem we risk the whole world being driven to the ground by behind-the-scenes profiteers who would achieve their goals of financial and political domination vis-á-vis a virtual army of well-aware, but so-called, “useful idiots,” seemingly content to do anything for on-camera roles and prestige.

The more attempts are made to distract, divide, and discourage otherwise-engaged citizens, the more individuals can survey the abilities at their disposal and listen to their hearts for guidance. Like solar-paneled residences, Americans are by definition self-reliant and giving, but know the importance of remaining connected to the grid, too, should a need to be supported arise.

Another decision by one New York hero mentioned already feels a crucial gift to those left searching for inspiration and meaning today. After ingeniously repairing a compromised elevator and climbing more than thirty flights of stairs, this exemplar fixed his own communication system.