Redeeming Hope - One Nation Archives

"One Nation" archive

A deeply personal note (09:19) - Frank, one of my best friends, worked for Canter, Fitzgerald and was lost in the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11. On this fifth anniversary of that dreadful day, I wonder where we are in our fight against terrorism and in our aspirations to be a better people. But most of all on this day, I keep wondering about him. I met Frank during the first week of my freshman year at Skidmore College. We... | 0 Trackbacks | 4 Comments

Tavis Talks, We Should Listen (23:39) - Tavis Smiley hit the nail on the head in his recent take on the current public broadcasting brouhaha. The debate is about bias, but not the kind that is often talked about. In his Sunday Washington Post piece, entitled Left? Right? Wrong! The Misguided CPB Debate, Smiley wrote: While Washington talks about ideological balance, Americans hunger to see programming that reflects their experience and inspires their lives. Finally, we’re getting some place! For years my... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Red/Blue Reality? (17:58) - What happens when you cross “Fear Factor” and American politics? You get the new reality TV show “Red/Blue.” Are you ready? I really wonder what you think about this one. Some political consultants, supported by the TV production firm whose parent company has brought us “Fear Factor” and “Big Brother,” hope to put a dozen or so budding political consultants in a Georgetown townhouse. Much like MTV’s “Real World,” the place will be wired with... | 0 Comments

Certainty and Certitude (09:25) - Richard C. Harwood, President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation Last night the Republicans got off to a fast start. They defined key issues they will run on, and how they will run against Senator John Kerry and his Democrats. Both parties have now clearly staked out leadership and character as one of the master narratives in this race. Iraq, the war on terror and the middle class squeeze will provide the substance. When it... | 217 Trackbacks | 1 Comments

Facts Aren't The Whole Story (11:27) - I went to see Michael Moore’s film Fahrenheit 9/11 this weekend. It was a powerful movie. For those people who already believe the War in Iraq was a bad move, it only gives more ammunition to confirm their position. And yet, as I watched the film I found myself deeply disturbed. The film distorted certain facts by providing little context; used editing techniques to suggest seamless connections that actually were "jumps in logic"; pulled at... | 210 Trackbacks | 1 Comments

Engaging Imagination (18:10) - There's more brouhaha over the "great divide" in America. Since writing last, I have continued to see a string of stories in the news on this topic. With each story another observer comes forward with their own analysis, suggesting yet another division that plagues our woeful society. It's amazing the nation is still standing. Here are a couple of examples to mull over as you try to keep the pieces of the divided nation together:... | 73 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

The Stain of Red and Blue (17:01) - A column of mine on the growing stain of red and blue appeared in the Christan Science Monitor yesterday. You can read it here. As always, I appreciate any comments you have on the piece.... | 218 Trackbacks | 1 Comments

Separate and Divided - A Challenge (09:53) - When I listen to the current political debate on the war in Iraq, health care, education and the assortment of other issues, I have this recurring thought. What if I went to Mr. Rivers’ house and filmed him talking about his concerns and hopes. What if I went to a lot of people’s homes? | 6 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Welcome (13:07) - Welcome! Today is the first installment on my new blog. I’m excited about this venture – talking with you about some ideas I have and hearing about your own. I’ll be writing about public life, why am I so concerned about it, and how we can place it on an alternate path. To me, public life is about the relationships between and among people and how we individually and collectively act on common problems and hopes. | 96 Trackbacks | 0 Comments