An Ode to a Christmas Fulfilled
I'm alone. It's Christmas night. Some family members will be coming tomorrow evening for a few day's visit. I'm flipping back and forth between "The Sound of Music" and "American Perspective" on C-Span featuring CBS's Don Hewitt of 60 Minutes fame and Benjamin Bradlee of the Washington Post talking about the rather sad state of news today -- in both print and broadcast.
I'm reminded of the soldiers questions about why the media doesn't cover the good things our guys are doing in Iraq. And I know the answer. It doesn't bleed -- so it doesn't lead. And usually it doesen't even make it to the inside pages. Or the tail of the newscast. Where are the editors and news directors heads? Don't they realize the responsibility they have to help us solve this problem with the Muslim world? We may have to spend a couple of decades dealing with this. It's not just some crazy Bush idea. We can't just walk away from it. Think about it.
Then I'm listening to Julie Andrews singing "These are a few of my favorite things." And I'm reminded of the goofy doggerel I sent to our local newspapers a week ago as a letter to the editor -- which they haven't used yet. I wrote:
Bagels and bongos and bright shiny baubles
Kiddies and girlies and drunks with the wobbles
Radio Flyer red wagons and blings
These are a few of my favorite things.
Prayers to heaven and good news each morning
An officer stops me and gives me a warning
People who love me and cars with no dings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog barfs, when the cat bites,
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember the good things I've had
And then I don't feel so mad.
-0-
Our town is now graced by the presence of David Gest, the promoter who was married to Liza Mnelli -- but is now involved in an ugly divorce and they're suing each other I believe. He has moved to Memphis 'cause he loves the town and promoted a concert here a couple weeks ago as a benefit fund raiser. He promised to use the proceeds to provide senior citizens or homeless folks with Christmas Dinner at their choice of half a dozen restaurants around town. The media reports he's had an inquiry from the Tennessee Secretary of State's office wondering why he didn't apply for a permit to raise money for charity.
Well, as an old time talk show host and skeptic of all things, I had to test his bonafides. So I went today to one of the eateries -- the world famous Corky's Barbecue place. And said the magic phrase "I'm David's Gest!" Voila. They served up a platter of baked beans, spaghetti and a sandwich piled obscenely high with pulled pork and coleslaw. A diet Coke and a brownie for dessert. It all tasted fine, though the spaghetti and barbecue were on the cold side. Even that was ok, as there was too much to eat. So I asked for a to-go box. Which was provided. For some strange reason I had imagined I would get Turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce and the usual trimmings. But then, I realized Corky's had their specialty and -- that's what they served.
One other recent story about Gest added to my skepticism about him: A contractor who did a couple hundred thousand dollars of renovation on his river-bluffs home is suing Gest 'cause David won't pay. Well, we will see.
-0-
I like Steve Allen's mind. He wrote so many books. I am just now reading his "Vulgarians at the Gate." The subtitle is "Trash TV and Raunch Radio. Raising the Standards of Popular Culture." I think it was his last book. And since he wrote it, the vulgarians have gotten through the gate and are sitting in our livingroom nightly. I think the only way to persuade the corporate types who care more for profit and rising stock prices, than for their own children's culture and safety, is to shame them publicly. And repeatedly.
For example, there needs to be a cadre of fearless concerned citizens willing to pay the consequences for throwing a cream pie in the face of the CEO at some public event. Making sure good quality videocams are recording the action, and a news release is at the ready to explain this shameless/shameful conduct. I'm not suggesting that we need a Taliban-type society. But, clearly moral values have gone by the wayside in the quest for the almighty dollar. And shaming these corporate leaders over and over may be the only way to get it into their thick skulls! Remember this is just a "For example." Maybe you have some better ideas.
Diamond Digest Add #1 -- 12-25-04
I'm reminded of the soldiers questions about why the media doesn't cover the good things our guys are doing in Iraq. And I know the answer. It doesn't bleed -- so it doesn't lead. And usually it doesen't even make it to the inside pages. Or the tail of the newscast. Where are the editors and news directors heads? Don't they realize the responsibility they have to help us solve this problem with the Muslim world? We may have to spend a couple of decades dealing with this. It's not just some crazy Bush idea. We can't just walk away from it. Think about it.
Then I'm listening to Julie Andrews singing "These are a few of my favorite things." And I'm reminded of the goofy doggerel I sent to our local newspapers a week ago as a letter to the editor -- which they haven't used yet. I wrote:
Bagels and bongos and bright shiny baubles
Kiddies and girlies and drunks with the wobbles
Radio Flyer red wagons and blings
These are a few of my favorite things.
Prayers to heaven and good news each morning
An officer stops me and gives me a warning
People who love me and cars with no dings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog barfs, when the cat bites,
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember the good things I've had
And then I don't feel so mad.
-0-
Our town is now graced by the presence of David Gest, the promoter who was married to Liza Mnelli -- but is now involved in an ugly divorce and they're suing each other I believe. He has moved to Memphis 'cause he loves the town and promoted a concert here a couple weeks ago as a benefit fund raiser. He promised to use the proceeds to provide senior citizens or homeless folks with Christmas Dinner at their choice of half a dozen restaurants around town. The media reports he's had an inquiry from the Tennessee Secretary of State's office wondering why he didn't apply for a permit to raise money for charity.
Well, as an old time talk show host and skeptic of all things, I had to test his bonafides. So I went today to one of the eateries -- the world famous Corky's Barbecue place. And said the magic phrase "I'm David's Gest!" Voila. They served up a platter of baked beans, spaghetti and a sandwich piled obscenely high with pulled pork and coleslaw. A diet Coke and a brownie for dessert. It all tasted fine, though the spaghetti and barbecue were on the cold side. Even that was ok, as there was too much to eat. So I asked for a to-go box. Which was provided. For some strange reason I had imagined I would get Turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce and the usual trimmings. But then, I realized Corky's had their specialty and -- that's what they served.
One other recent story about Gest added to my skepticism about him: A contractor who did a couple hundred thousand dollars of renovation on his river-bluffs home is suing Gest 'cause David won't pay. Well, we will see.
-0-
I like Steve Allen's mind. He wrote so many books. I am just now reading his "Vulgarians at the Gate." The subtitle is "Trash TV and Raunch Radio. Raising the Standards of Popular Culture." I think it was his last book. And since he wrote it, the vulgarians have gotten through the gate and are sitting in our livingroom nightly. I think the only way to persuade the corporate types who care more for profit and rising stock prices, than for their own children's culture and safety, is to shame them publicly. And repeatedly.
For example, there needs to be a cadre of fearless concerned citizens willing to pay the consequences for throwing a cream pie in the face of the CEO at some public event. Making sure good quality videocams are recording the action, and a news release is at the ready to explain this shameless/shameful conduct. I'm not suggesting that we need a Taliban-type society. But, clearly moral values have gone by the wayside in the quest for the almighty dollar. And shaming these corporate leaders over and over may be the only way to get it into their thick skulls! Remember this is just a "For example." Maybe you have some better ideas.
Diamond Digest Add #1 -- 12-25-04
posted by David F. Diamond at 7:52 PM
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