Still enjoying the local customs of that other country known as “the Bay Area,” I remain fascinated by the tone of the political and cultural news. Today, for example, the San Francisco Chronicle featured a prominent “review” of the in fact impressive two volume collection from the Library of America, REPORTING CIVIL RIGHTS. I say “review,” because the rather long piece didn’t really say very much about either reporting, civil rights, or the collection itself. This is how it began (and continued):
To try to reckon with the power of this remarkable, two-volume collection from the Library of America, “Reporting Civil Rights,” it might be helpful to do a little thought experiment: Imagine what it would do to George W. Bush to read these two fat volumes.
The question is not whether the book would change Bush. Oh no. That much is certain. The question is whether, in a real sense, he could even survive the experience.
And from the Chronicle’s Washington Bureau Chief comes an article new presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich that begins as follows:
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a recent entrant to the Democratic presidential sweepstakes, is in many ways a perfect match for Northern California. He opposes war with Iraq. He advocates universal health care, workers’ rights and a holistic world view. He introduced legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. He is not just a vegetarian, he is a vegan.
Despite that perfect fit, however, his last-minute conversion on abortion may be too late.
Not to be outdone, Chronicle columnist Mark Morford has a column in the online edition decorously entitled, “Bush Give You The Finger.” Subtitle: “Millions worldwide rally against Dubya’s oily little war — not that he gives a damn.” The column begins:
And then there’s the one about the smirky war-happy oil-drunk American president who shrugged off the disdain of pretty much the entire world and humiliated us all on a global scale and went ahead and blasted the living hell out of an otherwise worthless oil-rich nation with no real proof of serious wrongdoing and for no justifiable reason, except for the oil and the power and for Daddy and for the face-saving faux-macho pride, and the oil.
The remainder of the column is slightly less restrained.
A week here has about convinced me that, in The Bay Area, the New York Times and NPR present a much-needed counterbalance.
I saw that Morford piece online and sent him an email asking him to explain exactly what the connection was between Bush and oil, since the US could buy all the Iraqui all it wants tomorrow by just lifting the sanctions. Of course, he hasn’t responded.
My feeling about California — if the big one hit, the new beach front property it would create would be a net plus for the country.