Terrific column, Ken; thank you for the references to James Baldwin and the exploration of the "patriotism gap" (Teixeira) - there now needs to be a new leader, one who knows how to communicate the message in a way that can touch, move and inspire the disheartened over the din of the destruction;—one who understands how to find and climb (and be seated at) the digitized kitchen tables of today without waiting for a committee's OK or an A/B-tested invitation. Reforms are desperately needed, yes -- but made by those with the mindsets, skillsets and speed needed to help digital voices/crowds interact with traditional power in a way that gets us out of a posture of perennial protest and into a posture of state and local governance. Bulls in china shops will destroy everything if there's nobody there fast enough or strong and fearless enough to show them the door.
Thanks so much for this column, Ken. It’s hugely helpful (and also affirming), to see the problems we are struggling with today in a historic context and to recall the remedies that were applied then to sometimes powerful effect. You lifted my spirits!
Brilliant and important, Ken. We need to reclaim our identity and our freedom of thought. We do keep coming around to these inflection points—moments of choice, of solidarity
You are taking the very long view, Ken. It's probably the only reasonable way to remain optimistic. But boy I miss my inner Leslie Knope. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Knope)
Terrific column, Ken; thank you for the references to James Baldwin and the exploration of the "patriotism gap" (Teixeira) - there now needs to be a new leader, one who knows how to communicate the message in a way that can touch, move and inspire the disheartened over the din of the destruction;—one who understands how to find and climb (and be seated at) the digitized kitchen tables of today without waiting for a committee's OK or an A/B-tested invitation. Reforms are desperately needed, yes -- but made by those with the mindsets, skillsets and speed needed to help digital voices/crowds interact with traditional power in a way that gets us out of a posture of perennial protest and into a posture of state and local governance. Bulls in china shops will destroy everything if there's nobody there fast enough or strong and fearless enough to show them the door.
Thank you, Marcia. I'm very glad you liked the piece. Gotta be a way forward ...
Thanks, Ken, for this illuminating column -- much-needed words of light and hope amid such dark times.
Thank you, Tom. Strange times, for sure.
Thanks so much for this column, Ken. It’s hugely helpful (and also affirming), to see the problems we are struggling with today in a historic context and to recall the remedies that were applied then to sometimes powerful effect. You lifted my spirits!
Thank you, Carol. (All our spirits need a lift in these times!)
Brilliant and important, Ken. We need to reclaim our identity and our freedom of thought. We do keep coming around to these inflection points—moments of choice, of solidarity
Thank you, Meg.
Well said. We recently visited T. Roosevelt's birthplace in NYC and were so wishing we had a leader like him in our midst today.
Thank you, Rebecca. We visited Sagamore Hill years ago. Worth a return visit. And yes, he was something else …
Another powerful, smart, alarming yet hopeful piece of writing by Mr. Fireman. Thank you, Ken.
You are taking the very long view, Ken. It's probably the only reasonable way to remain optimistic. But boy I miss my inner Leslie Knope. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Knope)