After a lovey and much improved night’s sleep I feel prepared to do some writing today. It helps that in recent days I finished a very satisfying Reader column for next week: Caucus Night 2022′” and a short and reasonably cogent action plan for Americans who want to nip homegrown political ignorance in the bud this year. I’ll be rolling it out shortly after sharing it more widely with pros for their reactions and input.
I’ve described in other posts how I peruse the news in the morning. Its always been my prime news time but the two to three hours I spend on it cuts into other priorities like writing. As my personal action plan for this year becomes clearer to me I’m left with even less time to dig into the news. Fortunately a 55-year history of reading the news this voluminously gives me considerable perspective. News stories often spend lots of time on background information for which I am already well read. Thus headlines and the first few paragraphs sort of suffice. French practice also cuts into my news time. I will speak semi-fluent French by the end of the year but I may have to give up on some reading to accomplish this.
I’ve set on a new series of posts just now. It will be about the books I’ve been setting aside for that golden time when I can read nonstop. I’ll post one after this that will be titled: The Books I intend to read: (today’s Date). I will also share book I have read and those posts will be titled The Books I have read:(today’s Date).
But first here are news stories I think should be read and maybe before the end of the day I’ll get around to them:
200,000 Black men fought in the Civil War. Some lawmakers want to give them the Congressional Gold Medal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/02/05/civil-war-black-soldiers-gold-medal/
Of our more recent wars my Grandfather who commanded black soldiers in the First World War has his name attached to an effort to give minority soldiers of more recent wars their due as there has been a long history of only recognizing the valor of White soldiers.
How China followed Nazi Germany’s Hollywood playbook
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/04/china-hollywood-nazi-germany-parallels/
This is a story I have learned about before, both the Nazi neutralization of Hollywood of the past and the current Sinofication of Hollywood now. In fact American Firsters have warred against Hollywood too. Hollywood for such people is an enemy promoting liberal ideas like trying to show that blacks, gays and liberals are human. Hollywood ain’t perfect but I like the song: Hooray for Hollywood.
