What is the state of the modern American mind? Where is our society headed, and how did we get where we are? What is our responsibility to our fellow man? How do we achieve progress in these uncertain times? What is “progress,” anyway? It is my hope in the following series of interviews to, if not provide a definite answer to these questions, at the very least give the reader answers they perhaps were not expecting. Our media is as unstable as the rest of our fleeting culture. Original thought is hard to find, and must be sought out.
On a recent trip to the Newseum, the wonderful museum of news located in our nation’s capital, I read a quotation I immediately had to write down. “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one,” a New Yorker columnist wrote in 1960. Of course, back when that was written, no one could imagine a time when everyone could, in theory, own their own press. For all of the perks of the blogoshpere, it is certainly hard to make one’s voice heard amid the ruckus. Edward Murrow told his audience that “we hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion — a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria,” and this was long before the rise of the punditocracy, the ascent of the angry voices of talk radio, or the partisan rancor found at many blog sites. I, of course, cannot claim to be innocent of the last charge.
And so, it is my purpose to use what little voice I have to help expose the reader to ideas which are often not found elsewhere. Thus, I hope that I am creating something political, but not partisan; a series of conversations with people who are idealistic, but not necessarily ideologues. In keeping with the new democratization offered by the internet, I encourage readers to email me any comments, concerns, or corrections you feel are pertinent. I will start this democratic spirit early; I invite the Progressiveu community to give me their ideas of what the column should be called. So far, my ideas include Progressive Views, The Public Mind, or Listening. Also, if anyone wants to make a suggestion for an interview, it would be much appreciated. The lineup so far includes political humorist Allison Kilkenny, historian William D. Carrigan, and college professor Robert Wood.
This column is inspired by the work of two great broadcasters, Edward Murrow’s “This I Believe,” and Bill Moyer’s “A World of Ideas,” and as such, this column is dedicated to the memory of the former and is written in admiration of the latter.
If you want to send me a suggestion, my email follows:
johnwconnellyjr@yahoo.com
