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Super Sunday: or How I genuinely miss the NY Times
February 4, 2008
On a morning flight from Sunday JFK, I used my remaining change for a purchase to pass the time reading. In the hour that followed on the tarmac reading about 8 articles of interpretation of the current American moment, I was reminded how much I actually miss the Sunday New York Times.
Scanning through a lot of wasted trees and Ad space, the images and words I chose for my attention sparked and engaged my mind in a way that hasn't been happening in my life with the London paper or my cheap dates with the Financial Times, the Guardian, or even my mixed feeds from Google Reader.
For all my conviction about the digital now, the keyboarded screens of too many long tail dreams just can't compete with the foldable mix of professional text, the images expressed of what's fit to print.
I read of a green surfing songwriter, who recorded his new album from his solar California studio, with some lyrical samples that fit the emerging millenial mood, & the real Vince Vaughn, moving beyond his same old identity, with a group of comedians across middle America getting deep with the camera turned.
I read of an early 30s New Yorker whose views on the evolution of Manhattan from bohemian to museum reminded me of my last eight years of witness to the gentrification of Fort Greene. It also reminded me of the conversation in Helsinki last weekend in which an active filmmaker from Berlin claimed that his city is surprisingly beating out NY and London in attracting the creative global next wave. The many remaining cycles of affordable, hip neighborhoods reminds me of an imaginary bohemian New York in the 70s and 80s.
His next film may be looking into something we've all been facing but have yet to fully reflect, the hyper acceloration of a culture of next. In my own time starved urban life, and my podmixed commute, it's impossible to read the full newspaper through. Which is why my comfort in the format of the NY Times enables a scan for the words that will most add the jazz to a mind a bit numb, a tank empty of gas.
And then I opened up my favorite section of all, the best printed mix of news from the week and opinion from a few, yes the Week in Review. On the Super Bowl Sunday before the Super Tuesday, the articles I chose focused on the reality of where we're about to head as a politics. With John McCain most likely becoming the Republican nominee, with the rest of us choose a strong combative Democrat or a independent leader from the next wave.
For me it's a choice between a 2008 general election with the same old destructive conversations from the last 20 years, resulting in election of John McCain as president, or a conversation for a new millenium, in which we are redefining what it means to be a Republican, a Democrat, and even an American.
In an McCain vs. Clinton election, we will face another boring year of Clinton hating, with an inevitable rise of fighting against John McCain's sanity. And some of the energized young people and independents who have begun participating in democracy will either go back to watching youtube or may even begin lean toward the more independent McCain.
However, in a McCain vs. Obama election, while we will definitely have to face some of our country's racial demons, the most diverse generation ever will shape a new conversation for productive dialogue and personal responsibility in moving the country forward. As Kristof noted, a surprising number of evangelical Christians from across traditional red states may also join with Obama as many are finally following through on the things that Jesus actually would be focusing on if he were alive (anti-poverty, AIDS, climate change).
This potential new coalition between the secular progressive left and the evangelic conservative right would be an historic shift towards an alliance of free thinkers from all faiths (including atheism) who focus on being people who making a difference in the world more than arguing who is right and wrong in conversations about god.
The second potential new coalition is between secular progressives and libertarians who are standing for transparency and open-ness in government and increased participation in democracy. The rise of Ron Paul represents a relatively small but active and growing number of the American population that want to reform our government to maximize choice and participation for its citizens. This another important and energized constituency that would most likely go to McCain, Obama could potentially tap into, and would definitely not be attracted to Clinton.
Thanks to the Sunday New York Times for the initial reading and for some of energy that feeds my mind. Now I'm back to London for my podmixed cycling commute tomorrow morning.
Posted by Colin at February 4, 2008 1:54 PM
