Political Savagery

For all but the most extreme partisans, being a political figure is virtually synonymous with having an identity crisis. The tension between the will to bring about meaningful change and the desire to stay in office long enough to accomplish it makes it almost inevitable. For some reason, Republican identity crises are especially pronounced.

Despite their party's historic election victory last year, and the attendant chest-thumping about their mandate from the American people, the party still seeks to present themselves as as victims of "media elites". Obviously, Sarah Palin is a poster child for this tendency, but she's not alone.

Lately former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has been in the news, partly as a potential 2012 Presidential candidate and partly for his "Google problem". Columnist Dan Savage, the man who created that "Google problem" (though many would say Santorum brought it on himself), was asked about it in the March 28th issue of Time as part of an interview about his "It Gets Better" project, intended to help gay kids deal with bullying. Savage's response perfectly crystalized the GOP's powerful/victim dilemma.

"Rick Santorum has said insanely offensive things about gay and lesbian couples. He was a two-term sitting U.S. Senator with a lot of power, and my readers and I are a bunch of jackasses without a lot of power. We made a joke at his expense, and now he [plays] the victim, which is all Republicans seem capable of doing these days."

Santorum's "Google problem" exists mainly because he hasn't done anything of note to push the scatological use of his name further down the search rankings. As long as he persists in casting himself as a victim, it seems unlikely he ever will.

Foundation for Debate?

An interesting side-effect of the Tea Party's rise to prominence is that people seem to be talking a lot more about America's "founding fathers" lately. What's troubling about it, though, is the way these great men are being used not to elevate our political discussion but rather as a blunt ideological weapon. This came into focus for me when I saw someone rattle off a bunch of quotes from Thomas Jefferson, all of them with the apparent message that we'd all be better off if we'd just live by his words.

Whatever Jefferson's personal failings, I think he was a truly exceptional and brilliant individual. However, that doesn't mean that his words (or that the words that are attributed to him) are intrinsically applicable to any situation. For example, the value of the following quote is very much in vogue in conservative circles, generally in relation to perceived mismanagement of taxpayer money.

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

There is, however, one slight problem. Jefferson didn't actually say it. The actual quote is as follows.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

When reading the actual quote, which was a very brief excerpt from the 1786 Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, the application to any current debate on government fiscal policy is far more ambiguous. It also highlights the main issue with quoting figures like Jefferson, even when the quotes are accurate.

While there's a lot of wisdom to be found in the words and deeds of the founding fathers, too often they're invoked to stifle debate by implying that if the founding fathers were against something it can't possibly merit serious consideration. Realistically, though, the opposite is true. For their words to have ongoing relevance, there should be serious discussion and sensible understanding of the context that animated those words and deeds. Otherwise, they become empty slogans twisted to suit the propaganda needs of political zealots.

It's easy (and generally justifiable) to slam Jefferson for his hypocrisy on a number of fronts. It's equally simple (and simplistic) to treat his every word as gospel. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between and our country would be better off if we spent more of our time there rather than teetering on the extremes.

I Have Been and Always Shall Be His Fan

Of the half-dozen or so significant Star Trek characters whose deaths have been depicted on-screen, Mister Spock's was by far the most affecting. Even though I was pretty sure he'd be back in the next movie (or at least the one after that), Spock's death scene in The Wrath of Khan is one of Star Trek's greatest moments. It's probably the ultimate embodiment of the character dynamics that make Star Trek more than a parade of outlandish plots and helped it endure for decades.

Leonard Nimoy turns 80 today. Like his co-star William Shatner, who himself celebrated his 80th birthday a few days ago, Nimoy has spent more than half his life as a pop-culture icon. Having directed two of the movies and contributed to the writing of at least one more, Nimoy is doubtless one of the most influential figures in Star Trek's history. This in turn makes him a big influence on the pop-culture of the past half-century. In recognition of that, here are some of Mr. Spock's finest stardates.

Mirror Mirror: Whether they came from mirror universes or alternate timelines, the history of of Star Trek is full of alternate versions of familiar characters. It was "bearded Spock" who set the standard for them, as well as spawning an enduring joke about how to tell whether a character is good or bad.

Star Trek (2009): Nimoy's appearance as "Spock Prime" easily could have been a gimmicky distraction in this re-launch. Instead, his presence was very much key to the story. Not only did his past/future actions drive the plot, he was also instrumental in helping his younger version and Kirk bring out the best in each other so they could achieve their destinies.

The Menagerie: This clever re-purposing of Star Trek's original un-shown pilot was the first time we saw Spock willingness to risk his life to save a friend. As we know, it wouldn't be the last.

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home: The movie itself makes me question the conventional wisdom that even-numbered Star Trek films are better than odd, but Nimoy has at least one great moment as Spock opposite Mark Lenard as his father Sarek. Near the end of the movie, Sarek concedes that he may have been wrong in opposing his son's choice to enter Starfleet and praises the Enterprise crew as people of good character. Spock replies "They are my friends", as if it was the most obvious (and yes, logical) thing ever. That scene between the two Vulcans was a great understated reminder that, at its heart, Star Trek is a story about people who truly care about each other and will do anything for them.

Democracy is Messy

On the one-year anniversary of the passage of the health-care reform act, many things may have changed but the rhetoric certain hasn't. As often happens when they accomplish something, the Democrats aren't doing quite enough to highlight the benefits that have already taken effect. For their part, the Republicans continue to insist that the majority of Americans have an unfavorable view of the law, despite polls showing that said "majority" includes many people who think the law doesn't do enough.

All this is a reminder that this law, like the democratic process of governing itself, is a messy business. Rather than lament that fact, though, I think we should embrace it, because it shows that our democratic process is alive and well. The GOP really has no business complaining about the law passing without their input. The Democrats tried numerous approaches to get Republican support, before finally deciding that their responsibility to govern was more important than holding out for a token showing of bipartisan support to give themselves political cover for the tough re-election fights many of them knew were coming. Those congressional Democrats are true patriotic heroes for doing the right thing, even knowing they would pay a political price.

In the movie Touch of Evil, when responding to another character's complaint that a policeman's job is hard, Charlton Heston's character points out that a policeman's job is supposed to be hard and is only easy in a police state. The same is true of governing. Dictating laws without public accountability is simple, but working in a system where you have to explain your actions to constituents is a much trickier proposition.

The essence of a democracy isn't that elected officials should only do things the majority likes. That approach may be less messy and more beneficial for individual politicians but not so much for the whole country. Democracy demands breaking the mold for the common good. It isn't always pretty, but that's how we know it's working.

Welcome to the Shatnerdome

William Shatner has spent more than half his life as a pop-culture icon. In that time, he’s done some work that is truly great and much that is less than great. The choice of “great” rather than “good” as the metric is a deliberate one, because Shatner exists very much in his own continuum – one that is beyond good and bad. On the occasion of his 80^th birthday today, it seems fitting to look back at some of the great.

Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan: Putting aside the eye-popping scene in which he screams his opponent’s name, this is absolutely Shatner’s finest performance as James T. Kirk. By having Kirk face his own mortality and the life he could have had, Shatner makes his larger-than-life character even greater.

Twilight Zone – Nick of Time: Shatner's performance in this episode is a gem that really shows why he was once regarded as one of Hollywood's best young actors. There's no supernatural element here, just a taut character drama about taking charge of one's own fate with a final twist that shows how flexible the format of Twilight Zone was.

Has Been: This 2004 album, a collaboration with Ben Folds and many others, shouldn’t work, but it does. Shatner wisely doesn’t attempt to sign but rather provides what Folds describes as a naturally musical oration. The songs are funny and touching and show that Shatner’s talent was anything but one note.

Boston Legal: Shatner’s Emmy-winning performance as legendary lawyer Denny Crane is one of the great TV roles of the past decade. Not only was it a part no actor could have played as well, it was probably a part no other actor could play, pivoting as it did on an aging legend’s balancing act between ego and anxiety. When paired with James Spader as fellow lawyer Alan Shore, Shatner did some of the best work of his iconic career.

Star Trek – The Return (Audiobook): The “Shatnerverse” is an alternative version of Star Trek’s Next Generation era where Captain Kirk is alive, well and still boldly going with assists not just from current Starfleet officers but also surviving members of his former crew, such as Spock and Scotty. This is the book that started it, with Kirk being resurrected by an alliance of the Borg and the Romulans to wreak havoc on the Federation. The plot, which reputedly started life as a treatment for a cinematic revival of the good Captain, is thoroughly preposterous and wildly over-stuffed. Hearing Shatner narrate it on audiobook, though, is three of the most fun hours one can imagine spending with Star Trek.

Live long and prosper, Mister Shatner!

Immunity from Common Sense

Against the backdrop of House Republicans' efforts to cut funding for public broadcasting and their purely symbolic vote to repeal the healthcare reform law, their recommend cut of $156-million from the Center for Disease controls funding for immunization programs for the current budget year has gotten relatively little attention. Not surprisingly, this is expected to impact lower income families and the working poor disproportionately hard.

What's especially ironic about this move, considering (dubious) GOP claims that the healthcare act would lead to rationing of care, is that this move may cause just that. In a report in Mother Jones the executive director of immunization advocacy group Every Child By Two, Amy Pisani, commented that public health officials, who lack the funds to acquire vaccine for all who need it will "have to pick and choose."

This shameful proposal is an interesting complement to the House's purely political moves against funding for Planned Parenthood. That cut is misleadingly pitched as necessary to keep federal money from paying for abortions, despite it already being prohibited by both federal law and President Obama's 2010 Executive Order, but in actuality will make it harder for women to receive certain basic healthcare. The immunization cuts are likely to deprive families of critical medicines. Taking together, they show exactly why the perception exists that the GOP will do everything it can to ensure you get born but after that you're on your own.

This Barbour Only Cuts Services

Mississippi Governor and likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate has very strong opinions about the man whose job he may hope to take over in January 2013. That much is clear from his very negative rhetoric about President Obama. What is also clear is that Barbour has forgotten the old saying about how you're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts.

To contrast his fiscally responsible performance in Mississippi against the reckless policies of the President, Barbour boasts about closing a $720-million state budget deficit without raising taxes. What Barbour doesn't boast about is how he accomplished it. Putting aside reports that his administration has under-funded the state's public schools by over $500-million during his administration, there's also the small matter of raising taxes.

Contrary to his claims, Barbour raised taxes multiple times in areas ranging from cigarettes to nursing homes. Obviously, we shouldn't be surprised when a politician doesn't "walk the walk" on taxes, but Barbour is setting a new standard for lack of accountability. Based on comments from his spokesperson, his position seems to be that he didn't raise taxes he just signed the legislation into law. That this legislation may have been suggested to the state legislature by him (as in the case of the cigarette taxes) is apparently beside the point.

Based on this "logic", you would think that President Obama could claim he isn't responsible for any of his bills he signed either, but I suspect Barbour and company would laugh at that approach. We can only hope that actual voters will have the same reaction when evaluating the governor of the state whose economic climate was ranked as the 49th in the nation by Forbes.

Rest in Geek (Part 2): Michael Gough

A lot of people really like Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan's Batman movies. For me personally, though, no one embodied the character as wonderfully as veteran character actor Michael Gough did in Tim Burton's 1989 and 1992 films. With that in mind, I was sad, but not surprised, to learn today that Gough has passed away. Sources differ about how old he was at the time of his passing on March 17th, but he was definitely well into his nineties. Probably best known in recent years from his appearances as Alfred (a role he also reprised for a BBC Radio drama), Gough had a career in film, theater and television stretching from the 1940s to the present day.

Though never really a star in his own right, Gough was a versatile actor whose worked earned him multiple nominaitons for Tony and Bafta Awards as was always a pleasure to watch. His first major film was a supporting part in the 1948 adaptation of Anna Karenina starring Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson, which was preceded by a 1946 BBC production of George Bernard Shaw’s Androcles and the Lion. Though he continued to appear in literary adaptations, some of his most popular work was in action-oriented series like The Avengers and Doctor Who as well as a variety of movies for horror movie icons Hammer Films including their 1958 version of Dracula (aka The Horror of Dracula) with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. He worked very steadily well into the 1990s and had largely retired by the turn of the century, mainly performing just the occasional voice-over, as in last year’s Alice in Wonderland (again for Tim Burton). His noteworthy roles are almost too numerous to mention but include Martin Scorsese’s film of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence and two of the most acclaimed British miniseries to air on PBS, Smiley’s People and Brideshead Revisited. 

He also featured in the one of the most underrated presentations in the history of Masterpiece Theatre, 1991’s Sleepers, a satirical drama about two Soviet sleeper agents who’ve been forgotten by their superiors and lived in England so long that they don't want to return to the USSR. When the current agency chiefs learn about their existence, they try to bring the pair home leading to complications involving no less than three "Intelligence" agencies. Produced by Doctor Who's very first producer, the late Verity Lambert, this amusing twist on the espionage thriller is just one of many highlights from an all together amazing career. 

Star Wars - The Hidden History: Volume 2 (or should it be Volume 5?)

Is there any character in the whole Star Wars saga more misunderstood than Lando Calrissian? Some would argue that Jar Jar Binks fits that bill, but for this purpose I'm focusing on characters who aren't widely disliked. Lando, however, resides in a different universe because, even if his name is synonymous with betrayal in some fan circles, he remains an appealing and enigmatic character. Certainly, he had no choice but to go along with Darth Vader's plans in The Empire Strikes Back, and his bravery in saving Leia and the others is undeniable. Still, more so than almost any other character in the saga he raises the question of whether the ends justify the means.

Not much is known about Lando prior to his reunion with Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. We can infer that, despite his outward appearances, the Baron Administrator of Cloud City has slightly shady past. What George Lucas doesn't want you to know is that this hero of the Rebel Alliance directly contributed to the collapse of local governments on the worlds of Myomar and Icthor 8 by engaging in insider trading on tibanna gas futures. While this helped destabilize the Empire in the long-term, it must be noted that civilian populace suffered in the short term.

On a more benign note, when Han Solo declared that "Lando's not a system, he's a man," he was only partially right. Calrissian actually won ownership of the Joralla system in a high-stakes Sabacc game with an Imperial Governor. His official application to rename the system as "Lando" was still in process when Darth Vader arrived at Cloud City. Oddly enough, the INAF (Imperial Nomenclature Alteration Filing) was approved shortly after the Battle of Endor.

In closing, it must be asked whether we know the full story of Lando's actions at the Battle of Tanaab. Supposedly, his skill and bravery led to him being commissioned as a General in the Rebel Alliance. Is there more to it than that? Come back soon for another unusual chapter in the Hidden History of Star Wars to find out.

Disclaimer: Star Wars and related material is George Lucas' intellectual property, which I'm taking for a humorous joy-ride. Though I prefer the version of Star Wars where Han shoots first, the Special Editions don't make me feel that my childhood was violated.

Putting the "Novel" in Graphic Novel - James Robinson's Starman

For all the efforts to make superheroes multi-dimensional, one glaring fact remains. For the most part, they don't have lives. Obviously, Clark (Superman) Kent is married to Lois Lane and works at the Daily Planet and Tony (Iron Man) Stark has moved on to running his third company, but for the most part those elements exist only as background details or springboards for plot threads. One of the few exceptions I've found is Jack Knight, also known as the title character in arguably the best ongoing comics series of the 1990s Starman by British writer James Robinson.

That Jack is the son of a costumed hero from the 1940s who is forced to take up the family business sets the saga in motion but it doesn't define the character. What makes Jack compelling is the passion he displays in every aspect of his life. Though at first he seems to care about very little beyond the contents of his collectibles store (or junk, as his father, the elder Starman, often calls it), over time it becomes clear how deeply he cares for friends, family and loved ones - including the woman for whom he'll make the boldest choices of his life.

Though it offers lots of action and guest appearances by many of the key characters in the DC Universe, the focus on those relationships are what truly distinguishes Starman. Trying to summarize the series really can't do it justice, because there are so many plot threads stretching over the whole run. Together with the "Times Past" issues that explore the history of this world and its characters, especially the Golden Age characters for whom Robinson clearly has such great love, this makes the 80-some issues of Starman a graphic novel in the truest sense of the term.

During its original run, Starman seemed to be more of a critical than popular favorite, which may be why some issues never were released as trade paperbacks. Thankfully, DC Comics has released the entire series as six hardcover volumes, complete with various supplemental stories and reflections on the whole saga from James Robinson. Though Robinson was aided and abetted by some terrific artists (and co-writer David Goyer on two key story-arcs), this series is really his triumph. He's done some great work in comics before and since, but this is doubtless the one for which he'll be remembered.

You Can't Spell Westboro Baptist Church Without "Worst"

It says a lot about Westboro Baptist Church that they're opposed by everyone from the Anti-Defamation League and the Patriot Guard Riders to Bill O'Reilly and Michael Moore. The only ones who seem to publicly defend them (which I mean very distinctly from "support them") are the Supreme Court and the ACLU, and I have to imagine both entities had to hold their noses throughout the process.

If there was any doubt about just how hateful WBC is, the group has dispelled it with the announcement that they plan to protest at the funeral of seven Pennsylvania children killed in a fire earlier this week (http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-westboro-protest-perry-fire-funeral,0,5116994.story). According to the WBC's news release, the death of these children was divine vengeance on the state of Pennsylvania for mocking and persecuting the "church".

Even by the standard of the group's previous statements, including antisemitic comments that put the architects of the final solution to shame, this is remarkably depraved. It's not a very Christian attitude on my part, but if there is a Hell I hope that's where they're going.

King of Hypocrites?

I'll say this for New York congressman Peter King, he knows how to compartmentalize his views. The one-time IRA supporter is planning to hold hearings is now Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. In the latter role, he's preparing to hold hearings on the potential terrorist threat of radicalized Muslim Americans. On the surface, that may seem like hypocrisy, which is why it's important to look at the facts.

For his part, though, King sees them as totally different. Why that is seems to boil down to the fact that radical Muslims attacked us here, while the IRA attacked them (i.e. the "imperialist" British regime) over there. Giving King the benefit of the doubt that, even before his election to national office, he understood that Britain is America's staunchest ally, the equation simplifies to a question of here versus there.

In the 1980s, King refused to blame the IRA for civilian casualties incurred in the group's fight against the British government, which he described as a "murder machine". A couple years after "9/11", he claimed that 85% of American mosques are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists, who he characterized as "an enemy among us". Do those positions make King a hypocrite? Of course not, the advantage of a cynical and opportunistic worldview is that, when you can turn an issue to political advantage, here versus there makes all the difference in the world.

If you'd like to let Representative King know that that's not cool, he can be contacted at  house.gov.

Rock & Roll Meets the Theater of the Mind

Though I remember hearing reruns of shows like The Shadow when I was in elementary school, my love of radio drama really started in Junior High with NPR Playhouse. This now defunct drama showcase, combining British and Canadian programs with the odd homegrown series, was like an audio version of Masterpiece Theatre. In some ways, it was even better because they also included programs in the science-fiction and fantasy genre, such as the BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.

It was through NPR Playhouse that I first encountered The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. In addition to becoming the first in a series of best-selling books, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been turned into everything from a movie to a computer game. Its first and best incarnation, though, remains the BBC Radio series that debuted this day in 1978.

Radio is a great medium for science-fiction not just because the sets always look great but also because the nature of the medium puts the listener's mind at the center of the story. Writing about the radio series in 1985, Adams said he wanted it to sound like a rock album where "the voices and the effects and the music [are] so seamlessly orchestrated as to create a coherent picture of another world".

Adams, the production team and of course the cast absolutely succeeded. When you listen to the show, whether the setting is Magrathea, Milliways or even Earth, your mind is there. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide series but only know it from the books or TV show, you owe it to yourself to seek out the original. Though it's hard to find on compact disc in the US, it's available for (legal) download from sources like audible.com. Your iPod will be honored to play it.

Star Wars - The Hidden History

Like many fictional worlds, the history of the Star Wars universe is better documented than some actual civilizations. Still, even in this obsessively chronicled saga, there are gaps in our knowledge. The reasons for these gaps are unclear, but since Star Wars fans are required to blame everything on George Lucas I will attribute it to him. Thankfully, I have been able to uncover The Hidden Journal of the Whills so that I can bring you some of these little-known details "Darth" Lucas" doesn't want you to know. Today's inaugural installment focuses on Princess Leia.

Many Star Wars fans know that rebel pilot Wedge Antilles is one of the few characters to make it through all three of the original Star Wars movies. What they don't know is that he had a fling with Princess Leia in the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Hey, we've all been there - falling into the arms of another when your true love is encased in Carbonite. Wedge understood what Han meant to Leia and requested a dangerous assignment near the planet Sullust to ensure nothing further would happen. Though Leia was furious at first, she came to appreciate Wedge's gesture and he was later asked to be Bendu-patra (Star Wars equivalent of godfather) to one of her children with (we think) Han Solo.

Princess Leia was wrapping the chain around Jabba the Hutt's neck in Return of the Jedi remains one of the most iconic moments of the whole saga. What most people don't know is that Jabba was really getting into it. Though he initially thought that hanky-panky in the midst of Luke and friends' escape attempt was the wrong move, the crime-lord's depraved impulses won out, so he went along with it - until it went too far.

Check back soon for another disturbing installment of Star Wars - The Hidden History.

Disclaimer: Star Wars is George Lucas' intellectual property, and parody is my legal  right. Can't we all just get along?

Long Live Acorn! Wait, I Mean the One That Sells DVD!

Fans of quality television, especially British television, are encouraged to check out Acorn Media's newly launched blog The Nut (http://blog.acornonline.com/). Every day (or at least weekday) will bring a new posting related to Acorn's business with a big emphasis on its specialty of British TV on DVD. Admittedly, I'm biased but then I wouldn't be doing a blog if I didn't have biases.

Sheen of Wisdom

Yesterday on Twitter, a very public figure posted the following:

...yet the opposition felt it necessary to still harass me with old gibberish....
odd? perhaps. transparent? you betcha'!

While the overtones may point to a political figure, with the phrase you betcha' suggesting a certain former governor, it was in fact the work of the famously unemployed Charlie Sheen. What's most alarming about Sheen's Twitter postings is not how crazy they are but rather how lucid. For example, there was this posting, also from yesterday:

Ready for my next fastball, world? PLAN BETTER
Applies to everything where an excuse now sits. Try it.
U won't be wrong. Ever.

From almost any other person, this would seem like really good advice. Coming from Charlie Sheen, I'll have to give it some thought. Of course, since Sheen tells us we can't process him with a normal brain, perhaps the best option is to just enjoy the show.

"Train Monkey" or "Where There's a Will There's a What?"

When I lived near Philadelphia, I took trains very frequently. Some of it was a practical matter, dictated by the combination of living in the suburbs and having a job in the city but no car (or driver's license, for that matter, until my 20s). While there were times when I wished the trains ran a little later or more often, any frustrations were generally offset by the dual pleasures of not being stuck in traffic and being able to get more reading done.

Put another way, though there were times I wished the train was more convenient, I certainly never felt it intruded on my freedom. This is a large why I find George Will's recent Newsweek column about "Why Liberals Love Trains" so bizarre. In dismissing the efforts of the Obama administration to foster the development of high-speed rail service in America, Will asserts that progressives' real goal is not improving the environment or reducing traffic congestion but rather "diminishing Americans’ individualism in order to make them more amenable to collectivism."

He goes on to claim that progressives believe that, "the best thing about railroads is that people riding them are not in automobiles, which are subversive of the deference on which progressivism depends." In other words, liberals love trains because they hate freedom - a nonsensical thought which makes me wonder what America Mr. Will has been living in for the past decade.

In October of 2001, I needed to get from Washington to Philadelphia to rendezvous with a colleague but really didn't want to fly so soon after "9/11". My wife and I only had one car between us, so driving wasn't an option, which led to me taking Amtrak for the first time in several years. It was easy, relaxing and, though I was never once being scanned or searched, I felt absolutely secure. More to the point, I felt free.

On the return leg of the trip, my colleague and I parted ways at the Philadelphia airport. As he headed off to catch his flight back to Atlanta, I went to catch a SEPTA train back to 30th Street Station. Walking through the airport, I noticed soldiers patrolling the corridors with automatic weapons at the ready. This was the least safe I felt in the entirety of 2001. In contrast, whenever I take the train to New York, I don't have to worry about airports or parking or anything other than how comfortable my shoes are. In short, I feel free.

Like everyone, Mr. Will is entitled to his own opinions but not his own facts. The fact is that air travel in this day and age is about anything but freedom and between rising gas prices and increased congestion auto travel isn't that much better. And while Will is happy to lambaste federal subsidies for trains, he conveniently ignores that the road systems that make large-scale auto travel are supported by our tax dollars. Is that really the freedom to which anyone, even George Will, should aspire?

Bordering on Ridiculous

Since Borders' unsurprising bankruptcy announcement last month, many people have weighed in on where the company went wrong and what the future holds for them and the book business in general. Some of it has been interesting and thoughtful, even in areas where I think the commentators are wrong, but a lot of it has been petty and distasteful. In particular, I'm thinking of the wave of "serves them right because they put so many others out of business" schadenfreude.

At its early-to-mid 90s best, when I had the pleasure of working with some of the brightest people I'll ever know (many of whom remain friends), Borders bridged the gap between chain-store selection and independent store knowledge. At that time at least, Borders didn't set out to destroy anyone's livelihood, they set out to be the best book/music-store they could be. Did stores go out of business after Borders stores opened nearby? Sometimes they did. Sometimes, they expanded as happened with the independent record store a block or so down Lancaster Avenue from my old store in Bryn Mawr shortly after the music department opened.

The reason that Borders' first store in Delaware, which I helped set up twice (long story), did such great business when it opened in November 1994 was because the people living around it were eager for a store with a knowledgeable staff and a good selection. Nothing leading up to that point precluded anyone from opening a good independent store nearby. Borders did what a good businesses are supposed to do, take advantage of an opportunity to give people what they want (or need, if you think of books and music the way I do). That's what Borders did and did well through the mid-90s. What they did the past decade is a different story, but it doesn't invalidate the benefit to the many people who found books, music and moves they never might have experienced if Borders hadn't helped connect them.