Obama's stated but unheard message, #2

This column is mostly a shortened, op-ed version of the previous post, noting how much Obama is talking about REALLY Taking America Back and wondering if we're listening.

What do you think?

And most importantly: should it be "Obamamania" or "Obamania?"

Using Obama: A Context for Immense Possibilities Radio

Barack Obama blew through our little town of Medford last weekend, dishing up hope and an unexpected opportunity to talk about how my new venture, Immense Possibilities Radio, fits into the mix. I accepted an offer to write a long-form article for the fascinating Ashland periodical Sentient Times to announce IPR's launch into the world. The link between Obama's visit and IPR came to me at the end of his Medford speech, when after listing great goals he said “That’s what can happen when YOU set the agenda. When democracy works the way it should. It requires you to be involved. It’s not enough just to vote…you and I together, we can change the country and change the world!”

What struck me was how often we've heard that in stump speeches and how little we act on it. That's exactly what I want IPR to take on, and that informed the essay. See what you think.

Some brilliant specifics on what we've been talking about

Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun Magazine has hit it out of the park again, putting into very clear terms what leadership that fosters true, necessary citizenship would look like. Take a look at this excerpt from one of his recent postings.

I highly recommend Tikkun, not least because of its laser clarity on the Middle East mess.

The Real Reason We Have to Take Names

People in my town argue over whether those who post comments on the newspaper's public forum should have to identify themselves. Some say that would put one more hurdle in the way of free expression, which is in short supply as it is. Others say posters would be less brazenly obnoxious, and the level of discourse would rise, if everyone gave had to pin a real name to the post.

I think something more serious is at stake here. That's what Tidings column #4 is about.

Where's Square One?

My third Tidings column admits that I might have overshot by assuming that most people are ready for a kind of Golden Rule of Discourse -- receive others' attitudes and perspectives as you would have yours accepted, grasshopper. I leaned on the practical, not the moral, imperatives for treating people right. I thought that could work as Square One for raising the abysmal level of discourse.

I may have been wrong. Your take is especially welcome on this one.

By Request: A People's Manifesto for Community

On an earlier post ("Selling Common Ground," October 20, 2007) you'll find what's becoming my stump speech to just about any civic group that wants to give me a microphone. Tonight I gave a version of it to the brand-new Medford (Oregon) City Club, a group on exactly the right track for Taking America Back.

In it I read a short manifesto about investing in community, a modest little document that I'd like, oh, about 200 million Americans to sign. During the Q&A I was asked to post it online. So that's what I'm doing here.

Does the same thing drive us all crazy?

In my second Daily Tidings column I wonder whether everyone goes on tilt when his/her motives and intentions are dissed. Or is it just me?

Plus...an old Walt Disney memory from almost a half-century ago. Isn't it strange what we remember?

The Columnist Returns

This may blow my cover and reveal me as a Baby Booming Luddite, but for all the ease of blogging I sure enjoy reading and writing op-ed columns. I've had the chance to write maybe 300 of them over the years, and they're just plain fun.

I've recently been given the central space on the op-ed page of every weekend edition (Saturday only) of The Daily Tidings in Ashland, Oregon. I'm going to use it primarily not to opine but to explore why the prevailing level of public discourse is so lame, and what we might be able to do about it. And I'm going to run it like a talk radio show. The ongoing name of the column, in fact, is "Talk Newspaper."

The first one ran last three days go on Saturday, and this is what it said. I'll post future columns after I write them. Comments always welcome.