Yes, it is heartbreaking that Bezos trashed WAPO. Makes me think of a certain rancid melon who is trashing the United States. Both taking venerable institutions and wrecking them.
But like you, I'm heartened by new voices coming up and others that have been battling for many years. Such as Aaron Parnas, Thom Hartmann and publications like Pro Publica. Actually there are so many wonderful voices writing that it is hard to keep up.
Such moving, disturbing & profound piece of art. Callous, calculating eyes. Tight, cruel mouth. A toxic mushroom cloud poisoning the sky in the wake of it's destruction, sucking out light & sound.
Bezos finally dropped the charade, oblivious as he seemed to be that none of us ever were fooled. The slogan became a taunt as a venerable institution was poisoned & ultimately sacrificed to the avarice of a cad laser focused on competition with others of his ilk to capitulate to a tyrant in exchange for MORE. That bottomless black pit of need & greed in trump, in these billionaires, demands the death of democracy.
Funny thing about big bangs though. Painful & messy, they inevitably create fertile ground for rebirth & transformation.
You've created a Burning Man for us - an effigy incinerated to harness our collective outrage & dispel it to make room for renewal. It is, indeed, hard to say goodbye but we must. It is the only path forward. I can see those shadows below Bezos forming shapes that are starting to rise & do their little dances. I guess he forgot that sometimes Democracy is born - or strengthened - because of darkness.
Thank you for creating a place for them to rock out.
I was one of the last people to subscribe to home delivery of the WAPO Sunday paper. I needed my kids know what it feels like to search for the funnies...to touch the old form. What a time... here in the darkness. Reminds me of a poem by David Whyte
Powerfull piece on how legacy institutions can crumble when leadership caves to power. The idea that non-profit newsrooms and platforms like Substack will fill the vacuum makes sense, theres real hunger for independent journalism right now. I've been noticing the shift toward decentralzied media myself, seems like the dark period might actually accelerate the rebirth you're describing.
Good bye, once honest newspaper. I shall remember your once good deeds each time I watch the 1976 "All The President's Men". Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, good work.
Yes, it is heartbreaking that Bezos trashed WAPO. Makes me think of a certain rancid melon who is trashing the United States. Both taking venerable institutions and wrecking them.
But like you, I'm heartened by new voices coming up and others that have been battling for many years. Such as Aaron Parnas, Thom Hartmann and publications like Pro Publica. Actually there are so many wonderful voices writing that it is hard to keep up.
Well said, and drawn. Thank you Steve.
heartbreaking loss, even tho anticipated for months,
succinctly portrayed, and post-scripted with hopefully soon phoenix rising from the ashes.
we must hope for a better future
Jeff Bezos and Will Lewis.
Giving a new spin to All the President's Men.
Yesterday my husband and I made the decision to cancel our WaPo subscription.
It is, indeed, heartbreaking to witness Democracy dying in darkness.
Such moving, disturbing & profound piece of art. Callous, calculating eyes. Tight, cruel mouth. A toxic mushroom cloud poisoning the sky in the wake of it's destruction, sucking out light & sound.
Bezos finally dropped the charade, oblivious as he seemed to be that none of us ever were fooled. The slogan became a taunt as a venerable institution was poisoned & ultimately sacrificed to the avarice of a cad laser focused on competition with others of his ilk to capitulate to a tyrant in exchange for MORE. That bottomless black pit of need & greed in trump, in these billionaires, demands the death of democracy.
Funny thing about big bangs though. Painful & messy, they inevitably create fertile ground for rebirth & transformation.
You've created a Burning Man for us - an effigy incinerated to harness our collective outrage & dispel it to make room for renewal. It is, indeed, hard to say goodbye but we must. It is the only path forward. I can see those shadows below Bezos forming shapes that are starting to rise & do their little dances. I guess he forgot that sometimes Democracy is born - or strengthened - because of darkness.
Thank you for creating a place for them to rock out.
"It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine..."
(with gratitude to R.E.M.)
Magnificent art. Thank you
So sad. At least there are alternate ways to get the real news. Thanks,Steve, for all you do and for introducing me to Substack. 🙏❤️
I was one of the last people to subscribe to home delivery of the WAPO Sunday paper. I needed my kids know what it feels like to search for the funnies...to touch the old form. What a time... here in the darkness. Reminds me of a poem by David Whyte
Sweet Darkness
When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.
When your vision has gone,
no part of the world can find you.
Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
The dark will be your home
tonight.
The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.
You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.
Powerfull piece on how legacy institutions can crumble when leadership caves to power. The idea that non-profit newsrooms and platforms like Substack will fill the vacuum makes sense, theres real hunger for independent journalism right now. I've been noticing the shift toward decentralzied media myself, seems like the dark period might actually accelerate the rebirth you're describing.
Good bye, once honest newspaper. I shall remember your once good deeds each time I watch the 1976 "All The President's Men". Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, good work.