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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
June 7, 2004
/14 Sivan, 5764
Ronald Reagan's Jewish visions
By
Doron Kornbluth
What the late president taught Diane Sawyer about the power of TV and can teach us about imagery in Judaism
http://www.jewishworldreview.com |
I was fifteen years old and engaging in one of my favorite pastimes —
watching the television news. It was the fall of 1984, in the midst of the
re-election campaign of then President Ronald Reagan. Not yet jaded by the
political process, I had become even more of a news junkie than I normally
was, following the polls, the predictions, the publicity, the slogans, the
commercials, and everything else that goes along with an American
presidential election campaign.
It was Sunday night and as the news ended a few minutes before 7 p.m., my
family gathered around for what had somehow become part of our family
tradition — watching CBS's 60 Minutes. I should confess that I've probably
seen hundreds of 60 Minutes shows over the years and sat through thousands
of hours of television news. And yet, from all those hours, there is only
one "story" that I actually remember, only one that I think had a profound
impact on my psyche. While details may be slightly off, the gist of it is
etched into my mind.
60 Minutes was, as I remember, structured very neatly. First you see the
hands on the stopwatch clicking, and then you hear the voice describing the
three stories to be covered that episode. Next you saw the reporters
introduce themselves. After a commercial break came the main stories,
punctuated by occasional commercials. At the end of the hour, the little
funny guy with the annoying voice found some funny quirk of the postal
system or similar oddity to complain about, and that was it until next week.
Show after show, year after year, this was the system.
On that Sunday in 1984, I remember a rare change from the standard structure
of the show. Diane Sawyer, the first female host of 60 Minutes, appeared
with Mike Wallace for a short discussion near the end of the show. He
introduced his colleague as having a fascinating story to tell, which indeed
it was.
She shared a conversation that she had just had which had resulted from a
recent 60 Minutes segment on the campaign. Her first report was a long,
critical analysis of Reagan's first term in office.
Viewers saw pictures of
the President visiting a homeless shelter, while Diane Sawyer's voice dubbed
over the images explained that Reagan had reduced funding to such
institutions while the number of poor had skyrocketed during his term in
office.
Viewers saw Reagan glad-handing with African-Americans while Sawyer
described his attacks on affirmative action and other programs dear to the
African-American community.
Viewers also saw Reagan with schoolchildren
while simultaneously they heard Sawyer rail against his massive cuts in
school funding. Her report continued in like fashion for eight minutes (a
lifetime in television terms) and by the end of it, the honesty,
credibility, and reputation of Reagan's administration had, according to
Sawyer, suffered serious damage. She was sure that she would never be
allowed to set foot in the White House again, and even feared that her press
passes would be revoked.
Dreading the awaited phone call from the White House Press Secretary, Ms.
Sawyer was quite surprised when he called to thank her for her segment and
offered to help her in any way he could.
"What?!" she exclaimed. "I spent
eight minutes on prime time television attacking you! Why are you thanking
me?" she asked.
"Diane," he replied, "you don't understand. No one listens
to the news. People watch the news. It is television and they are viewers.
You gave us eight minutes of golden images. We couldn't have paid for
better publicity. We owe you one."
She was in shock On this follow-up
segment, Ms. Sawyer was relating the important lesson she learned: we are a
visual society, and what you say is at best only of secondary importance.
I've kept that story in mind since 1984 and told it often when trying to
help people understand the importance of visuals in the Jewish tradition.
Not only does the famous and central Shema prayer warn about "going after
our eyes," but in fact our tradition is full of guidelines as to what to
look at it, and what not to. Pornography is of course forbidden, but more
surprising to some may be other visual guidelines that our tradition offers.
Pre-dating the thousands of studies that now link viewing of television to
anger, violent tendencies, and other behavioral problems, Jewish sources
teach us not to look at an angry person, let alone volunteer to watch
bloodshed. We want to be sensitive to others' pain, and seeing death as a
constant on television takes away from that sensitivity.
Furthermore, in our contemporary consumer-oriented society, the early
commentaries' teachings on the Talmud (tractate Megillah 12a) should be
especially considered — they explain that jealousy is caused by physically
seeing things, not just knowing about them. So if you want to help yourself
lead a simpler life, don't drive around the richer neighborhoods of town or
watch shows about people with lots of money — it will affect you, make you
jealous of what others have, unhappy with your lifestyle, and less likely to
leave work at 5 p.m. to spend time with your kids.
And don't conclude that visual-thinking is only about the "don'ts." In
order to help your kids grow up with deeply imbedded Jewish feelings, let
them see Jewish life — not just hear about it. If they see you give
tzedakkah and go to a weekly Torah lesson, these activities will be real to
them and chances are they will want to emulate them.
If they grow up seeing
Jewish images around the house, that will define for them what is "normal"
and they'll want to live that way also.
For as Diane Sawyer shared during
Ronald Reagan's reelection campaign, we are a visual world and what we see
defines what we think.
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Doron Kornbluth is the author, most recently, of
Why Marry Jewish? Surprising Reasons for Jews to Marry Jews (Sales help fund JWR)
Comment by clicking here.
© 2004, Doron Kornbluth
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