The show I saw that was amazing in encompassing the truly weird about TV news was Network ! The speech in the boardroom is the most succinct take down of American ( World) Capitalism I ever saw and it is lethally hilarious! I’m sure you have seen it ! Your experiences are genuinely horrific - and your survival is honorable and righteous - in fact, it reminds me of how “ primitive” ( Stone Age) cultures force adolescent males to go through a horrific initiation whereby they earn manhood ( basically by survival) honey I hate to inform you - but you are now totally initiated and nobody will ever take away your “manhood” but because of the nature of our “ melting blob of what’s it” sexual identity let me be direct: what you reached through shaming and torture is an initiation into adulthood. Nobody ever will be strong enough, smart enough, or powerful enough to touch or maim your adult self.
Americans - Bless their little hearts - ( that’s a Southern Curse) THINK we have reduced Stone Age initiation to the open road Route 66 idea of “ getting a driver’s license” and POOF a youth is now adult.
Guess what ! Deborah IS an adult because she experienced the same loss of self and reassembling into a more perfect whole: brave, unchangeable, and unconquerable that the military also forces on its most Spartan troopers during “ basic training for special forces” using the actual training manual Sparta itself developed. You are invincible. I am also life trained invincible. Good to know . And good to share !
That is really well said, about reassembling yourself to become an adult and it's very true. I think the majority of people avoid doing this, and remain stuck in adolescence their entire lives. I never watched Network. I'll have to check it out.
We watched it last night. I'd say it was 100% spot on. By the way, a female anchor did kill herself live on the air, at one of the stations where I worked. It happened before I got there.
Yep. She made some comment about how the station needed ratings, and then killed herself right on set. I guess her family showed up afterwards to argue about who could have her car.
My heavens - I think it’s going to be my job to nuke an ice palace like this cold hearted country has become - The best scene in Network “it’s all corporations there are no nations” that board room scene should have prepared us to be uglier than “The Ugly American” … but I think the words THE END should be reserved for when whoever drove off in the suicide’s car runs over the opposition then runs through a stop sign 🛑 dies taking out the corporate owner who was rushing to the station to confiscate “the evening news” live camera “footage “ but instead makes “the Six O Clock News “ … headline “Station Owner killed by car owned by suicide on Six O’clock News … Story at Eleven,” which Network News foils by leading with incident at 7:00 Eastern.
I just found you! And I read two of your pieces so far, and you're an awesome writer. I look forward to following your work, and I can relate to your story on many levels, particularly your excellent post about the US being the narcissist of the world, and having been abused by narcissists. Thanks for your writing. I'll be reading more. I am a writer too...and you might be interested in my work.
Well, you are a gifted writer and I’ve already sent a few of your posts to some of my intellectual friends. I’ve written on Russia too, but I’m not an expert as you are…I’m not sure if you can search my posts on Substack but definitely on my main site. I’ve written several but the most recent was “Is the USA becoming the former USSR?” It’s a few posts down. I’d be curious what you think. https://www.wendywilliamson.com/
Ah, a fellow Gen-Xer! Nice article, and I've had similar thoughts. I think the US is becoming what we were told the USSR was. Censorship, getting dragged off to secret prisons, standing in line, that kind of thing. But all the good things about the USSR, and there were good things, are absent. Free health care. Free education. Guaranteed job placement. If you did well at your job you could also expect perks like summer dachas and a car. It's like the US took everything bad about the USSR and left all the good stuff. The similarity that chills me the most is the expressions on people's faces. They look worried and anxious. That's how people looked in the USSR just before the collapse.
The show I saw that was amazing in encompassing the truly weird about TV news was Network ! The speech in the boardroom is the most succinct take down of American ( World) Capitalism I ever saw and it is lethally hilarious! I’m sure you have seen it ! Your experiences are genuinely horrific - and your survival is honorable and righteous - in fact, it reminds me of how “ primitive” ( Stone Age) cultures force adolescent males to go through a horrific initiation whereby they earn manhood ( basically by survival) honey I hate to inform you - but you are now totally initiated and nobody will ever take away your “manhood” but because of the nature of our “ melting blob of what’s it” sexual identity let me be direct: what you reached through shaming and torture is an initiation into adulthood. Nobody ever will be strong enough, smart enough, or powerful enough to touch or maim your adult self.
Americans - Bless their little hearts - ( that’s a Southern Curse) THINK we have reduced Stone Age initiation to the open road Route 66 idea of “ getting a driver’s license” and POOF a youth is now adult.
Guess what ! Deborah IS an adult because she experienced the same loss of self and reassembling into a more perfect whole: brave, unchangeable, and unconquerable that the military also forces on its most Spartan troopers during “ basic training for special forces” using the actual training manual Sparta itself developed. You are invincible. I am also life trained invincible. Good to know . And good to share !
That is really well said, about reassembling yourself to become an adult and it's very true. I think the majority of people avoid doing this, and remain stuck in adolescence their entire lives. I never watched Network. I'll have to check it out.
You must see that old movie ! It’s a classic that is made for you !!!
We watched it last night. I'd say it was 100% spot on. By the way, a female anchor did kill herself live on the air, at one of the stations where I worked. It happened before I got there.
My God !
Yep. She made some comment about how the station needed ratings, and then killed herself right on set. I guess her family showed up afterwards to argue about who could have her car.
My heavens - I think it’s going to be my job to nuke an ice palace like this cold hearted country has become - The best scene in Network “it’s all corporations there are no nations” that board room scene should have prepared us to be uglier than “The Ugly American” … but I think the words THE END should be reserved for when whoever drove off in the suicide’s car runs over the opposition then runs through a stop sign 🛑 dies taking out the corporate owner who was rushing to the station to confiscate “the evening news” live camera “footage “ but instead makes “the Six O Clock News “ … headline “Station Owner killed by car owned by suicide on Six O’clock News … Story at Eleven,” which Network News foils by leading with incident at 7:00 Eastern.
I'll check it out! I enjoyed "Broadcast News."
I remember opening the window with my siblings and yelling "I'm mad as hell and l I'm not going to take it anymore"
Great movie!
Oh yeah, I loved that scene!
It’s always timely ! Especially the corporate board room scene !
I just found you! And I read two of your pieces so far, and you're an awesome writer. I look forward to following your work, and I can relate to your story on many levels, particularly your excellent post about the US being the narcissist of the world, and having been abused by narcissists. Thanks for your writing. I'll be reading more. I am a writer too...and you might be interested in my work.
Thank you! I had to stop writing for a while but I intend to pick it up again eventually. I'll check out your work too!
Well, you are a gifted writer and I’ve already sent a few of your posts to some of my intellectual friends. I’ve written on Russia too, but I’m not an expert as you are…I’m not sure if you can search my posts on Substack but definitely on my main site. I’ve written several but the most recent was “Is the USA becoming the former USSR?” It’s a few posts down. I’d be curious what you think. https://www.wendywilliamson.com/
Ah, a fellow Gen-Xer! Nice article, and I've had similar thoughts. I think the US is becoming what we were told the USSR was. Censorship, getting dragged off to secret prisons, standing in line, that kind of thing. But all the good things about the USSR, and there were good things, are absent. Free health care. Free education. Guaranteed job placement. If you did well at your job you could also expect perks like summer dachas and a car. It's like the US took everything bad about the USSR and left all the good stuff. The similarity that chills me the most is the expressions on people's faces. They look worried and anxious. That's how people looked in the USSR just before the collapse.
Great read! Thank you.
Seems like anyone worth reading these days has been through some sort of "crucible of fire" like you.
Dealing with adversity and group herding behavior sets you up to see through the propaganda information war western society is engulfed in.
"We have hysteria about Russia driven by hyperbole and emotional manipulation, not facts!"
Agree 💯!
Thank you for your comment!