New York City and other areas have been engulfed in smoke from Quebec wildfires, creating a strange experience for residents. It reminded me of a cartoon I once saw in The Spectator, depicting people stepping outside a theater during intermission for a smoke break. One person jokes, “Just popping in for some fresh air.”
For a couple of days, that’s exactly what you had to do — pop in.
Regarding the recent budget deal, Democrats claim that “Biden ate McCarthy’s lunch” and it was a slam dunk, while Republicans argue that “McCarthy ate Biden’s lunch” and it was a slam dunk. However, neither man has spoken in such terms. It’s possible that the deal was a result of normal politics, with give-and-take. But in our tribalized and polarized age, there’s a need for a clear winner or loser. One side must triumph over the other.
Do you know what I mean?
I’ve always said that my politics are based on a deep aversion to bullying and mobs. These two phenomena are closely related.
A recent news report tells the story of soccer referee Anthony Taylor, who was swarmed by angry fans at the Budapest airport after Roma coach José Mourinho criticized and confronted him following his team’s loss in the Europa League final. Multiple videos show Taylor and his family being surrounded and harassed by the crowd. Some even laid hands on him, while others threw bottles and chairs in his direction. Eventually, security officials intervened and escorted Taylor and his family to safety. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by mobs.
In an interesting development in Britain, The New Statesman published a headline that reads, “Labour’s future will be conservative.” The subheading further explains that Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, is cautiously moving away from the liberal progressive politics that have dominated the party for the past three decades. Starmer acknowledges that the language of stability is not typically associated with progressive politics, but he believes there are certain aspects of our way of life, environment, and communities that must be protected and preserved for future generations. If this sounds conservative, Starmer doesn’t mind.
Speaking of the Quebec wildfires, their smoke temporarily masked the smell of “skunk weed” in New York.
The 2024 presidential race could potentially be a rematch between Biden and Trump. But make no mistake, this would not be a case of Tweedledum versus Tweedledee. These two individuals are vastly different. Just compare their Memorial Day messages: Biden’s and Trump’s. The choice between them would be anything but trivial.
When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticizes Disney, he often refers to it as a “multinational corporation.” He clearly intends this as a derogatory term. It’s interesting because I remember hearing the phrase “multinational corporation” frequently when I was growing up, but it was usually used by Marxists to denounce business, trade, and capitalism. Hearing Republicans use the same rhetoric today is somewhat perplexing. Similarly, DeSantis denounces the “corporate media,” implying that Fox News is somehow exempt from being a corporation. It raises the question of what constitutes non-corporate media. Are private bloggers the only alternative? Populism, in theory, doesn’t have to be simplistic, but it often ends up that way in practice.
One of my favorite recent news stories comes from Qom, where a Shiite cleric in Iran defies societal taboos by taking in street dogs and nursing them back to health. Dogs are generally despised in the Middle East, so Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei’s actions deserve recognition and praise.
Another individual deserving of honor is Hans-Peter Wild, an entrepreneur, lawyer, and philanthropist who recently made a significant donation to the Salzburg Festival. In his biography, he states that he donated $16 million to the US Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation as a gesture of gratitude for the liberation of Germany from the Nazis in 1945. This generous act has enabled around 300 children of Marines to pursue higher education.
Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent who spied for the Soviets, has passed away at the age of 79. Hanssen’s actions resulted in the execution of three KGB officers who were secretly spying for the United States. He leaves behind a dark legacy.
Amitai Etzioni, an intellectual and prominent communitarian in America, has also passed away at the age of 94. While I may not have agreed with all of his political and social views, I always respected his earnestness and goodwill. Being a communitarian is not the worst thing one can be.
I want to share the final paragraph from George Maharis’s obituary, which struck a chord with me. Maharis reflected on how the country had changed since his days on the TV show “Route 66.” He noted that traveling from one town to the next used to reveal entirely different worlds, but now, even when you travel thousands of miles, one town feels the same as the next. This homogenization of America worries me, although I hope our diverse and vibrant culture will continue to thrive.
In other news, Al Pacino is set to become a father again at the age of 83, following in the footsteps of his colleague Robert De Niro, who recently became a father again at 79. However, both men are still younger fathers than Saul Bellow, who welcomed a child into the world at the age of 84. It’s quite remarkable.
Ernie Johnson, the host of Inside the NBA, shared a powerful story about forgiveness. He stated that he forgave someone the moment they wronged him because his faith teaches him to do so. It’s a remarkable display of strength and compassion.
If you’re in the mood for some music, check out my “New York chronicle” in the current issue of The New Criterion. I delve into various performers, composers, and topics.
Lastly, I had a thought while sitting in a diner the other day. An English muffin is to muffins what an English horn is to horns. (As you may know, an English horn is a woodwind instrument, not a brass instrument. It belongs to the oboe family.)
I titled this column “Smoke gets in your eyes, &c.” which reminds me of a story involving cellist János Starker. He once traveled to Columbia, S.C., to perform at the University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Philharmonic. However, he was informed that he couldn’t smoke in the smoke-free concert hall, not even in his private dressing room. This didn’t sit well with Starker, who passionately appealed for reconsideration. Unfortunately, the decision remained unchanged. In the middle of rehearsal, he was called backstage to be informed of the final decision. Disappointed, he returned to the stage and addressed the orchestra, expressing his frustration with the “petty tyranny” that he believed was taking hold in the country. He collected his instrument and left. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, a clarinetist began to play “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.” Now, that song is stuck in my head, and I wish you a wonderful weekend. Take care, everyone.
