Dan Rather

Dan Rather dons his I'm-a-journalist-dammit trench coat and trudges through his lifetime of American history, sharing ever-so-folksy stories of his poor childhood, name dropping famous people he has interviewed, and lecturing on his opinions about what's right and wrong with America. He waffles and sidesteps a bit, but he's generally pushing a progressive and liberal agenda and a call for civic responsibility that I can get behind.

But the problem is that he is Dan Rather.

I didn't pick this show more up because of his name -- I was more inclined to tune in Tom Brokaw or Peter Jennings back in the olden days when I actually watched evening news broadcasts -- I only grabbed it from the library because it is part of the intriguing World Citizen Comics series, and it is my least favorite of the three published so far. Rather wants to give off this wizened sage vibe, but in thinking of his relevance and plodding through his less-than-fresh political insights and regrets about homophobia -- "Those were the times in which we were living, and we were not sensitive." (emphasis his) -- all I can think are the wise words of another sage: "Yeah, it's like a cow's opinion. It just doesn't matter. It's moo." show less

Dan Rather's fourth (by my count) memoir. He opens with chapters on the Abu Ghraib and Bush military service record stories, partly I think because he seems to want to get them out of the way. He tells his side of how all that went down; it's pretty clear to me that he's still uncomfortable with how CBS' leadership handled the whole situation, and that seems a fairly justifiable response to me.

Rather also gives brief overviews of his entire career; the sections on his civil rights coverage show more and Vietnam are very interesting, while the chapters on "presidents I have known" felt just a bit rushed to me. I'd have liked some more stories and memories in those sections. The chapter on 9/11 brought that day back vividly.

The major thread running through the book is Rather's concern with the "corporatization, politicization, and trivialization" of the news in recent decades. As media outlets have been consolidated and subsumed by corporate interests, he argues, the bottom line has become more important than the truth (which leads, in turn, to the "news" programs turning into just another outlet for entertainment). It's hard to argue with this, and Rather lays out his own experiences with all three elements of the process.

There's a bit of score-settling here, but given what Rather went through, that doesn't seem unfair. It's a good inside look at where the news business is these days, and how unhealthy the current state of affairs is for our country. show less

In these troubling days, I often turned to comedians such as Trevor Noah and Stephen Colbert to keep me sane. Another person with a voice of reason is Dan Rather, the ex-CBS news anchor, who recently re-emerged in social media with his thoughts on the current political situation and life in the U.S.A. Written in an essay format, Rather elaborates on his views on 15 themes, the sum of which is his definition of true patriotism. Inevitably, these viewpoints will be treated negatively by show more selected readers as his perspective leans against the current administration (big surprise). He shared intimately of his background, his youth, his family, his old neighborhood, and his profession to explain the source of his passion and his viewpoints.

Our Freedom is dependent on our responsibility in exercising our Vote, to express Dissent when it is necessary and right, and for the Press to accurately and thoroughly message the situation, which is far from the sound-bite type of news that we are getting these days. To have a meaningful Community (=nation), we must have Inclusion of the diverse population, Empathy for those with less, and embrace Immigration as a founding pillar of this country and a source of growth and betterment. To grow and improve, we must have Exploration of Science, enable literacy through Books, and allow The Arts to flourish and express the truth. As individuals and especially for the leaders of this nation, we have a Responsibility towards The Environment, to ensure quality Public Education is available to all, and to participate in Service to this country. Lastly, for our Character, we must have the Audacity to think BIG, to have the fortification to remain Steady on our courses especially in times of distress, and last but not least, to have Courage to accomplish our dreams and goals.

All the capitalized words, excluding start of sentences, in the above paragraph are the section and chapter titles of this book. Read the book to get the extended version of his messages. :)

Some Quotes:
On Patriotism:
“It is important not to confuse ‘patriotism’ with ‘nationalism.’ As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in a position of moral and cultural supremacy over others. Patriotism, while deeply personal is a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and a larger world, about not only what you love about your country but also how it can be improved. Unchecked nationalism leads to conflict and war. Unbridled patriotism can lead to the betterment of society. Patriotism is rooted in humility. Nationalism is rooted in arrogance.”

On the role of the Press:
“…We are seeing living proof of the wisdom of our Founders, who conceived of the First Amendment as a check on tyranny – an accountability that was missing in Orwell’s vision in 1984. But while these may be heroic times for journalists, the outcome of the battle between propaganda and deception on the one hand and unbiased reporting on the other is far from clear. No one has a monopoly on the truth, but the whole premise of our democracy is that truth and justice must win out. And the role of a trained journalist is to get as close to the truth as is humanly possible. Make no mistake: We are being tested. Without a vibrant, fearless free press, our great American experiment may fail.”

On Inclusion:
“…A society worthy of our ideals would be a much more inclusive one, a more integrated one. It would be a place where we continually strive to create a better whole out of our many separate parts. This is a sentiment that itself stretches back our founding. Our first national motto was E pluribus unum, ‘From many, one.” From many states, we are one nation. And from many peoples, we should be society. Under this framework, building tolerance is a worthy way station to a much grander destination of inclusion…”

On Science and its intolerance:
“…Back in 1980, the science-fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote, ‘There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’’ It is what the comedian Stephen Colbert dubbed ‘truthiness,’ a feeling that an erroneous opinion that ‘sounds’ just as valid as the actual truth. But while these forces have always been present in American society, I have never seen them infect our national discourse as much as they do now…”

On Art:
“…art shouldn’t be about impressing others; whether you are an individual or a nation, art is about engaging in a candid dialogue with yourself.” show less

This book by one of the elder statesmen of American journalism is part memoir, part reflection, part ringing condemnation, and all Rather. Opening with the events that led to his ouster from CBS News, Rather then reverts back to his childhood and his early interest in reporting the news, following that love of journalism from elementary school into college and beyond. As Rather recounts the work of his early years at CBS (the civil rights movement, the Kennedy assassination, his time in show more Washington with LBJ and Nixon), it is clear this book is more a highlights reel than an in-depth professional memoir. Regardless, the tidbits he shares are fascinating and simply whet the reader's appetite for more. Eventually Rather returns to the topic of his departure from CBS, outlining his eventual decision to file suit against CBS to try to clear his reputation, and his subsequent work on HDNet.

I found the book a bit uneven as a reader. The details of Rather's personal life were extremely interesting and I wish there had been more of them, especially about his family life once he was married and a father of two; it seemed from the book that his career always took precedence over his family but that may just be the result of trying to keep his private life private. Either way, it is clear that his wife Jean was the solid base that made his career possible- it would have been wonderful to hear more of her voice and story carry through the narrative. Rather's voice does ring through loud and clear, which is both a strength and the weakness in my opinion as that voice is sometimes strident and veers a bit toward self-congratulatory. Rather is uncompromising in his belief that CBS sold out the Evening News, and he is happy to name names and apportion blame which may be understandable but also reeks a bit of bitterness- a bitterness that rather undermines his legitimate grievances with the organization.

Throughout this book one thing that is always front and center is Rather's deep and abiding passion for journalism and his clear belief that the press has a duty to ask the tough questions and to reveal the hidden truths. His disdain for the corporate conglomerates that control the news today in the U.S. is well-founded as are his fears that we are in danger of losing the free press that our Founding Fathers viewed as so essential to safeguard our democracy. After his many decades reporting the news, and his brief stint as the story itself, Rather is perfectly placed to assess the state of modern journalism; it is to his credit that he faces so unflinchingly the shortcomings of his own profession.

All in all, an engaging read by one of the most recognizable faces (and voices) of the era. show less