The downside of progress

Sam Smith - The other day I experienced a striking example of something that has been troubling me: how the growth of our society and the systems to support it are in many ways a step backwards. While artificial intelligence is a dramatic example, even the growth of institutions in place of community and the …

Tales from the attic: Getting started in journalism

Sam Smith - My family newspaper came out at least 20 times during my 13th and 14th year. It underwent several name and layout changes, the earliest editions being handwritten and the later ones typed in red and black ink. They shared a taste for bad jokes, awkward emulation of adult journalistic styles, and evidence of …

Where are the good folk?

Sam Smith – In trying to figure out all the things that are making me feel sad, angry and futile these days I have increasingly realized that it involves something much larger than getting rid of Trump, DeSantis and their groupies. Progress requires more than just hating and fighting the bad guys. It also involves …

What to do if the Republicans win on Tuesday

Sam Smith - If the Republicans win on Tuesday there's a big chance of massive numbers of sensible Americans going into depression, withdrawing from politics or replacing their positive goals with just anger. But there's another more useful approach: to use our time to work to restore American democracy, to illustrate what a kinder, wiser …

The GOP war on America: The worst domestic attack on democracy in our history

Sam Smith – Although the Civil War was far more deadly than the current right-wing assault on America, it also was an act of succession by the South and not an attempted takeover of the rest of America. What is happening now is an unprecedented  violent insurrection against the whole nation by a variety of …

The other two Americas

Sam Smith – ­­­­While we’re increasingly aware of the two Americas representing the Trumpistas and those still trying to preserve a democratic republic, there is another split in our country which I have often noticed in the past but not to the degree apparent these days. As a journalist I have covered both national and …

Tales from the attic: A different cop story

https://prorevnews.blogspot.com/2022/10/tales-from-attic-different-copy-story.html

Reviving progressive populism

Sam Smith - Reviving progressive populism As I approach the end of my sixth decade as an alternative journalist I feel sad and embarrassed that there is so little good news to report. After all the rebellions and countercultures that rewrote parts of the American story, we should be proud and happy, not outraged and …

ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE PROUD BOYS

[From our overstocked archives] Sam Smith – As I watch Proud Boys and other “white supremacists,” a question keeps arising in my mind: how come these guys think they can define what white guys like me are about? And if I were inclined to form a group of white supremacists would they look like Proud …

Psalm of the fast lane

SAM SMITH, 1986The Lord is my mentor; I shall want it all.He feedeth me in world-class restaurants and leadeth me beside the sparkling mineral waters.He restoreth my house and bringeth me in the path of good access.Yea, though I jog through the valley of the shadow of high rises I shall fear no viable competition; …

My competitive deficit disorder

Sam Smith - Some of my worst childhood moments were on the middle school playground of my Philadelphia public school. My parents had no interest in sports and no interest in how their children performed in them. There were few kids in the neighborhood to teach me. Thus unschooled, I would inevitably find myself last …

The role of schools in the current disaster

Sam Smith – One thing that is rarely mentioned as we struggle against growing attacks on freedom and ethnic minorities is that our school systems have increasingly emphasized individual achievement over such matters as democracy, ethnic relations, community, and cultural fairness. As selfish capitalism and competition have grown in significance, the  skills and standards of …

The weak opposition to what’s happening now

Sam Smith – Lately, I’ve been struck by the weakness of opposition to what is happening to our country and its values. Sure there are progressive commentators listing the crimes and a few things such as abortion and climate change  that garner significant opposition, but especially among the young there is no mass demand for …

Some tips for young writers

Written by Sam Smith in 2017 as part of a local Maine high school writing contest Writing isn’t about winning; it’s about saying things that others understand, learn from and appreciate. They may be your class mates rather than just some old judges. So just keep writing Writing is a trade or craft not a …

Tales from the attic: Jackson Elementary School

 Sam Smith - My elementary school in DC was several blocks away from our house, a classic red brick building with small playgrounds on either side. There were four teachers for 160 kids. Two of the teachers were maiden sisters and everyone, student and parent, called them The Fat Miss Waddy and The Thin Miss …