When I lived in the Bay Area, I would begin my day by listening to Democracy Now!, awakening my consciousness daily with a serious dose of poignant investigative reporting.
Amy Goodman’s political criticism is ubiquitous, which makes her razor-sharp news both important and paradoxical. How does she and/or her listeners remain objectively critical, but remain idealistic in the real world? (Is idealism in the real world an oxymoron?) Simply, how do we stay hopeful for change when our cynicism constantly overpowers our optimism? I was lucky enough to have dinner with Ms. Goodman and attend a live viewing of Democracy Now! a couple weeks ago.
The dinner was at a French restaurant in Chelsea. She walked in a bit late and dishovelled from working late on the following days stories. This helped break the ice, as Claire and I sat there with our three new friends from Albequerque.
Ms. Goodman arrived a bit tardy and dishovelled. Of course, her reasoning was more than acceptable.
It became immediately obvious that this woman was zealous about her work, like a missionary about proselytizing. She quickly broke into the latest news regarding Ken Burns’ new documentary on World War II and how he was taking heat for completely excluding the role of 500,000 Latino soldiers in the war.
She ordered lamb sausage, much to my delight and surprise. You know how most of these staunch lefties can be, right?
Her stories were fascinating - like she had probably told them hundreds of times, mastering the impersonations of the figures in the story - yet, so warm and genuine in the most personable way imaginable. Presenting her thesis project, almost being executed in East Timor, meeting but not knowing Michael Stipe, and disrupting the Reebok Human Rights Awards.
Meeting Amy Goodman made me admire the woman more. She definitely rocks.
A sheep murderer … I woulda never guessed.
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts on your Parsi identity.