CRAZY SEASON
THE HIGH SIERRA
Nothing is certain in politics. I heard Eric Sevareid say that when I was a young reporter and it has stuck with me.
Now Rick Santorum enjoys the GOP limelight in what
has been the craziest campaign season since I covered my first presidential election in 1968.
I think a lot about the late Sevareid as I watch this
season play out. The reporter/analyst was brilliant.
"The difference between men and boys in politics is, and always has been, that boys want to be something, while the men
want to do something."
Eric Sevareid
Those of you old enough may remember Sevareid as the commentator at the end of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite through the '60s and 70's.
He was one of "Murrow's Boys," the war correspondents who invented modern broadcast journalism as they covered
WW II. Hired by Ed Murrow this band brought seriousness, analysis and intellect to daily reporting.
Sevareid was famous for his "think pieces," as we used to call them. Essays really. He had been a roving correspondent after the war. Once while covering the Burma China war his plane developed trouble and before parachuting to safety he grabbed a bottle of gin.
"Next to power without honor, the most dangerous thing
in the world is power without humor."
Eric Sevareid
It would be a joy to see and hear Sevareid weigh in
on this campaign season. He never spared anyone from his critical gaze.
"The bigger the information media, the less courage and freedom they allow. Bigness means weakness."
Here is a sample of the kind of thoughtfulness in
broadcast journalism, that many of us miss. This is his
final commentary.
"I'm sort of a pessimist about tomorrow and an optimist
about the day after tomorrow."
Eric Sevareid
DAY BOOKTHE HIGH SIERRA
With the first blooms of spring I begin thinking about our
next exploration of California. Like the magnetic north I am drawn to the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada.
Decades of globe trotting afforded me exposure to many wonderful places on this blue planet and I put the eastern side of the Sierra high on the list of exquisite.
From the trail head you go up to a wide fan of lakes along either the Morgan or Mono Pass. These shots are taken
from a hike, mostly south of the Morgan Pass.
we've seen in the Swiss Alps. Gorgeous meadows, valleys, rugged rock walls, popular with technical climbers, pristine
alpine lakes, wild life, fresh air, quiet and true serenity.
Box lake
Rock Creek Lake
Morgan Pass
Long Lake.
If your journeys ever afford you a chance to visit
the Eastern Slope of the Sierra, I suspect you too will
be in awe.
See you down the trail
If your journeys ever afford you a chance to visit
the Eastern Slope of the Sierra, I suspect you too will
be in awe.
See you down the trail
From the west the Sierra looks like big rolling hills, on the east side, the alps.
ReplyDeleteYou may have Tom's Place, but we have Bob and Jan's Liqours in Cambria.
My fellow North Dakotan, Eric Severeid, his picture hangs in the state capitol, along with Peggy Lee, Lawrence Welk, Gen. Harold K. Johnson among others.
I too miss Sevareid. Thanks for the piece.......
ReplyDeleteDuring one Severeid seance at the end of the CBS Evening News he waxed on about those who complain there is too much English in the French language. You know: le HotDog, le Parking Lot, le WeekEnd. He allowed that many French words are ensconced in our English conversations. Eric Severeid playfully insisted that if the French wanted to edit English from their world we could do the same with those French invasions. "... And we could begin with the word detente." (w)
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always interesting because you get me all hopped up on politics and then you calm me down with pictures of beautiful scenery. Maybe politicians should be removed from Washington and dropped off at some of these wonderful places you photograph to show them what's important.
ReplyDeleteI once covered a flash flood in Severeid's home town of Velva, back in the '60's. I grabbed a ride into the town on a boat and when it came time to call it a night (my radio station went off the air at midnight) my boater had also retired. I had to wade back in chest deep water to get back to the other side.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it appears there are some nymphs residing in those beautiful mountains, too!
Jager, Anonymous, Out and About, Stephen and Bruce
ReplyDeleteGlad the Sevareid memories connected with you all. I sure miss that kind of analysis.
Stephen, I think there is a lot to your idea of getting politicians out into nature-some of them, the deeper into the wild the better.
SEVAREID'S "GOOD-BYE" REMINDS ME HOW GOOD THE REPORTERS AND COMMENTATORS OF THAT DAY WERE...AND HOW BAD THE CURRENT ONES ARE. DO YOU THINK IT'S EXPLAINED BY THAT OLD STATISTICAL "TRUTH" ABOUT REGRESSION TO THE MEAN? WHY OVER TIME DOES THAT STATISTICAL MEAN SEEM TO BE SINKING MORE AND MORE?
ReplyDelete---SK FIGLER (skfigler@gmail.com)