Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 6.2.2022
Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts
K pop at White House
I would love to know the backstory of how the K-pop boy band BTS ended up visiting the White House to fight anti-Asian hate. Anybody know anything more about this?
Obama on displaced white workers and guns
There is an article in the Globe about Obama's gaffe during the 1992 campaign talking about displaced white workers, "so it's not surprising they cling to guns or religion. " The article notes the quote now seems more prophetic,this reminds me of the observation that a "gaffe" is often just an inconvenient truth.
Fox on time when “men could be men”
Fox discussing the new Tom Cruise movie this morning, "This takes us back to the eighties, when men could be men." I will confess I have no particular desire to see this movie, I know many people do want to see it, let people enjoy it, without an offensive message.
Daughter uses Austrian passport in Europe because my dad was persecuted by Hitler
My daughter entered Europe for her honeymoon on an Austrian passport she obtained a number of years ago under an Austrian policy that allows descendants of Austrian Jews who had been persecuted by the Nazis in Austria to obtain Austrian passports. She could enter the EU with this passport using an automated system. She has said she will get her dad an Austrian passport as a retirement present!! So amazingly sweet!!
What China means by “rule of law”
An editorial in Beijing Review this week states that in Hong Kong after 1997, "Many anti-China agitators who held public office exploited their elected positions to openly challenge the rule of law in Hong Kong." I have mentioned this before, but notice how the Chinese government interprets the expression "rule of law." This is NOT protection of citizens against government violations of rights, but the command to subjects, "Obey the laws the government has established." Beware when China uses this phrase.
ABBA “concert” in London
An Abba "concert" in London, with 3000 real people in attendance, consisted of digital avatars of the band members. Weird.
Teacher showing image of pregnant man on Fox
Fox spent over 5 minutes this morning on a "story" about a teacher who showed the class an image of a pregnant man. This is a national news story?
China’s “five sphere integrated plan”
China now has a so-called "Five Sphere Integrated Plan to promote coordinated economic, political, cultural, social, and economic advancement," whatever that means. Even someone like me who sort of tries to follow all these slogans and neologisms has a hard time keeping up.