Societies are made of stories, and these myths provide the framework for both our individual, and collective lives. Invariably positive, and commemorated as great achievements, our foundational tales, no matter how gruesome, allow we create of horrors past monuments to our heroism, while providing legends future generations can venerate.
In that light, as victors of ‘The Good War’, we on the winning side can celebrate this week the 72nd anniversary of the destruction by atomic bomb of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Or so the story goes.
Theresa Wolfwood is Director and co-founder of the Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation, and a writer, photographer, and long-time activist who has traveled from the highlands of Mexico to the gates of Gaza and beyond in pursuit of peace, social justice, and women’s rights. Her articles have appeared at Briarpatch, Peace News, and Third World Resurgence among other places, and she’s the local coordinator for Victoria’s Women in Black. The Women in Black will hold their annual vigil in remembrance of Hiroshima-Nagasaki this Monday, August 7 at high noon below the tourist information office across from the Empress Hotel.
Terry Wolfwood in the first half.
And; almost as old as the Silver Screen itself is the “gritty reporter takes on corruption” plot line; but, like a lot in Hollywood, the Real World tells a different story. Ted Rall knows it too well. As an LA Times-syndicated political cartoonist, he got too close to an ugly truth of Tinsel Town, and when he wrote about it, got himself an Oscar-sized jam with the LAPD for his trouble. What’s worse, just when he needed his bosses at the Times most, they turned Judas, throwing him to the bulls instead. Now, the Pulitzer nominated journo, prolific graphic artist, and author is in an epic, Ted and Goliath legal fight with his old bosses at the Times, (and he’s the guy with the slingshot!).
Rall’s book titles include: ‘After We Kill You, We Will Welcome You As Honored Guests: Unembedded in Afghanistan,’ ‘To Afghanistan and Back: A Graphic Travelogue,’ ‘The Book of Obama: From Hope and Change to the Age of Revolt,’ ‘Snowden,’ and his latest, ‘Trump: A Graphic Biography.’
Ted Rall, out of step with the Times in the second half.
And; CFUV Radio broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft and horticultural guru and green entrepreneur, Christina Nikolic both will join me today in studio at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good to do going on in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Terry Wolfwood and the Women in Black standing again vigil for Hiroshima, Nagasaki. But first, Terry Wolfwood and the Women in Black standing again vigil for Hiroshima, Nagasaki.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Wednesday, 1-2pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/