DavidBeckwith's Comments (39)

“I can feel your tears as I read your words. I think it is important that people hear your story, and those like yours. Products and services should not have this effect upon people. On the contrary. Especially at those rates. Especially given the cost, which in this, and in so many other instances, is life itself.
But that is not the end of it, sadly. Sometimes the costs go beyond death, to the surrounding family, who are then burdened with draconian expense. What if Disney World (not nearly so expensive) had this effect on families, instead of the effect it usually has, which is nearly the opposite? How do they please, nay thrill, millions, while keeping a spotless environment? What can our health industry learn from Disney World? What if a trip to the hospital was more like those families on the Extreme Home Makeover? Body falling down? In need of repair? Come to Oz! Doctor Oz!
We need a clear, bold, and beautiful vision for what health care in the 21st century could become. Tragedies like yours needn't be repeated. But they can show what not to do. May your sacrifices not be for nought.”

“Campbell Brown's husband is a Republican consultant who works for FOX. Did she say that? No. I suspect she is holding out for a larger bid from FOX, at which point she will simply go there for her money. It's not about truth or good journalism. It's about money. Just like a Wall Street banker.”

“How small they must be to need so much!”

“Thanks for sharing this moving account. You have suffered deeply, and for another person other than yourself. You have carved the hollow space in your heart which should, by now, be filling itself with joy and love. This is the upside of suffering, if you will...and you have. What is empty will be filled. I can't wait to hear about the wonders that come your way. I am cheering for your great happiness, now and to come.
Cheers!”

“I think his reading Rumi, Tagore and, well, you, show he has been perched on high branches, and maybe, as such, his flight away from this earth will be made much easier. May he ever fly high!”

“I agree almost entirely. I don't, however, think his sins are unforgivable. It depends on how forgiving the forgiver. It belittles privacy to treat it publicly, and one's love life, among adults, should remain a matter of the involved parties, and not a public shaming ritual. I forgive Senator Edwards, and challenge him to overcome this trial. Poverty is going to be ended, even without him, but it sure would be great to have him, once again, leading a charge. Life may be like high school, but it needn't be like junior high school. Let us forgive, forget, and let the man improve the lives of millions. Or shall we continue to destroy the lives of millions? We can no longer stay that course.”

“Adam Lambert should win because he is, by far, the superior contestant, and it is probably obvious to the judges. He is not only the superior contestant this year...he is the best they have ever had, and shows more promise than any of the other winners...but then again, he has been at it for a good while, and was a star before entering the show, so maybe he had that advantage, although he never flaunted it before the others. He has been graceful, even if the judges have been over the top with praise. They have been going too far with poor Danny Gokey as well, and others. I like Kris, but he knows he couldn't do what Adam has been doing. I suspect FOX and Ford might rather a redneck won it all. Someone "Ford tough". Oh well. We have two gentle souls instead. I'm happy with the outcome. Give credit where credit is due.”

“Robert, You talk about "Bank of America and other Wall Street firms"...but the last I checked, Bank of America was a Charlotte, North Carolina firm. The "corrupt corporate elite" of which you speak is more applicable to Wall Street firms, but NCNB, NationsBank, and now Bank of America, are not part of that mindset, but rather have been good corporate citizens, emphasizing ethics, the arts, community development and such. I suspect that if you'd focus also on the good things the bank does, you might find that things are not exactly as you currently portray them to be. Ask Hugh McColl what he thinks.

I generally agree with your assessment of things, and your films are fabulous, but this time I wonder why you seem to be defending Wall Street corruption by diverting attention elsewhere. BOA is a Charlotte/San Francisco hybrid. Fire Lewis if you must, but don't paint the bank with Wall Street shades. Shine sunlight on the good as well as the bad. Impartiality is the best thing.”

“Yes, I cans!”

“This is an indictment of Home Depot, and their nutty CEO than Bank of America, who, it is said, played a minor role. It is perhaps a pregnant coincidence that a Home Depot in midtown Charlotte closed its doors yesterday. Everything I know about BOA, at least historically, tells me that the shaken CEO (syndrome?) was not speaking for the bank, since the bank has been a godsend for many communities, being a good neighbor, funding the arts and job creation, listening, being an early adopter of green technologies, and so on. An exemplar, truth the told, and not a villain. At least this is my judgment after decades of watching them, knowing their people, banking with them, and seeing how they've created so much good in places they've been. It is important to expose bad practices, but it is equally important, especially now, to also highlight good practices. And on most things, I think the bank really does strive, and achieve, higher standards, and certainly needs to continue being a bank of opportunit­y...becaus­e Lord knows America and the world could use more light. As a product of San Francisco and Charlotte, the bank is not really a typical Wall Street anything. I personally think they could well be a very large part of the solution to the problems we face today. Best to arm ourselves with the complete picture before casting judgments.”

“Writers are all selfish boors. In fact, all human beings are selfish boors.
But selfish boors make the world go round, I mean square.
That is why Jon Stewart is so happy about getting paid way more than bloggers.
Not really, but it could be.
The Jons and Ariannas should not compete, but rather default to the vision, not the process.”

“I figure he said that for the benefit of listeners who might not understand...but I have seen cases where folks in "competing" media complain without any real understanding or experience. His boss, Mayor Bloomberg, was a little slow in seeing the importance of the internet, as witnessed by early interviews with Mr. Rose. But now, they are both among the greatest facilitators.”

“A dog barks, a caravan passes.”

“McCain needs to act like a grown-up. He chose her. It is his fault, not hers.”

“If anyone can turn North Carolina blue, it is Andy Griffith, who has been a kinda role model for us North Carolinians for decades. With Ron Howard and Henry Winkler also showing their support, I should think this little film might well turn out to be the chief bluing agent, putting North Carolina firmly in Obama's camp. Perhaps Mr. Colbert will do the same favor for South Carolina, our oft' slow-headed sister.”

“As long as girls cheer jerks like him on, there will continue to be wars.
Most guys are that shallow.

This is probably a stunt of some sort. He should know that rough-housing of the type that he suggests, would close more doors than they would open...and might well turn him into a pariah, an untouchable, a bully.

Kaufman is lurking somewhere in the corner, I suspect...”

“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/us/politics/28gambling-web.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

For McCain and Team, a Host of Ties to Gambling

"Senator John McCain was on a roll. In a room reserved for high-stakes gamblers at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, he tossed $100 chips around a hot craps table. When the marathon session ended around 2:30 a.m., the Arizona senator and his entourage emerged with thousands of dollars in winnings."
"A lifelong gambler, Mr. McCain takes risks, both on and off the craps table."

We do not need these folks anywhere near our money...
db”

“It's not every actor who can elicit a torrent of tears, but Paul Newman was not every actor. He was a great humanitarian and political visionary. I am deeply moved by his loss, and want to wish his family peace, love and comfort. Rest in peace, sweet Prince.”

“I suspect there are many folks on Wall Street who are gambling addicts and who are also, sadly, alcohol addicts -- both of which reflect egoistic predominance. With egoistic predominance comes a lack of concern for the common good, as the ego tends to prefer the pulley model, rather than the stewardship model, of which you yourself are an exemplar. It is the unfortunate insatiability of these drunken gambling addicts which, and those who spawn them, which has been a major contributor to the current malaise, and I suspect it will take sober stewards to return goodness and sanity to the financial stage.

Peace and a widening conception of prosperity,
David”

“I personally find Joel Osteen to be a refreshing change of pace, particularly when you compare him with the vitriolic and hate-filled blowhard, John Hagee. Rev. Osteen has had the good graces to have been taken in by Billy Graham -- something that Hagee could not even buy. As such, he seems to have absorbed some of Billy Graham's magnanimity and progressive spirit.
On my TV, Hagee follows Osteen. I call it the Heaven and Hell Hour. Joel brings Heaven, and Hagee Hell.
As far as the wife goes...I couldn't care less.”

“You left out the well-heeled shoehorns.”

“When John speaks of morality, he is talking about our relationship with the least among us. I never heard him mention anything about sexual morality...which should be a more private matter anyway.”

“There has been a corporate media brownout against Edwards all along. They are Goliath and he is David. Why wouldn't they? Sadly, most Americans pull for Goliath these days.
America loved The Overdog, even nurses at its teat. Drinks the milky koolade. Adds to the pollution. Shuts out the light.”

“Each time the sword goes into John, it goes into Elizabeth as well. And it cuts to the heart of their children as well. If John were a brave defender of the rich, like most Republicans, be probably would not be going through this "fifth trial". But he is a brave defender of the poor, and like Gandhi and Jesus, he is persecuted, and his family is persecuted.

Some people think that by hating or scolding John, they are somehow being nice to Elizabeth, but this is not the case. It is the opposite of the case, and I would ask that these "would-be do-gooders" realize the pain they are causing Elizabeth to suffer. Has she not suffered enough? If she forgave him, don't you think she would have US forgive him as well?
Maybe we are not that good. Maybe we are merciless schadenfreudists who relish watching Elizabeth squirm with each jab at her family and husband.

I am disappointed in John, yes, but I will be more disappointed if he lets the brave defenders of the rich beat him down.”

“If John Edwards were Hitler, I would say "Go ahead and destroy the man and his family."
But John Edwards is no Hitler, and most Americans know this. In fact they know he is at the other extreme of Hitler. Rather than dedicating himself to taking lives, he has dedicated himself to saving lives.
He is guilty of too much love. Not too little.
Those who are attacking him are guilty of that.

It is not just John you are destroying. It is also Elizabeth. But will YOU apologize to her?
I somehow doubt it. Thus once again proving, to your dismay, that John Edwards really is a better man.”