By Bonnie Fishman / San Francisco Bay Area If there’s one thing we do well at the Fishman Family Compound, it’s host. Cooking and serving have become an art form down to the last detail. One funny exchange during one of our recent reunions was about the use of charger plates. “What’s a charger?” “Why do we need that?” “I’ve never used a charger, let alone owned one!” It’s not the first time we’ve heard that, either Charger plates are also called service or under plates. They are larger than dinner plates and left on the table during the meal. I have always found that they dress up a table. My sisters and I are obsessed with fine china, place settings, table clothes, and so on. We have quite the collection of charger plates, from wood, to ironwork, rattan, glass, and galvanized steel. I think we inspired some of the guests to go out and buy some! There’s a feng shui with tablescapes. The charger plate anchors the place setting. It can also add a specific theme to your meal. For example, when we celebrated my husband’s 75th birthday during the pandemic, I ordered live lobsters from Maine. I carried the whole New England theme out on the table using a blue-checkered cloth, galvanized pails for lobster shells and galvanized chargers to tie in with the pails. We wore lobster bibs, too! Chargers were originally created in the mid-13th century in England for fine dining, banquets, and weddings. Alan Wormser, the owner of Barry’s Let’s Rent It! in Novi, Mich. told me when we chatted recently that chargers lend an air of elegance and help with the “wow factor” when a guest comes into the room. Alan began working at this well-regarded party rental company in 1990. Fast forward, he purchased the business from the original Barry in 1999, and moved into his own building in 2019. Alan was my go-to guy when I needed equipment for our catered events at Bonnie’s Kitchen. He has a wonderful selection of china, flatware, glassware, tables, chairs, linens, and tents for parties. He says chargers are more popular than ever. A bride will come in seeking a certain look for her wedding. The charger adds to that look. I’ve wondered if they were used more by specific groups of people. However, Alan told me that charger plates cross all ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Chargers also have a practical purpose of catching spills and crumbs, keeping hot food hot, and protecting table tops from getting scorched or wet from condensation. Etiquette-wise, the service plate should be removed with the dinner plate, before dessert is served. I prefer to buck this tradition and use it through dessert service. Food should not be served on the charger plate. That’s why some are constructed of non-food grade material. Look on the bottom for the “not food safe” label. Actually, this allows more possibilities of substances that are used to make them. When shopping for charger plates, consider if you want a more formal or informal look. Why not have two sets?! To demonstrate the use of chargers, I’ve created a nice plated appetizer, served on a 7” plate, where it is complemented by the larger serving plate. For more formal meals, fish and seafood are commonly offered as starters because they are a lighter way to begin, especially when the main course is red meat or even poultry. I’ve chosen scallops in a light cream sauce. Shrimp can be substituted. This recipe was one of my favorites from the Cordon Bleu when I attended in the ‘70s in London. I’m using fresh French tarragon. If you don’t care for the mild anise flavor of this herb, feel free to swap it out with dill or basil. For those of you who didn’t know before this about charger plates and their importance on a table scape, let us know here at The Insider if you’ve been swayed to go out and purchase a set. For you folks who already use them, tell us if you’re inspired to buy even more. I’m thinking I may shop for new chargers, too! Scallops with Fresh Tomato Tarragon Cream Sauce Yield: 4-6 appetizers 1 lb. lg. sea scallops, 12-15 1 English cucumber, peeled 2 lg. ripe tomatoes or 3 ripe Roma tomatoes,  peeled, seeded and chopped small 2 Tbsp. finely minced shallots 1 Tbsp. butter 1/4 c. dry white wine juice of 1/2 lemon 6 Tbsp. heavy cream 1 Tbsp. fresh chopped tarragon Cut the scallops in half crosswise. Reserve in a bowl. Cut the cucumber lengthwise. Remove and discard the seeds with a grapefruit spoon. Cut each half lengthwise into thirds. Cut into 2” rods.  Blanch the cucumbers in boiling salt water for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander.  Rinse with cold water; dry on paper towel. Reserve. Place the scallops, their liquid and wine in a skillet. Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on each scallop. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cover. Cook for 2 minutes, turning after 1 minute.  Remove scallops to a bowl. Reserve liquid. Sauté the shallots in the butter in a skillet over moderate heat. Add the chopped tomatoes, lemon juice, and some fresh grated nutmeg.  Boil over moderate heat, stirring often, until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 5-7 minutes. Pour on the scallop cooking liquid and any liquid that has collected in the scallop bowl.   Continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add the cream to the sauce. Cook for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Add the cucumbers, tarragon, and scallops to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the scallops are heated through.  Serve at once. Bonnie Fishman attended the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London. Later, she owned and operated Bonnie’s Patisserie in Southfield, Mich. and Bonnie’s Kitchen and Catering in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. She has taught cooking for over 35 years and created hundreds of recipes. She is now living in Northern California.

By Lydia Hope Wilen / New York City In the olden days–1992 and 1993–my sister Joany and I shared a dream job. The two of us were responsible for a full-page weekly feature in the New York Daily News Sunday Magazine. It was called My Favorite New York. Each week we would meet a celebrity at their favorite place in New York City, have them tell us why this was their favorite place and a Daily News photographer would photograph them there. Last time, I wrote about nine A-listers of stage and screen. This time, I’d like to introduce you to a new set of luminaries. Some set records as being the most, the first, the funniest, the only, the tallest and the unreasonably demanding (hint: ribbit). Kevin Nealon, comedian, actor.  Favorite New York: Bide-A-Wee Animal Shelter At 6’3”, Kevin Nealon was our tallest celeb and the most flexible.  He managed to fold himself into a cage at the animal shelter.  Even more amazing was that the tall News photographer crept into the cage with Nealon and took the picture. Itzhak Perlman, described as “undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin.” Favorite New York: Shea Stadium On the way to Shea, Itzhak Perlman told us that at age 4, he contracted polio and has walked using leg braces and crutches since then. (He’s always seated when he plays the violin.) For going out on the field, he thought it best to use a wheelchair. (Recently, I have seen him in my neighborhood using an electric Amigo scooter.) When we got to Shea Stadium, Itzhak Perlman wheeled himself out onto the field. It was the coldest day of the year, but no matter what the temperature, Perlman, a dedicated Mets fan, was happy to be there. It seemed as if he’d be willing to stay there until Major League Baseball’s opening day. That wasn’t the case with us or the photographer. Once the photo session was over, Perlman, Joany and I got back in the van and headed to the city. Much to our surprise, Perlman started telling us jokes. Funny jokes. His taste and timing…perfect. It’s a good thing he was a musical prodigy, because it would have been hard for him to be a stand-up comedian. (His line, not ours.) Mayim Bialik, actress, game show host, author. Favorite New York: A/X Armani Starring in the 1990s sitcom Blossom, 17-year-old Mayim Bialik met us at the trendy Soho clothing store. Usually, after the interview and photo session, the celeb is first to leave the location. Bialik was eager to have us leave so that she and her mother could shop at the store. A distinction shared by… Jaclyn Smith, actress. Favorite New York: Newell Art Galleries After the interview and photo session, Jaclyn Smith sent us packing so that she could tour each of the six floors of antiques. Kirk Douglas, actor, author.  Favorite New York : N.Y. Public Library, Fifth Avenue & 42nd Street It was a thrill for us to meet Kirk Douglas. He was Spartacus. He was Vincent Van Gogh. He was Champion. He was a real movie star. He was Jewish. That counted for a lot in those days, growing up in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, back on Fifth Avenue, there we were, at the bottom of the library steps, and there was Kirk Douglas…KIRK DOUGLAS! on the top step, waiting for the News photographer to set up the shot. Suddenly it started raining. The photographer quickly covered himself and his tripod with a tarp while Douglas raced down the stairs to the car that brought him. He had the driver open the trunk and take out an umbrella. Instead of going up the steps again, he came over to Joany and me, opened the smallish umbrella and held it over us, while he was left out in the rain. Look in the dictionary under “mensch,” and don’t be surprised to see a picture of Kirk Douglas. (I’ll be surprised if you even have a dictionary.) Fernando Ferrer, Bronx Borough President (ran for mayor and lost to Mike Bloomberg). Favorite New York: Hall of Fame for Great Americans at Bronx Community College The honor of being the best and worst sport goes to Fernando Ferrer.  He was the only celeb celebrating his birthday on the day we met him.  Worst sport: We asked that he show up in his birthday suit, but he refused.  Best sport: He was afraid of heights and was willing to pose while standing on a backless ledge, built on a hill. Emma Thompson, actress and screenwriter.  Favorite New York: Cooper-Hewitt Museum The celeb we came closest to losing was Emma Thompson. Before she left for the United States, her bag was stolen from her assistant’s car in Scotland. She boarded the plane anyway, without her passport, and was due to land in New York at about 9 a.m. and be taken directly to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum to tape an interview with Katie Couric for the Today Show and then to do our interview. At 4 a.m. that morning, publicist Barbara Langdon, who set up the interviews, got a call saying an immigration lawyer would have to obtain permission for Emma to deplane. Since she didn’t have her passport, she was going to be sent back to England. At 5 a.m., Langdon reached an immigration lawyer who was able to arrange for the actress to be at the museum on time. Nonetheless, after the aggravation of losing all of her personal belongings and traveling all night, Emma was one of our most vivacious, charming and fun interviewees. Along with her Academy Awards, Emma Thompson wins the prize for being Best Trouper. Nathan Lane, comedian, actor.  Favorite New York: Sam’s on West 45th Street (a popular after-theater show biz hangout) We knew Nathan Lane years before he qualified to be the star on our feature page. Joany and Sonia Reese (mother of commercials star Mason Reese) made the rounds of comedy clubs, selecting the most talented to be part of a TV pilot for Mason.  Nathan was one of their finds (along with Eddie Murphy and Carol Leifer).  The pilot never came to be, but along with cream, Nathan rose to the top. It was wonderful to have Nathan be the most successful person who we knew when… Maury Povich, TV show host and Connie Chung, journalist and TV news anchor.  Favorite New York: Madison Square Garden According to the hand-written thank-you note from Maury Povich and Connie Chung, this was and is their favorite photograph. How do I know? Povich’s public-relations person asked to borrow the slide so she could surprise them with a framed print. According to a recent note from the couple, they still have this favorite photo hanging in their home. Kermit the Frog, mega-Muppet. Favorite New York: Central Park Kermit was the only celebrity who wanted “star treatment.” It’s true. His people asked for a stylist and an art director. They also wanted photo approval. Then again, none of the other celebs had unsightly wires to deal with. Even though Kermit’s requests were denied, he jumped to it and came through like the professional performer he is. What’s your favorite New York hideaway? Share your answer with us in the comment section below. Lydia Hope Wilen had a successful collaboration with her late sister Joany as nonfiction bestselling authors (18 books), journalists, TV personalities, writers and talent coordinators on a Nickelodeon series hosted by Leonard Nimoy, Reading Rainbow episodes, skit writers for Dr. Ruth's TV show, Diet America Challenge on CBS, and writers of screenplays (optioned but not produced yet). Lydia is writing on her own now and has just completed an extraordinary book for young people and their parents. It will have them laughing and learning...once she gets an agent and it gets published.

Jeffrey D. Sachs | June 6, 2023 | Common Dreams Sixty years after Kennedy's commencement address at American University, crucial lessons must still be learned about how to end dangerous conflicts in a nuclear world. President John F. Kennedy was one of the world’s great peacemakers. He led a peaceful solution to the Cuban Missile Crisis and then successfully negotiated the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union at the very height of the Cold War. At the time of his assassination, he was taking steps to end US involvement in Vietnam. In his dazzling and unsurpassed Peace Speech, delivered exactly sixty years ago on June 10, 1963, Kennedy laid out his formula for peace with the Soviet Union. Kennedy’s Peace Speech highlights how Joe Biden’s approach to Russia and the Ukraine War needs a dramatic reorientation. Until now, Biden has not followed the precepts that Kennedy recommended to find peace. By heeding Kennedy’s advice, Biden too could become a peacemaker. A mathematician would call JFK’s speech a “constructive proof” of how to make peace, since the speech itself contributed directly to the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed by the US and Soviet Union in July 1963. Upon receipt of the speech, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev told Kennedy’s envoy to Russia, Averell Harriman, that the speech was the greatest by an American president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, and that he wanted to pursue peace with Kennedy. In the speech, Kennedy describes peace “as the necessary rational end [goal] of rational men.” Yet he acknowledges that peacemaking is not easy: “I realize that the pursuit of peace is not as dramatic as the pursuit of war—and frequently the words of the pursuer fall on deaf ears. But we have no more urgent task.” The deepest key to peace, in Kennedy’s view, is the fact that both sides want peace. It is easy to fall into the trap, warns Kennedy, of blaming a conflict only on the other side. It is easy to fall into the trap of insisting that only the adversary should change their attitudes and behavior. Kennedy is very clear: “We must reexamine our own attitude—as individuals and as a Nation—for our attitude is as essential as theirs.” Kennedy attacked the prevailing pessimism at the height of the Cold War that peace with the Soviet Union was impossible, “that war is inevitable—that mankind is doomed—that we are gripped by forces we cannot control. We need not accept that view. Our problems are man-made—therefore, they can be solved by man.” Crucially, said Kennedy, we must not “see only a distorted and desperate view of the other side.” We must not “see conflict as inevitable, accommodation as impossible, and communication as nothing more than an exchange of threats.” Indeed, said Kennedy, we should “hail the Russian people for their many achievements—in science and space, in economic and industrial growth, in culture and in acts of courage.” Kennedy warned against putting a nuclear adversary into a corner that could lead the adversary to desperate actions. “Above all, while defending our own vital interests, nuclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war. To adopt that kind of course in the nuclear age would be evidence only of the bankruptcy of our policy—or of a collective death wish for the world.” Kennedy knew that since peace was in the mutual interest of the US and the Soviet Union, a peace treaty could be reached. To those who said that the Soviet Union would not abide by a peace treaty, Kennedy responded that “both the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union and its allies, have a mutually deep interest in a just and genuine peace and in halting the arms race. Agreements to this end are in the interests of the Soviet Union as well as ours—and even the most hostile nations can be relied upon to accept and keep those treaty obligations, and only those treaty obligations, which are in their own interest.” Kennedy emphasized the importance of direct communication between the two adversaries. Peace, he said, “will require increased understanding between the Soviets and ourselves. And increased understanding will require increased contact and communication. One step in this direction is the proposed arrangement for a direct line between Moscow and Washington, to avoid on each side the dangerous delays, misunderstandings, and misreadings of the other’s actions which might occur at a time of crisis.” In the context of the Ukraine War, Biden has behaved almost the opposite of JFK. He has personally and repeatedly denigrated Russian President Vladimir Putin. His administration has defined the US war aim as the weakening of Russia. Biden has avoided all communications with Putin. They have apparently not spoken once since February 2022, and Biden rebuffed a bilateral meeting with Putin at last year’s G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. Biden has refused to even acknowledge, much less to address, Russia’s deep security concerns. Putin repeatedly expressed Russia’s ardent opposition to NATO enlargement to Ukraine, a country with a 2,000-kilometer border with Russia. The US would never tolerate a Mexican-Russian or Mexican-Chinese military alliance in view of the 2000-mile Mexico-US border. It is time for Biden to negotiate with Russia on NATO enlargement, as part of broader negotiations to end the Ukraine war. When Kennedy came into office in January 1961, he stated clearly his position on negotiations: “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.” In his Peace Speech, JFK reminded us that what unites the US and Russia is that “we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.” Note: Jeffrey D. Sachs is author of "To Move the World: JFK’s Quest for Peace, Random House: 2013." Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he directed The Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is also President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development. He has been advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Sachs is the author, most recently, of "A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism" (2020). Other books include: "Building the New American Economy: Smart, Fair, and Sustainable" (2017) and "The Age of Sustainable Development," (2015)

By Judi Markowitz / Detroit Motor City Magic Woodward Avenue stretches 27 miles from Detroit to Pontiac, Mich. It can stand its ground with such iconic thoroughfares as Route 66 and Sunset Boulevard. Woodward was the first paved road in Michigan. A one-mile section was completed in 1909 and then it took seven more years to finish the entire job. Throughout the years, restaurants, businesses, movie theatres, museums, hotels, libraries, and universities have graced this street. But for the past 28 years it has become even more renowned as the home of the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise. Annually, the Motor City is the site of this parade of vintage and classic cars, in addition to plenty of food vendors, musicians, merchandise, and excited spectators. This year, August 17 is the official date of the event. The atmosphere will be electric as people travel from all over the country and from abroad to take part in the festivities. Helicopters will abound from various news outlets and advertisements stream in the sky. Local and national media will be on the ground as well, covering the merriment of the day. In the ‘50s and ’60s, “Woodwarding” became a craze. According to Mich.gov, “Cruisers gathered at drive-in restaurants. Muscle car competition hit its heyday in the mid-1960s.” I can attest to that. I graduated high school in 1970 and as a teenager, cruising Woodward was the thing to do on weekends. My friends and I would drive up and down that infamous street looking for excitement and that meant a car full of boys. We would pull up next to each other at a red light and talk. Plans were made to meet at a restaurant by the time the light changed. Others simply wanted to drag race on Woodward and revving engines could always be heard up and down the avenue. It was a thrilling era of innocence and change. At the time I could never have envisioned that 25 years later our strip of Woodward would become the Dream Cruise capital. And now, the Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day car extravaganza. It officially begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. I live one block away from the noise of engines and the fanfare. My family can simply walk to the corner of Woodward and Lincoln to view the attractions. And after 28years, I am still in awe of the growing crowds and the joy this day brings to so many. This enduring event was the brainchild of Nelson House, a plumber, and Mayor Pamela S. McCullough, who wanted to raise money for a children’s soccer field in Ferndale. According to ARPSC of Oakland County, an amateur radio operators organization, “A group of volunteers looked to recreate the nostalgic heydays of the 1950’s and 1960’s, when youth, music, and Motor City steel roamed Woodward Avenue —America’s first highway.” The original assumption was that the event would be attended by as many as 30,000 people. They were so wrong — it attracted a quarter of a million people. The 2022 calculations have shown that the Dream Cruise drew 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars from around the globe. Excited motorheads can be seen on Woodward months before this much-anticipated event takes place. On any given evening, when the weather breaks, people gather with their folding chairs, coolers, and tents on the hunt for “cool cars.” They are grateful to be outside after the cold, winter months. Woodward Avenue has become the place to watch a parade of people and it’s the place to be seen as well. Young and old alike gravitate to this street since it has become an avenue of action. During these preceding months, small groups of car buffs can also be spotted along the east and west side of Woodward. These car aficionados take great pride in their vehicles, and they gather in packs according to the make and model of their car. Pristine vehicles line the parking lots of stores and strip centers when businesses close for the day. Well ahead of the actual date of cruising on Woodward, city employees have the arduous task of setting up this expansive event. Many spectators aren’t aware of the work done behind the scenes. The Dream Cruise extends from Eight Mile Road and loops its way around various suburbs to end up in Pontiac — that’s 16 miles of preparation. Road signs, which indicate lanes for historic, vintage, and regular cruisers are set out along the route. Roadblocks are strategically placed in all cities to prevent spectators from illegally parking in nearby neighborhoods. Trash receptacles can be found practically on every corner and even in the median of Woodward. And then applications must be submitted to respective city offices for vendors of all types. Most importantly, this popular thoroughfare gets a facelift too — repairs are constantly being made before the big event. Rental signs for parking and viewing spaces can be seen along Woodward months in advance of the cruise as well. There are premium spots to be had for a hefty price. These are typically rented from private businesses. And speaking about commerce, most of the retail stores, banks, and restaurants lining Woodward close on the day of the Dream Cruise. Even though this sounds like a missed financial opportunity, this one-day event brings in $56 million annually to bolster the Metro Detroit economy. It has been noted that many cities along the path of the Dream Cruise take part in their own festivities the evening before this beloved occasion. The Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade, for example, showcases approximately 300 cars from the past, moving slowly down the main thoroughfare. These vehicles must be registered and CruiseFest raises money for nonprofit groups throughout the city. After the parade there are face-painting booths, music, food, and to top off the evening there is an outdoor movie for families. The week before the Dream Cruise begins, thousands of cars will converge on Woodward for yet another year of cruising pleasure. People will mill around the show cars and sit by the edge of the street to view the pomp and ceremony of the day. Police officers from each city patrol their respective areas to ensure a peaceful and fun time for all. When the official day of the Dream Cruise finally arrives, it is truly a sight to witness the wide variety of cars that line parking spaces and cruise slowly down Woodward. There are rows of different makes and models from Mustangs, Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Pontiac GTO’s, Dodge Chargers, Lincoln Continentals, and Oldsmobile 442 Cutlass Convertibles, to name just a few. With hoods propped open and glistening engines on display, these cars are a spectacle to behold. Even if you’re not in the know about the inner workings of cars, there is much to admire in the care and pride owners take in the maintenance of their much beloved vehicles. After 12 hours, when the clock strikes 9: 00 pm, officers will begin to divert traffic from Woodward until the usual hum of local cars takes over. And the next morning, when a cloud of calm embraces Woodward Avenue, there won’t be a shred of evidence that millions of people lined the streets the previous day. So, if your travel plans for this summer aren’t cemented, and you can’t figure out the ideal vacation spot, consider making Michigan your destination. The Dream Cruise just might be what you’ve been missing. Judi Markowitz is a retired high school English teacher of 34 years. She primarily taught 12th grade and had the pleasure of her three sons gracing her classes. In addition, she taught debate, forensics, and Detroit film. Judi has four adult children and seven wonderful grandchildren. She is married to Jeffrey Markowitz, whom she met in high school. Judi grew up in Oak Park, Mich. which had a stellar school district, with excellent teachers. The city provided activities for all–and there were even sidewalks. Judi moved to Huntington Woods as an adult, which is a half mile from her childhood home. She wanted the same experience for her children as she had growing up, and Huntington Woods provided that. The View from Four Foot Two is Judi’s first book.

Fred Plotkin, a pleasure activist and passionate Italy and culinary expert, speaks each Friday with leading people in the arts FRED PLOTKIN is one of America’s foremost experts on opera and has distinguished himself in many fields as a writer, speaker, consultant and as a compelling teacher. He is an expert on everything Italian, the person other so-called Italy experts turn to for definitive information.  Fred discovered the concept of "The Renaissance Man" as a small child and has devoted himself to pursuing that ideal as the central role of his life. In a “Public Lives” profile in The New York Times on August 30, 2002, Plotkin was described as "one of those New York word-of-mouth legends, known by the cognoscenti for his renaissance mastery of two seemingly separate disciplines: music and the food of Italy." In the same publication, on May 11, 2006, it was written that "Fred is a New Yorker, but has the soul of an Italian."

By Andy Borowitz | The New Yorker June 12, 2023 PALM BEACH (The Borowitz Report)—Guests who dined at Mar-a-Lago after January, 2021, wondered why their menus featured missile sites of the United States and its allies, the diners have reported. Harland Dorrinson, who’d had lunch at Mar-a-Lago, said that he’d found the list of missile installations “confusing,” but added, “I just assumed they were specials." Carol Foyler, who’d visited the private club for dinner, was similarly baffled. “I thought maybe they were trying to turn the place into some kind of theme restaurant,” she said. The hard-to-read menus irritated another dinner guest, Tracy Klugian. “It was the last thing I needed, especially after climbing over all of those boxes to get to my table,” he said. Andy Borowitz is a Times best-selling author and a comedian who has written for The New Yorker since 1998. He writes The Borowitz Report, a satirical column on the news.

By John Woodford / Ann Arbor, Mich. I was in the sixth grade in 1951, so there were still three years to go before Eddie Fisher’s version of “Oh! My Papa”–a Swiss-German song written “over there” in 1939, at the onset of World. War 11–began its 26-week run as No. 1 on the U.S. hit parade. But my own papa was all those things cited in Fisher’s rendition. Those lyrics, by a British writer named Geoffrey Parsons, differed greatly from the original version written for a song by Paul Burkhard, a Swiss composer who’d created the piece for his 1939 musical The Black Pike (Der schwarze Hecht). After WW II the musical was turned into the 1950 film Fireworks (Das Feuerwerk). The German-Jewish actress and writer Lilli Palmer, born Lilli Marie Peiser, sang Oh, Mein Papa. The original lyrics expressed the nostalgic love of a young woman for her father, who’d worked as a clown. Eddie (Edwin Jack) Fisher’s 1954 version swept around the globe. According to online biographical entries, Fisher’s Jewish parents, Joseph Tisch and Gitte Kathrine Minicker, had immigrated in the early 1900s to Philadelphia from somewhere in the Russian Empire. They changed their name to Fisher sometime before the 1940 census. Perhaps Palmer’s and Fisher’s origins account for the song’s classification as an example of Jewish or Yiddish music, but clearly it’s a rich and complicated amalgam. But I began this Father’s Day reminiscence in 1951 as a way to begin my much-belated homage to my own father, Hackley Elbridge Woodford, who was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1914. My father went to college at Western Michigan University in his hometown. After getting his M.D. at Howard University in June 1940, he married my mother on their mutual graduation day after she received her B.A. They moved to Chicago and he began an internship at Provident Hospital, the “Black folks’ hospital” on the South Side. When WWII broke out, he wound up in the U.S. Army not long after my twin sister Peggy and I were born in September 1941. First, the Army assigned my father to a base in North Carolina as a medical officer, so he had to leave my mother and us twins with his parents in Kalamazoo. But the Army brass had assumed from his name and birthplace that he was White. Upon discovering their mistake, they told him that obviously they couldn’t house him with his White peers, so they assigned him to an unheated, barren, otherwise uninhabited structure, where he soon got pneumonia. The Army found a place for him by spring, the Tuskegee Air Base, where he became a non-pilot, medical adjunct of some sort, which ultimately qualified him to be a Tuskegee Airman, a designation of which he was quite proud. He admitted to my sisters and me, however, that after his North Carolina experience, he was glad he had not had to serve anywhere near a battle. His patriotism remained both staunch and wavering, subject to great fluctuations depending upon an array of daily factors ranging from international to local. After the war, my father took over the practice of an older Afro-American doctor in Benton Harbor, Mich., across the lake from Chicago. He had not grown up wealthy, so he was used to the travails of his multiethnic but predominantly Black and poor patients. Making house calls and delivering babies at all hours was his routine for about 25 years, until he and my mother moved to California, where he joined Kaiser Permanente, relieving him of the managerial ordeals of the family medical practitioner. An essay from The Herald-Palladium Time Capsule: Air Force space surgeon Col. Vance Marchbanks Jr. uses a globe to show Dr. Hackley Woodford the planned orbit of a Mercury capsule in September 1960. The photo was taken at Woodford's Benton Township house when the two graduates of the Howard University College of Medicine and their wives, also Howard alums, got together. Woodford launched his Benton Harbor family practice in 1942, served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and became the Memorial Hospital chief of staff in 1968. He left Benton Harbor in 1970 to join the Kaiser Permanante system in Pasadena, Calif. He died at age 90 in 2005 in San Diego. The Los Angeles Times obituary noted Woodford's fight to end the segregation of patients at Mercy Memorial in Benton Harbor. "I believed my Black patients must have the same treatment and courtesy as my White patients," he said in a essay cited in the obit. Politically, my father was a “Lincoln Republican” for most of his life, as were my grandfathers (my maternal grandmother died before I was born and my dad’s mother in 1949). But he was a staunch and effective foe of racism and discrimination and was the prime mover behind the scene in ending Jim Crow traditions in both hospitals of our Twin Cities, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. His patients admired and loved him, and he also enjoyed the respect of his colleagues, all of whom were White. He was voted as chief of staff for at least one term in Memorial Hospital in the then almost lily-white town of St. Joseph. And now, I’ll segue back to 1951 for some “Game On” moments. At the end each school year, the six elementary schools in our town of 18,000 or so held a field day at which two boys from each school competed in three track events. (Back in those days, it pains me to say–because we all thought it was “natural”–our school system provided virtually no athletic opportunities for girls — even in high school. They could play sports during recess, which perhaps two or three “tom boys” might do, and a select few could get some exercise as band majorettes and/or cheerleaders. Other than that, there was only “girl’s gym,” a class that required limited physical exertion by participants.) To select contestants for the boys’ field day, each school conducted its own trials. My father was quite surprised when I told him that I would represent our school in all three events: a 50-yard dash, the high jump and the broad jump. It was the grade-school equivalent of being a decathlete! I urged him to attend the event if he could, and he said he would try to make it but it would take place during his office hours. It had not occurred to me that the reason I had done so well in qualifying was that, at the instigation of the sort of parents who do this sort of thing, school officials had succumbed to complaints that too many “older” boys were dominating grade school sports. I don’t remember what the cutoff date was, but most of us sixth graders were 11 or barely 12 years old. Apparently, however, some of us were either 12 or even almost 13, thanks to their parents wisely holding some boys out of kindergarten till they were 6 and to the schools’ policy of ejecting kindergarten boys who behaved immaturely (which would have been my fate had I not had a twin sister, separation from whom my mother thought could be psychologically damaging to me). The upshot was, Jim Boone, Wrennie Davis, Richie Ellis, and perhaps as many more whose names I’ve forgotten, were disqualified. Any of them could easily have beaten me at any of the events. The day of the game broke bright and clear, as they used to write in the sports fiction for boys. We contestants thronged the high-school field and began the contests on the cinder track. We’d run on grass at the trials, but this was the real, scrunchy intimidating thing: cinders. If you fell on them, you knew you were doomed to some serious scrapes. As we toed the line, I can still remember Steve Palmert, whom I knew only as the younger brother of one of the older and highly accomplished piano students of our teacher, Alice Baran Hatch. I’d seen Steve in their family car when they dropped Mary Ann off. He was always quite big, even if he was a legitimate 11-year-old, and a fine athlete. “Look out for that colored kid,” Steve warned the other contestants, nodding toward me. My hometown is now about 88% Black with a population of almost 10,000. But back then, the population of 18,000 was well under 10 percent Black, and most Black families still lived outside the segregated city limits, and attended Bard elementary, which was outside the city limits and therefore not permitted to participate in the field day. Steve no doubt had encountered several speedy “colored kids” in the parks where kids of all kinds played. But I was not one of those kids. I didn’t fall on the track, praise the Lord, but I did seem to do a lot of skidding when the gun went off. At least I wasn’t last. Next came the high jump and broad jump. I didn’t do as well as I had in our trials, but even if I had, I wouldn’t have won a blue, red or white ribbon. I scanned the small crowd for my father and for my uncle, Windsor Whiteside, who was my dad’s lab man. Sometimes he sent Windsor to represent his office, as it were, when I played church basketball. But from the tactful way my father asked me how I’d done at dinner that evening, I’ve always suspected that one of them might have witnessed my performance from a hidden spot in the stands. My father placed very little import on jock achievements anyway. He was much more eager to hear me play Chopin well. Plus, he knew how modest my abilities were. A few years later, he saw me play on the ninth grade football team, when I had to tackle big Jon McCoy in a process that went on for almost 10 yards. And once he brought an old friend who’d been an outstanding college athlete and amateur boxing referee to see me play baseball. I got on base by being unable to get out of the way of a fastball that hit my hand so silently that I could prove I had earned a walk only by showing my knuckle, bashed in until this day. There must be some sort of Oedipal calculus that results in sons like me forming sharp serpent’s teeth in direct proportion to how generous, supportive and kind their fathers are. It’s similar to the socioeconomic process in which it takes an exploitive bourgeoisie that has amassed surplus wealth to form a proletarian underclass that seeks to overthrow it. In any event, through the years I got along very well with my father over the phone or by mail, but in his presence, I usually degenerated into unrestrainable argumentativeness. I even caused him considerable tsuris on his deathbed in 2005. He’d summoned me, my thee sisters, our spouses and various grandchildren to California, saying he knew from his “numbers,” that he’d die quite soon. He’d made such pronouncements several times before over his last decades, but this time I could tell he was being quite objective. A White male nurse offered my father his pills and capsules in bare hands, and Dad flared up and scolded him for not wearing gloves. “How can you present medication to a doctor with your bare hands?” he said sternly — and I knew he meant “a Black doctor.” But I was concerned that we family members might not always be around, and that a resentful nurse could become unhelpful or worse. So to ease the atmosphere I said to the nurse, “Oh, he’s always been something of a hypochondriac.” If looks could kill, my father’s glare would have done me in on the spot. I can still see his eyes. Less than 24 hours later, he was dead. But as the song says: “to me he was so wonderful . . I miss him to this day.” "Oh! My Papa" Oh, my Papa, to me he was so wonderful, Oh, my Papa, to me he was so good. No one could be so gentle and so lovable, Oh, my Papa, he always understood. Oh, my Papa, so funny, so adorable, Always the clown so funny in his way. Oh, my Papa, to me he was so wonderful, Deep in my heart I miss him so today. Gone are the days when he would take me on his knee And with a smile he'd change my tears to laughter! John Woodford lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he retired after two decades as the executive editor of Michigan Today, a University of Michigan alumni/ae publication. His career in journalism includes editing and/or reporting duties for Ebony magazine, Muhammad Speaks newspaper, the Chicago Sun-Times, the New Haven Register, the New York Times and Ford Motor company publications.

By Dr. Nancy Fishman / Morgan Hill, Calif. As Father’s Day approaches, I think about the importance dads have in their children’s lives. Frankly, there are volumes written about the relationships between fathers and sons, and fathers and daughters. But how often do we actually stop and think about the impact fathers have on their children’s self-image, feelings of security, and sense of belonging? Heinz Kohut (1913-1981), an Austrian-born psychoanalyst, developed the theory of self-psychology wherein he suggested that children grow along three lines of psychological development. Both mothers and fathers are influential in helping children achieve satisfaction along these lines. Kohut refers to the first line as “mirroring transference.” When parents look into the faces of their children with delight, the children internalize their parents’ approval. They also collect all their parents’ reflections and use these to create a self-image. If a father, for example, looks at his child with a broad smile as he urges the child to take first steps, the child will feel the father’s approval and be encouraged to succeed. The second line of development is referred to as the “idealizing transference.” Kohut posited that fathers are particularly responsible for providing a sense of security and protection, which children internalize as the foundation for their own sense of stability. He suggested that an infant differentiates between the nurturing embrace of their mother, and the feelings of security they experience in their father’s strong arms. Kohut’s third line of development is “twinship.” He wrote about the need for the same-sex parent to bring their child into the sorority of women, or the fraternity of men. Fathers who spend time with their sons give their sons a sense of belonging to a group outside the family. I treated a young man many years ago who described being awkward around groups of guys, feeling like he never really fit in. As I became acquainted with his background, I learned he was the only boy in the family, and his father was a traveling salesman. When his father returned home on the weekends, his dad was busy with chores around the house and preparations for the next week’s outing. Consequently, he spent almost no time with his son. My patient had no memory of going to a baseball game, camping, or participating in Scouts with his father. Simply, he never incorporated the feeling of belonging to the “men’s club.” Kohut’s work does not take into account the complexities of modern-day sexual fluency and sexual identity preferences. It is critical that both parents feel and demonstrate acceptance of their children, regardless of the children’s choices. A friend recently shared photos of her young daughter and son. Both were clad in dresses. She didn’t hesitate to tell me how much she and her husband love their children. Though her husband had once imagined parenting a boy, he was not prepared for a son who wanted to be considered a girl. This man has given his child the great gift of acceptance as he demonstrates his appreciation for the child’s life. Hats off to this father, and all fathers who take the time to see and celebrate the uniqueness in their children. As Father’s Day nears, I think about my own father. During the ‘50s and ‘60s, parents resorted to Dr. Spock for childhood remedies and parenting advice. My father and his brother ran a children’s summer camp in northern Michigan. His advice to the campers’ parents didn’t come from Dr. Spock, I can tell you that! He simply told the parents to let the kids be kids. My dad was the classic go-to-work father, who would return home reliably every day at 5:00 p.m. He grew up in a family of all brothers and hardly knew what to do with four daughters. But he inadvertently modeled some amazing lessons for my sisters and me. We watched him take coffee and the newspaper to our mother every morning as she lay in bed. We noticed how he valued and adored her, never raising his voice to her, or us. He lingered at the dinner table listening to us talk about our day. He wasn’t always patient, but we saw him try to be. He was very verbal about the importance of looking out for each other. He gave us a love for music, sports, Westerns and war movies. He encouraged us to bring friends home and treated them with kindness. My friend was having problems with her parents; he did not hesitate to have me clear out the guest room and invite her to move in. When our primarily White school district integrated with a totally Black school district, he encouraged me to have new friends over for dinner. I’ll never forget the first time we drove a new Black friend home to her very inferior housing project. My dad tried to console me, but didn’t sugarcoat the truth. He was a history major at the University of Michigan and loved to show off his knowledge to us, modeling the importance of education. He was not overly protective, but managed to ease his anxiety about having teenage daughters by installing a soda fountain in our basement and telling us to invite friends to our house (where he could keep an eye on us). When our mom died of cancer at the age of 47, Dad stepped up. He took us clothes shopping, bought our first very large cellular phones that came in a bag for emergencies, made sure we had warm winter coats, and bought caseloads of feminine hygiene products. He had faith in us. He encouraged us to be strong, independent, and ambitious. In 2013, at the end of his long life, he trusted us to make decisions for him. We watched him steadily decline with grace, a positive attitude, and appreciation for his daughters and caregivers. He was very far from perfect, but we were loved and adored. I’ve seen a different brand of father emerge since the days of my youth. Fathers are far more involved with their children, since parenting and other aspects of maintaining homes have become a partnership. I am so impressed with fathers who can lead with gentle authority while having fun with their children. I’ve seen the sparkle in children’s eyes when time with their father is filled with joy and laughter, as this is a child’s first experience of friendship. Several years ago, when my husband and I were still living in Michigan, my daughter and her family came to visit from California. We had walked to our favorite Italian restaurant in Birmingham and were comfortably seated when the waiter arrived at our table. Standing between three-year old Emma and her father, the waiter introduced himself. “Welcome! My name is Tony and I’m going to be your server tonight.” Without missing a beat, Emma turned to him and said, “Hi! My name is Emma. Meet my friend, Daddy.” Happy Fathers’ Day! I hope you enjoy your families, near or far, and are able to recall a special memory of your dad this week. This column is devoted to psychological topics that speak to the human condition, such as relationships, family, love, loss, and happiness. The ideas, thoughts, philosophies, and observations expressed here are personal and not meant as professional advice. Names and identifying information in anecdotes have been changed to protect the privacy of real people. Please contact me at editor@theinsider1.com if you have a particular issue you would like addressed. Let’s talk! Nancy Fishman, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, consultant, and author. Visit her website for an extended biography and more information: www.NancyFishmanPhD.com

By Steve Cash / Detroit Sunday is the day that some fathers finally get their due. I'm not bragging, but people have labeled me as a great dad for years. This is primarily for one reason: with my three children, I have never missed a sporting event, choir concert, school play, or parent-teacher conference. Evidently this qualifies me as the ideal father. For years, I have basked in the glory of that wonderful title. It's about time I let the truth be known. Although I love my kids as much as my life, my attendance at all these events is not totally selfless. Truth be told, I've been living vicariously through my kids for years. Sometimes that vicarious journey has caused embarrassing results. I offer you the following examples: Baseball banishment: I was a good ballplayer back in the day and a great fielder with a fairly good arm. Starting second baseman on the ninth grade team at Clinton Junior High School . So naturally, I groomed my oldest son Danny to play the same position. He matched my fielding ability but was a much better hitter than I was. I had a blast coaching him and watching him slam long drives that I was not capable of at his age. But truth be told, in an attempt to relive my lost youth and win at all costs, my behavior was sometimes ridiculously overly competitive and disturbingly erratic. When Danny was 14, I coached his Novi, Mich. travel team. On June 21, 1998 (yes, I remember the exact date), we were playing our arch rival, coached by my good friend Jeff Crawford. Although Crawford was my buddy and a soft-spoken gentleman, I had a burning desire to beat and humiliate him. His team had beaten mine five straight times, with several of the victories being embarrassingly one-sided. This day was different. We had a nine-run lead with a 10th run being a mercy. With a man on third and two outs, my cleanup hitter came to the plate, beat out a grounder to first and the 10th run scored–I thought. I screamed in victory. Finally, I had beaten my friendly foe. The problem was that the ump called the batter out. It was a bad call and I was angry, but with a 9-0 lead, I assumed we would win anyhow. I assumed wrong. Crawford’s team rallied and in a devastating 7th inning scored the winning run. I charged the ump who had cost us the game and delivered a vile tirade that would have embarrassed Andrew Dice Clay. But in my fury, I had not taken into consideration that the ump was 14 years old. The league commissioner was attending the game and used his authority to suspend me for the next game. I was ordered not to be on the grounds for the next encounter. Little did they know, No one was going to stop me from coaching my son, suspension or no suspension. The field for the next game was surrounded by woods. I parked my vehicle down the street and hid in the woods. I conveyed instructions to my assistant coach by cell phone. I had fooled everybody. That is until the Novi police saw me and wondered what I was doing standing in the woods watching young kids play baseball. They escorted me into the parking lot and I left in shame, but not before calling my assistant coach one more time to put on the steal sign for one of my players. Voter fraud: Long before voter fraud was an issue, I encountered this controversial concept. In 1999, my son Mikey ran for fifth grade class president at Parkview Elementary. He made posters and wrote a few speeches (which included the memorable slogan "Don’t take any trash–vote for Cash) to try and persuade his classmates to cast their votes for him. He was excited about the prospects of achieving such a lofty position. On the day of the election, he promised he would call me with the results. Being the crazy competitive nut I am, I stayed home from work that day planning Mikey’s victory celebration. At 2:00 p.m., the phone rang. In a low dejected whisper, my son informed me that he had lost. He also mentioned that the winner was being carried through the halls on the shoulders of some of his supporters. Then with sadness in his voice he told me the most disturbing news of all. My son had lost by a single vote. I was devastated. My competitive wheels started turning. I started to question the voting process. Maybe there was a miscount. Maybe it was fixed. Maybe the powers that be didn’t want someone of my son’s religion to reign as class president. In short, paranoia and illogical thoughts infiltrated my brain. No son of mine was going to lose by one vote without me getting all the facts. Over my son’s objections, I called the principal and I voiced my concerns about the legitimacy of the fifth grade election. I verbalized my suspicions regarding possible improprieties in the voting process. He seemed surprised by my call but promised to look into the matter. Although he seemed sincere, I couldn’t help thinking he probably hung up and had a big laugh with his staff. Regardless, no one was going to stop me from fighting for a victory that may rightly have been my son's. I called my son back, proud that I had courageously taken up his cause. He thanked me for my support, but after a slight pause, said “Dad, I have to tell you something. I did lose the election but I made up the part about losing by one vote. I just said that so you would be proud that I came close.“ I had gone to bat for my son on a lie. My competitiveness and desperate search for my lost youth had driven me to make irrational accusations and innuendos. I had intimated that the school board, one of our greatest local institutions, was involved in a possible elementary school rigged election. Although embarrassed and full of regret at my overreaction, 25 years later, I’m still considering demanding a recount. Patriarchal Payoff: 2001 was a great year for Novi High School wrestling. Novi came in third in the state and my oldest son Danny was the starter at 135 lbs. As the 2002 wrestling season began, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. My middle son Bobby (a middle school wrestling phenom) was entering high school and trying out for the team. To a dad like me whose shallow existence was only made worthwhile by the athletic achievements of my offspring, the prospect of having two starters on a potential state championship team was exhilarating. To make the team, Bobby had to "wrestle off," which means he had to beat another challenger in his weight class. His foe was a junior with experience so there was some question concerning my son's chances. Wrestle offs take place in the wrestling room and are supposed to be just for the coaches and athletes. I, of course, decided to buck that tradition. I got wind of the time and date of the match and snuck into the back of the room and watched from behind several of the other wrestlers. Since I was not supposed to be there, my plan was to remain anonymous and sneak out after the event. When my son quickly pinned his opponent, my plan went awry. I screamed out loud in joy as my son's victory earned him a spot on the team. My inappropriate reaction alerted the coach to my presence in the room, and I was quietly escorted to the exit. When the season finally commenced, I sat in the stands proud as a peacock. Sure, there were other parents who had sons on the team, but none of those peasants had two sterling athletes to root for. As the starting lineup was announced over the PA system, my pride and inflated ego could not be measured. Novi beat Livonia Franklin High School in the first meet and both my boys won. On the way home I recapped the victory in my head, and was filled with joy at the certainty of many glorious moments to follow. Unfortunately, my elation proved to be premature. As we arrived home, my son Bobby took me aside and hit me with a stunning announcement: " Dad, I don't want to wrestle.” Bobby said he didn't want to disappoint me, but the crowd made him nervous, and the anxiety he felt was too much for him. He asked me to please understand his position and not to put any pressure on him to continue. I was in a quandary. In an attempt to recapture my youth and feel like a winner, I desperately needed to vicariously live through my kids; on the other hand, I loved my kids and owed it to them to put away my feelings of inadequacy and look out for their best interest. I took all of this into consideration and did the only thing I could do to help my kid, but also to preserve my selfish desires. Being the person of character I am and ignoring my son's mental anguish, I attempted to bribe him. I offered Bobby a post-dated check for $5,000, to be paid at the end of the season, if he would continue wrestling. Five thousand dollars is a heck of a lot of money for a 16-year-old kid, and despite his concerns, he thought long and hard before rejecting my offer. Undaunted and still thinking solely of myself, I upped the offer to $7,000. My conflicted and confused son paused for a moment but eventually doubled down on his decision and held firm. I was destined to watch only one son wrestle for Novi that year. This story has become folklore in the Cash family, and we all share a big laugh whenever the story is repeated. Although I was disappointed, I do admire my son for sticking to his guns and being true to himself. As an aside, I did ask him years later if he regretted not accepting that large sum of money when it was offered. He replied that he never had one moment of regret, because based on my financial history, he was quite sure I would have stopped payment on the check at the conclusion of the season. Steve Cash is originally from Oak Park, Mich. He is a longtime real estate agent who used to do stand-up comedy in L.A. His claim to fame was winning The Gong Show in 1977, and working at the Comedy Store with such greats as David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Michael Keaton. After watching those brilliant comics perform, Steve realized he’d better make a beeline back to Detroit and get back into real estate. Steve has had articles published in a number of publications and enjoys writing and trying to make people laugh.

The Insider: Hi Don. Thanks so much for talking with The Insider from the road! Don Was: Thanks for inviting me, Andi! it’s been over 50 years since you ran my photo in Lilly’s Little Libels and about 33 since you interviewed David Weiss and me in Dallas for Time. I think we’re overdue. The Insider: I agree! As those of us who have been following your work know, you have had an astonishing career as a musician, record producer, and record executive. How in the world do you have time to be out on the road now? Don Was: My so-called “work” is also the thing I would do for fun, so there’s no difference between spare time and work time. Musicians play music–they don’t work music. Lifting heavy boxes is work and I’ve got a lot of respect for folks who are disciplined enough to do that regularly. The Insider: Which city are you in today? Don Was: Woke up in Knoxville, Tenn. Got a show tomorrow night. The Insider: Who are you playing with? Don Was: Right now, I’m on tour with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. I’ve made records with him for the last 10 years. I think he’s the finest songwriter of his generation–incredibly creative musician with a big vision. I also tour with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead for about three months every year and, each November, a bunch of us, including Jamey Johnson, Warren Haynes, Taj Mahal and Cyril Neville, go from town to town performing The Band’s Last Waltz Concert. The Insider: Should we imagine you folks on a classic rock tour bus? Don Was: You should! It’s a great way to travel–no airports, plenty of creature comforts. I dig pulling into a town at 5 a.m., dragging myself up to a room, pulling the blinds, sleeping till afternoon and then playing a show that brings joy and comfort into the lives of the audience members. The Insider: There are so many people you’ve met that I’d like to ask you about—Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and on and on. But let’s go back to basics today. Let’s talk about The Beatles. Were they a big influence on you as a musician as you were coming up? Don Was: It’s not hyperbolic to say that I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for The Beatles. There are an extraordinary number of musicians I know who were born in 1952 and we all have the same back story: We were 12 years old when we saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan’s show. They looked like they were having so much fun, the music was awesome and every girl in the audience was screaming. I wanted to do THAT! At 12, we were just dumb enough to think that it was actually possible. If we’d have been 16, we’d have thought it looked cool but was not a practical career choice. At 8, it wouldn’t have registered. From that moment on, there was never a Plan B. The Insider: Did you see them in person when you were growing up in Detroit? Don Was: That was a very contentious issue in my family. They played at Olympia Stadium in September, 1964–September 6th, to be exact. My buddies and I took a DSR bus from Northland to Olympia at 5 a.m. on a freezing February morning to get in line to buy advance tickets. In retrospect, Social Services should have taken me away from parents who’d allow a 12-year-old to do that. But the system let me down. When September rolled around, it turned out that the 6th was also Rosh Hashana and my mother felt that a Beatles concert was not an appropriate place to observe the holiday. I could’ve lived with that. However, I wouldn’t stop nagging her about it, so she proposed a compromise: she’d take me to see The New Christy Minstrels at the Michigan State Fair on the 6th, as that seemed like a holier show for the occasion. Subsequently, I’ve had a hard time accepting any religion that would choose the New Christy Minstrels over the Fab Four! I’m sure you can understand that. So I missed the Beatles. I think you and I saw John Lennon together at Chrysler Arena for the Free John Sinclair concert in 1971 and I saw Wings once. The Insider: Yes, that show knocked me out! It was amazing to see John Lennon and Yoko there. She had a horrifying voice, though! Screeching! Don Was: I love you despite your disdain for performance art. It was an incredible show: Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger with Teegarden and Van Winkle, Allen Ginsberg, Bobby Seale, Archie Shepp, The Up. I think Jerry Rubin was playing bongos with the Lennons! As your readers may recall, John Sinclair had been sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary for possession of two joints. The concert was staged to draw attention to his plight. The most incredible thing was that IT WORKED! In the wake of the global attention that the concert received, Gov. Milliken pardoned Sinclair and freed him first thing on the Monday after the show. That’s another lesson The Beatles taught us: music could be used as a galvanizing force to change the world. The Insider: Yes, that show was really a portent of rock ‘n’ roll’s later focus on politics. What I also remember strongly about those years is how we were influenced aesthetically too. Boys let their hair grow and imitated the way the Beatles dressed. Did you go through that stage, too? Don Was: I’m still in that stage! The Insider: [Laughs] I know that you went on to meet some of The Beatles in person. Who was the first one you met? Don Was: The first Beatle I met was George Harrison. It was a pivotal moment in my life as a record maker. David Weiss and I were producing a Bob Dylan album called Under the Red Sky in 1989. One day, Bob brought George to the studio to overdub a guitar on the title track. Before we started, George said to me; “Don’t let him do what he did to me last time. He only gave me one take and I hadn’t even learned the song yet!.” That was all that Bob needed to hear! He sat down in the engineer’s chair, put the tape machine into record and told George to play. George hadn’t even tuned up his guitar yet! He’d never heard the song. Didn’t know what key it was in. Bob was like an 11-year-old kid tormenting his 8-year-old brother, although it was done with great jocularity. After the take, Bob said “Thanks, man–that’s perfect!” George looked mortified and turned to me and asked, “What do YOU think, Don?” Then Bob, in the kind of sarcastic voice that only he can muster said, “Yeah–what do you think, Don?” Time froze for me in that moment. The voices in the room dissolved into an echo chamber. How could I tell George Harrison that his solo wasn’t good enough? Suddenly, I heard a voice in my head that said, “He’s not paying you to be a fan!” Boom–everything clicked. I said “That was really cool but let’s try another one and see if we beat it”. George was relieved and Bob thought it was very funny. But I learned a lesson that has served me well over the last 35 years. Diplomatic honesty is the best policy. The Insider: When you talk about diplomacy in your producing, that must be an ever-present issue. How do you tell people at the top of the music charts what to do? You must get some pushback! Don Was: I got some really good advice from legendary music mogul Jimmy Iovine about 40 years ago. He said, “Never produce an artist that you mind losing an argument to.” In other words, if you don’t respect an artist enough to lose an argument to them, you shouldn’t be working on their record. People push back all the time. I can’t make anyone sing something they don’t want to sing, but I can offer an opinion. That’s what they hire me to do. They can choose whether to accept that opinion or not. The Insider: Makes sense. Was that ever an issue when you produced Ringo Starr’s album Time Takes Time in 1996? Don Was: After the band broke up, all of The Beatles shied away from trying to inject that sound too literally into their solo work. I understand that urge but felt compelled to make the case that Ringo was an essential part of making that music and had the right to sound like himself without feeling self-conscious. People crave more of The Beatles’ music–who is better to do it than one of the original creators? I won that argument in 1996, but I don’t think I’d win it today. The Insider: What was Ringo like to work with? Don Was: He’s a lovely, sweet guy who knows that The Beatles were very important to people and does his best to put you at ease. No ego trips at all. Also, the notion that he is not a very good drummer is incredibly misguided and uninformed. I’ve played with him a lot over the years and his rhythmic feel and innovative approach to the role of drums in rock ‘n’ roll were essential and integral to that band. No Ringo, no Beatles. There is absolutely no doubt about that. The Insider: You’ve met Paul McCartney, too, right? Don Was: Yes, a number of times. Been to his house, played music with him. He’s incredibly warm and open. Totally aware of the importance of his music to our culture and very generous about treating the songs and the audience respectfully. The effect that music still has upon people our age is magically enigmatic. View the entire show (above) When we were doing dress rehearsals for the CBS special, The Night That Changed America, Paul came up onstage to soundcheck with his band. There were maybe 30 people in the theater, all of them working, mostly gaffers taping down wires, camera operators blocking their shots and the producers of the show. When Paul broke into the opening notes of “Hey Jude” and hit the first piano chord, every single person there stopped what they were doing and started crying: everyone, burly stage hands, jaded producers, me too. I’m getting choked up just telling you about this. “Hey Jude” meant something different to everybody in that room, but we all had attached a piece of our unique inner emotional lives to that song and hearing it played exactly as we remembered it with Paul singing just a few feet away triggered an emotional tsunami. Great art leaves room for millions of people–each with their own signature set of neuroses–to hang their inner life on it and, in the process, make some sense out of their feelings. We’re all co-writers in a way. Paul McCartney understands this and accepts the responsibilities that accompany his lofty perch in our world. As such, he’s a great and altruistic man. The Insider: Beautiful! It must have been so meaningful to win an Emmy for that production. Don Was: It was very surreal. I knew that I’d won the award because the songs were so good, not necessarily because I’d been the best musical director of the entire year. It meant a lot to get voicemail messages of congratulations from Paul and Ringo. The show was important. It was an opportunity to thank them in person for all they’d given me. I took the gig very seriously, especially as the bass player. I was able to get the Beatles multi-track tapes and isolate Paul’s bass. I sat in my bedroom learning the nuances of his parts like I did when I was 12. Then I did my own mixes of The Beatles tracks minus the bass and practiced playing along with them for many, many hours. He was sitting right in front of me at the show and it was essential to get it right. The most thrilling thing about the Emmys though, was having the award presented by Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen of Portlandia. I was star struck! The Insider: As an Upper West Sider, it’s my responsibility to ask my last question about John Lennon. I walk past the spot where he was shot in 1980 very often. What was his impact on you as a musician? Would you have liked to have met him? Don Was: John was a major force in my life. The way he fused music and social awareness set a tone that many of us have tried to emulate over the years. He also represented the raw and honest ethos of rock ‘n’ roll. Never slick, never pandering to fashion, constantly questioning conventional wisdom and trying to go places that nobody has gone before. I would’ve loved to have met him and played music with him but that wasn’t essential to learning from his example. One idiot with a gun stopped John Lennon the man but couldn’t kill what he stood for. Having gotten to know many of my heroes, the takeaway is that the music and the message transcends any individual. The Insider: Thanks so much, Don! It was a pleasure to spend time with you today. We look forward to your bestselling tell-all book! Don Was: Ha! We’ll see about that. But thank you. I enjoyed this! Music has always loomed large in the life of Don Was. Born in Detroit in 1952, he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as a musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as President of America’s venerated jazz label, Blue Note Records. For his work as a record producer, he has won six Grammy Awards – including Album of the Year in 1989 for Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time and Producer of the Year in 1994. In 1995 he produced and directed a documentary about the life of Brian Wilson, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, that won the San Francisco Film Festival’s Golden Gate Award. As a film composer, he won the 1994 British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Original Score in recognition of his work on the film Backbeat. He won the 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for his work on the CBS TV special The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. Records that he has produced have sold close to 100 million albums. READ MORE...

Jeffrey D. Sachs | June 5, 2023 | Common Dreams By recognizing that the question of NATO enlargement is at the center of this war, we understand why U.S. weaponry will not end this war. Only diplomatic efforts can do that. George Orwell wrote in 1984 that "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." Governments work relentlessly to distort public perceptions of the past. Regarding the Ukraine War, the Biden administration has repeatedly and falsely claimed that the Ukraine War started with an unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In fact, the war was provoked by the U.S. in ways that leading U.S. diplomats anticipated for decades in the lead-up to the war, meaning that the war could have been avoided and should now be stopped through negotiations. Recognizing that the war was provoked helps us to understand how to stop it. It doesn’t justify Russia’s invasion. A far better approach for Russia might have been to step up diplomacy with Europe and with the non-Western world to explain and oppose U.S. militarism and unilateralism. In fact, the relentless U.S. push to expand NATO is widely opposed throughout the world, so Russian diplomacy rather than war would likely have been effective. The Biden team uses the word “unprovoked” incessantly, most recently in Biden’s major speech on the first-year anniversary of the war, in a recent NATO statement, and in the most recent G7 statement. Mainstream media friendly to Biden simply parrot the White House. The New York Times is the lead culprit, describing the invasion as “unprovoked” no fewer than 26 times, in five editorials, 14 opinion columns by NYT writers, and seven guest op-eds! There were in fact two main U.S. provocations. The first was the U.S. intention to expand NATO to Ukraine and Georgia in order to surround Russia in the Black Sea region by NATO countries (Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia, in counterclockwise order). The second was the U.S. role in installing a Russophobic regime in Ukraine by the violent overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, in February 2014. The shooting war in Ukraine began with Yanukovych’s overthrow nine years ago, not in February 2022 as the U.S. government, NATO, and the G7 leaders would have us believe. Biden and his foreign policy team refuse to discuss these roots of the war. To recognize them would undermine the administration in three ways. First, it would expose the fact that the war could have been avoided, or stopped early, sparing Ukraine its current devastation and the U.S. more than $100 billion in outlays to date. Second, it would expose President Biden’s personal role in the war as a participant in the overthrow of Yanukovych, and before that as a staunch backer of the military-industrial complex and very early advocate of NATO enlargement. Third, it would push Biden to the negotiating table, undermining the administration’s continued push for NATO expansion. The archives show irrefutably that the U.S. and German governments repeatedly promised to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not move “one inch eastward” when the Soviet Union disbanded the Warsaw Pact military alliance. Nonetheless, U.S. planning for NATO expansion began early in the 1990s, well before Vladimir Putin was Russia’s president. In 1997, national security expert Zbigniew Brzezinski spelled out the NATO expansion timeline with remarkable precision. U.S. diplomats and Ukraine’s own leaders knew well that NATO enlargement could lead to war. The great US scholar-statesman George Kennan called NATO enlargement a “fateful error,” writing in the New York Times that, “Such a decision may be expected to inflame the nationalistic, anti-Western and militaristic tendencies in Russian opinion; to have an adverse effect on the development of Russian democracy; to restore the atmosphere of the cold war to East-West relations, and to impel Russian foreign policy in directions decidedly not to our liking.” President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Defense William Perry considered resigning in protest against NATO enlargement. In reminiscing about this crucial moment in the mid-1990s, Perry said the following in 2016: “Our first action that really set us off in a bad direction was when NATO started to expand, bringing in eastern European nations, some of them bordering Russia. At that time, we were working closely with Russia and they were beginning to get used to the idea that NATO could be a friend rather than an enemy ... but they were very uncomfortable about having NATO right up on their border and they made a strong appeal for us not to go ahead with that.” In 2008, then U.S. Ambassador to Russia, and now CIA Director, William Burns, sent a cable to Washington warning at length of grave risks of NATO enlargement: “Ukraine and Georgia's NATO aspirations not only touch a raw nerve in Russia, they engender serious concerns about the consequences for stability in the region. Not only does Russia perceive encirclement, and efforts to undermine Russia's influence in the region, but it also fears unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences which would seriously affect Russian security interests. Experts tell us that Russia is particularly worried that the strong divisions in Ukraine over NATO membership, with much of the ethnic-Russian community against membership, could lead to a major split, involving violence or at worst, civil war. In that eventuality, Russia would have to decide whether to intervene; a decision Russia does not want to have to face.” Ukraine’s leaders knew clearly that pressing for NATO enlargement to Ukraine would mean war. Former Zelensky advisor Oleksiy Arestovych declared in a 2019 interview “that our price for joining NATO is a big war with Russia.” During 2010-2013, Yanukovych pushed neutrality, in line with Ukrainian public opinion. The U.S. worked covertly to overthrow Yanukovych, as captured vividly in the tape of then U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt planning the post-Yanukovych government weeks before the violent overthrow of Yanukovych. Nuland makes clear on the call that she was coordinating closely with then Vice President Biden and his national security advisor Jake Sullivan, the same Biden-Nuland-Sullivan team now at the center of U.S. policy vis-à-vis Ukraine. After Yanukovych’s overthrow, the war broke out in the Donbas, while Russia claimed Crimea. The new Ukrainian government appealed for NATO membership, and the U.S. armed and helped restructure the Ukrainian army to make it interoperable with NATO. In 2021, NATO and the Biden Administration strongly recommitted to Ukraine’s future in NATO. In the immediate lead-up to Russia’s invasion, NATO enlargement was center stage. Putin’s draft US-Russia Treaty (December 17, 2021) called for a halt to NATO enlargement. Russia’s leaders put NATO enlargement as the cause of war in Russia’s National Security Council meeting on February 21, 2022. In his address to the nation that day, Putin declared NATO enlargement to be a central reason for the invasion. Historian Geoffrey Roberts recently wrote: “Could war have been prevented by a Russian-Western deal that halted NATO expansion and neutralised Ukraine in return for solid guarantees of Ukrainian independence and sovereignty? Quite possibly.” In March 2022, Russia and Ukraine reported progress towards a quick negotiated end to the war based on Ukraine’s neutrality. According to Naftali Bennett, former Prime Minister of Israel, who was a mediator, an agreement was close to being reached before the U.S., U.K., and France blocked it. While the Biden administration declares Russia’s invasion to be unprovoked, Russia pursued diplomatic options in 2021 to avoid war, while Biden rejected diplomacy, insisting that Russia had no say whatsoever on the question of NATO enlargement. And Russia pushed diplomacy in March 2022, while the Biden team again blocked a diplomatic end to the war. By recognizing that the question of NATO enlargement is at the center of this war, we understand why U.S. weaponry will not end this war. Russia will escalate as necessary to prevent NATO enlargement to Ukraine. The key to peace in Ukraine is through negotiations based on Ukraine’s neutrality and NATO non-enlargement. The Biden administration’s insistence on NATO enlargement to Ukraine has made Ukraine a victim of misconceived and unachievable U.S. military aspirations. It’s time for the provocations to stop, and for negotiations to restore peace to Ukraine. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of William Burns' 2008 cable warning about NATO enlargement. That error has been fixed. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/the-war-in-ukraine-was-provoked-and-why-that-matters-if-we-want-peace Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he directed The Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is also President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development. He has been advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Sachs is the author, most recently, of "A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism" (2020). Other books include: "Building the New American Economy: Smart, Fair, and Sustainable" (2017) and "The Age of Sustainable Development," (2015) with Ban Ki-moon.

By Judi Markowitz / Detroit I was an English teacher for 34 years. But given the political environment that now surrounds public schools, colleges, and universities, I would never elect to become an educator—way too much stress. I am frightened about the prospects of rapidly changing education. I wonder what schools will look like in the future if this current road we’re on isn’t shut down for repairs soon. I spent my mornings teaching at Berkley High School and in the afternoon, I taught at CASA (Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts). My colleagues and I formulated a curriculum that I believe was challenging and thought-provoking. Literature, essays, and debate-worthy topics were the main thoroughfares to navigate complex societal issues. Banned books were always on our reading lists, and the community didn’t interfere. But now, in many school districts across the U.S., parents and politicians are running the show and they often lack the teaching credentials to know what is in the best interest of the students. Today. topics such as issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community would be deemed too hot to handle in some districts, and students would not be given an opportunity to express their views. The ACLU recently reported, “There are close to 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have gone before state legislatures since the start of this year, an unprecedented number.” Dismantling DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in schools appears to be the newest trend. Most high schools offer diversity classes and clubs with such themes as LGTBQ+ that promote inclusion. Students have a need to belong, and hunger for a space in which to feel comfortable with their peers. Acceptance and understanding are fostered in these programs, and taking away these opportunities will have adverse consequences for students. In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning the state’s public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs. It’s obvious that a more conservative philosophy is being promoted. DeSantis declared, “This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.” Sadly, other states are following suit. Texas has been trying to overhaul its DEI programs as well. In Ottawa County, Mich., a newly elected conservative school board just abolished its DEI office and cleaned house. They fired its staff and shut down its website. The board had the temerity to take matters into their own hands without placing it on a public agenda ahead of its actions. These types of issues are popping up all around the country. Sometimes, I hardly recognize this country. Society seems to be going backwards. Irene Mulvey, president of The American Association of University Professors, told Nature Journal in March 2023, “When you see elected leaders demonizing educators and weaponizing education, it’s a five-alarm fire for democracy.” Mulvey went on to discuss targeted attacks on DEI programs. She stressed “It’s important to understand that when governors attack DEI efforts, they completely mischaracterize them to create a straw-man demon that they now have to do away with.” This strategy is gaining momentum and it’s a frightening prospect for education. Retailers have even caved to demands which stem from a small group of customers. The Detroit Free Press reported on May 25th, “Target is removing certain items from its stores and making changes to its LGTBQ+ merchandise ahead of Pride Month (June), after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.” When I was hired in 1991 to teach Debate and Forensics (not the science one, but public speaking), CASA was considered a premier school and students gravitated toward its exceptional programming. Through the years, CASA grew from a consortium of two school districts to seven. Students were either bused to the school or they drove themselves. Many thought the program wouldn’t survive but determination made it a lasting landmark. CASA was the brainchild of educators and administrators from two neighboring school districts – Oak Park and Berkley. The program offered a wide variety of classes that couldn’t be found in most schools. CASA ensured the best learning environment for its students. There was strong support from the community, not an abiding sense to control the books and classes offered. There were only a handful of teachers at the beginning. It started as a two-hour program each afternoon and eventually another hour was added. CASA was so ahead of its time that administrators, teachers, and directors made presentations at educational conferences in Michigan and other states. The variety of classes throughout the years was truly impressive. Having many Advanced Placement (AP) courses was an incentive for students to attend. World Religions, Literature of the ’60s, Physics, Art, Dance, Music History, and Food for Thought was just a small slice of the offerings. Students also met new friends from other districts. It was a wonderful environment that nurtured inquisitive minds. And a personal bonus–I was able to teach in the classroom next to my sister Gayle for 29 years. While I was teaching Debate back in the 1990s, the hot topics were the legalization of marijuana and gambling, gay rights and gay marriage, racism and rap music lyrics. When preparing to debate the national resolution each semester, students would practice their skills with these thought-provoking subjects. As time marched on some of these debate topics were no longer needed as society grew more accepting and laws changed. The books read at CASA were thought provoking and never considered harmful to its student population. Banning books isn’t a 21st century phenomenon. There have been banned book lists for centuries. Just because a book is on these lists doesn’t mean it’s not a proper instructional piece for high school students. Books such as The Color Purple, The Bluest Eye, The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fences, Animal Farm, Maus, and Slaughterhouse-Five are a few of the distinguished books that have come under attack as of late. They have been pulled from libraries and eliminated from high school curricula. Students attending CASA and Berkley High School have routinely read most of these books. If a student feels uncomfortable with a particular novel, they are accommodated. This is a rarity, but nonetheless it occurs, and provisions are made. Many of these controversial books address issues such as sexual abuse, drug use, suicide, racism, death, rape, trauma, and violence, and many contain profane language. Do parents and legislators think that high school students haven’t been exposed to these topics? Are they afraid that reality-based scenarios aren’t in their children’s best interest, or do they just want to erase the terrible truth about what some people have experienced in their lives? Listening to the news, reading a magazine or newspaper will drive these subjects home as well. Are they next for the chopping block? Reflecting on my years at CASA, students were surrounded with forward-thinking instructors. Now, public schools are being threatened by the abrupt changes that are sweeping this country stemming from conservative ideology. School districts are being challenged about their curricula, books, and the diversity programs they endorse for their student population. I became an educator because I had a desire to open minds, connect with students and promote free thought — not to discourage it. CASA was created to uplift education. This progressive program is now celebrating its 40-year anniversary. It’s a true reflection of parents, teachers and administrators who want a robust future for their students. CASA should be a model in these troubled times. On occasion, I feel like a character in a novel viewing the destruction of society. Burning books, not being allowed to discuss certain subjects, and fear of repercussions if caught reading are issues discussed in Fahrenheit 451 by author Ray Bradbury. This book is about censorship— banning books, ignorance and conformity. Fahrenheit 451 has been a topic of controversy for 70 years. And increasingly, you can find it on the banned book list. I’m not ready for another 70 years of intellectual suppression in the classroom. Judi Markowitz is a retired high school English teacher of 34 years. She primarily taught 12th grade and had the pleasure of her three sons gracing her classes. In addition, she taught debate, forensics, and Detroit film. Judi has four adult children and seven wonderful grandchildren. She is married to Jeffrey Markowitz, whom she met in high school. Judi grew up in Oak Park, Mich. which had a stellar school district, with excellent teachers. The city provided activities for all–and there were even sidewalks. Judi moved to Huntington Woods as an adult, which is a half mile from her childhood home. She wanted the same experience for her children as she had growing up, and Huntington Woods provided that. The View from Four Foot Two is Judi’s first book.