There’s a lot to be said for being an elder storyteller like Bob Schieffer. He has lived long and is a fine looking, observant and stalwart soul who is ‘bright on his feet’ and long in comparable memories.
Tonight, commenting on Mayor Julían Castro’s energetic and high key but gritty speech at the Democratic Convention opener, Mr. Schieffer opined that Castro knew how to give a speech like the old statesmen used to give. You could see the pleasure in Schieffer’s eyes, the surprise, the admiration that such a young man (Harvard Grad, twin son of a single mother who struggled mightily to rear and educate her sons) had the stones.
Castro is a Latino ‘man of letters,’ a great orator, a clear intellect, holds his adversaries with respect, has humor, has a fine sword arm… and has street creds for how he put in place equal opportunity and education in one of the largest cities in the southwest.
Likely Bob Scheiffer wasnt the only one to recognize greatness and statesmanship flowering boldly. I imagine there were many, perhaps like me, standing in front of tv in my apron, as we say back to home, ‘with a spatula in one pocket and a pistola in the other’… just drinking in the words of this newcomer Castro who was proclaiming for parity and opportunity for all…
It has been a long time since we’ve seen a statesman. Since we heard the tough and tender words that mean something to us rather than abstract ‘what I’m gonna do if elected,’ or as in Orwell’s 1984, a group rally for ‘2 minutes of hate.’
Bob called it first, called it right. Thanks Mr. Schieffer. Mayor Castro wasnt the only gifted statesman on TV tonight. There was another. It was you. I’ve watched and admired your patience and even-hand and sharp questioning of persons from across the spectrum. It’s old school, a mix of respect and intelligent inquiry and sometimes needed fierceness and fire.
Wither thou goest in your observations Mr. Schieffer, many are following. And learning from your demeanor, your regard and how you navigate your inquiries without nattering or name-calling. Just getting down to business to tell the real story — stories that expand the psyche rather than narrowing the psyche as so many seem to seek to do- leaving us disheartened rather than discerning– as most of us long to be: curious, capable of inquiry, evaluating, and thereby conscious instead of baffled or brain-sotted.
Would that we all could study with you. As a Latina, we say to those we admire: Continuan. Siempre. Continue, keep on, always.