Saturday, November 20, 2010

Why I STILL Read The New York Times


Every once in a while I question my sanity regarding hoarding when it comes to The New York Times. I've literally got piles and piles of papers all over the place, and this after I cut back delivery to Sundays only. Of course, I still buy Thursday's paper since it's got the Home and the Style section (I couldn't cut a deal to get Thursday's and Sunday's). I actually have a pet phrase, "you can live your life, or you can read The Times." Well, clearly I've chosen to throw my lot in with reading the Times, which when I get to it, is often eye-opening. Because just when I'm about to give up, pack it in, cancel my subscription and get on with my life, along comes an article about someone I went to high school with, Daisy Khan, the woman who is leading the movement to build a mosque near Ground Zero. Granted, I never knew this woman, as she graduated a year ahead of me (though her name rang a very vague bell), nor am I heavily invested in her somewhat controversial cause, but not only was there an article about her in which she discussed her high school experiences, but there was also a picture of her alongside my all-time favorite high school teacher and all-around cool cat, Ira Greene, who left teaching long ago to become a Brooklyn lawyer. Apparently he did some legal work, which helped her citizenship process, and also gave her a distinguished alumni award last year. Now I ask you, am I a better, more enlightened person for having read this article? Is my life one whit different for having read this article? Probably not. Nevertheless, isn't it nice sometimes to be reminded of someone from our past who is still alive and kicking ass? Mr. Greene, I salute you and The Times!