"It began with a father, and a Special Comment"

[sabrina 1]

A beautifully written diary that brought tears to my eyes.



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1/22/938025/-It-began-with-a-father,-and-a-Special-Comment

I write this, my first and only diary through tears. The announcement of Keith Olbermann's departure from MSNBC has left me stunned and emotionally wounded. However, my tears are not for Mr. Olbermann himself, though I'm not pleased with his departure. My tears are for what he stood for to me. They are for the context that the events of my life have assigned to him and his show.

.......

My father would watch Countdown while I sat at the computer and pretended to be wizards and starship captains on the internet. I only heard snippets... and sometimes I would watch a little with him. I was primed, but still not completely interested... I was mad about Iraq and Afghanistan, but the anger had no voice. It was a quiet little mouse in the back of my consciousness, afraid that it was alone and too small to be worth notice.

Then I heard that special comment. The first one that really mattered. You know the one. It was in response to Donald Rumsfeld, and quoted Churchill with clear and pure intent. It evoked a history of which I was aware, but only half understood. It transformed a mouse into a lion, and gave wings to my political soul.

The house was quiet when Kieth delivered that most special of special comments. My father was sitting in his favorite chair, and even my mother had come in to listen. I heard Olbermann's words, and from that point on, I became a true Democrat and a liberal. I understood the stakes for the first time, and I was damn proud of the revelation.

The author goes on to say that his father passed away in 2009 followed by the death of his mother one month later.

But watching Countdown with Kieth Olbermann wasn't just a routine, not in the conventional sense. It had a special, wonderful context born of experience and history. When I watched that show, I could feel dad's dissaproval at the travesty of the week, and see mom shake her head or laugh when it was time for the Oddball segment. Every word and every moment was like that of time spent with a friend. For one hour every weeknight I was back home... a place that no longer exists anywhere but in my mind.

It really is worth reading the entire diary.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thank you for posting this...

Recommended.

[sabrina 1]

2. Thank you ~ I just found this and am not sure if it means anything

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=104802079594928&id=172337827656

Keith Olbermann I am sure I will be back on the air very soon, but as I am sure you all have heard by now tonight was my last "Countdown" show.

And I assure you, this is not a joke.

From everything else I've read so far, I thought he could not have another show for a while.

Maybe he'll do what Oprah did, start his own network ~

[Duppers]

3. perhaps Oprah would/could hire him?

never thought of that before. He's be a draw to her lackluster string of shows.

[sabrina 1]

5. I didn't even know she had started her shows yet.

Not that I ever had time to watch her other show, but at least I would hear about it sometimes.

I suppose her audience will follow her but if her shows are 'lackluster' as you say, they won't stay long. The public is notoriously fickle :-)

Keith could add some 'luster' I would think. He's amusing and charming and literate and definitely elevates the conversation. And he's 'controversial' we are told.

Sounds good to me ~ :-)

[Duppers]

9. Oprah's OWN network has begun

Oprah's good friend, Gayle King, has her own show. It is the only one that I've tried to watch, twice, but I just can't bear it. Another DUer posted about Gayle King the other day too. I had never heard or watch Gayle before and was so disappointed in her degree of knowledge and intellect. She comes across as if she should be a member of one of those "Housewives" shows--I cannot bear those either. But she's Oprah's b.f.! Golly, I'm more discriminating in choices of friends. Sorry.

And she has Dr. Phil.:( But I do love Dr. Oz. So, it is a mixed bag.

On second thought, I think Keith's appearance on that network would be the proverbial 'casting pearls before swine.' And it not because I dislike Oprah, not at all, but I'm thoroughly disappointed in most of what she's offering on OWN.

Ck. out the lineup: http://www.oprah.com/own/tv-schedule/index.html?date=2011-01-23

[sabrina 1]

12. Thanks, I wondered where you could find her new channel.

I just found out from your link. I agree with you, it doesn't seem very interesting at all. I never liked Dr. Phil. He's too authoritarian for me.

I never heard of her friend, Gayle King but from what you say, maybe it's not a good idea to give a show to someone just because they're your best friend.

Maybe it'll get better with time. I might check out the interviews she is doing depending on who she has on. So far, it's not very interesting, however she has a lot of contacts so that has potential.

Looking at the line-up I agree with you. So far it looks kind of bland. Too much focus on personal problems which I got bored with a long time ago.

Thanks for the link. I did not know she had already begun. Surprised there wasn't more fanfare about it considering how high-profile she is.

It doesn't look like she is interested in doing the kind of show Keith does, although that could change since she has so much time to fill and might realize she needs more than the Dr. Phil and gossipy type shows to attract a large audience.

[pacalo]

13. I have OWN on my cable, too, & I agree with you about the lackluster line-up.

It's brand new, so I'm thinking it'll improve later.

[sabrina 1]

18. She's interviewing Simon Cowell tonight ~

Might check that out ~

Re the comment from Keith about being 'back on the air soon', I do think that is from him. I was just suprised it didn't get more attention, but I hope it's true.

[pacalo]

11. That's great, Sabrina, if it's true! It sounds like him.

[djp2]

17. Fairness Doctirne, Fairness DOCTRINE, FAIRNESS DOCTRINE!

It time it is reinstated. What better example of its need!

[Duppers]

4. there's some thing in my throat ...

a lump.

Beautiful. Moving.

Thanks for posting, sabrina 1.

[sabrina 1]

7. You're welcome, Duppers ~

I know there are more important issues in the world right now, but for whatever the reasons, and I guess we'll never know, for ending the show, the loss of another progressive voice when there are so few to begin with, is a profound loss. And the author's own personal connections to it were expressed very eloquently. Empathy being a lost emotion for the most part, while we focus on the bigger issues, sometimes we lose track of the ordinary human emotions without which the heartlessness of our system would be completely intolerable. I think the writer reminded us of that.

[Poboy]

6. recommend

[sabrina 1]

8. Too late to include this in the OP

But I believe this is Keith's Special Comment that the author referred to in the diary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j68vPIQ5Rmw&NR=1

It really was one of Keith's best Special Comments.

[pacalo]

10. Beautifully written! No one could as expertly weave words together as Keith

&, like the diarist, Keith left an imprint on my home, too. For 8 years my husband & I watched Keith together. My husband, who had been a fan of Keith's from his ESPN days, never enjoyed talking about politics. But when Keith went to MSNBC, it wasn't difficult for me to insist on watching "Countdown" while eating our evening meal. My husband gradually understood, through Keith, why I was so concerned about what is going on in this country & the world.

I couldn't put a price on what Keith has done for me in that respect. The women on DU whose husbands are apolitical & stubborn about it know how difficult it is to enlighten them when we so desperately want to share our angst with them. I thank Keith for getting through to my husband.

[sabrina 1]

14. Yes, exactly. He is so good with words, can't think of anyone

better ~ I was impressed with the way diarist expressed him/herself also, s/he wrote from the heart.

Interesting about your husband ~ I know what you mean about getting some guys interested in what is going on. Keith being into sports was probably familiar to a lot of people, especially men, before he got into the political arena.

I didn't even know about his sports history, although I could tell he was into sports in a big way when he was on during the Clinton years. He was a voice in the wilderness then also and I was devastated when he quit as there were so few with his ability to speak out against what was going on and get away with it.

I am glad he got your hubby interested. I'm sorry you won't be able to watch him together anymore :cry:

[calimary]

22. My husband and I made a routine of watching Keith and then also Rachel - every evening.

We'd tape it and he then would edit the commercials out.

I feel pretty damn empty knowing that routine is now permanently disrupted.

Keith spoke for me as well. He put into words what I was feeling so ardently, myself, but had no one else voicing for me. I'm not on the radio anymore and even when I was it was to do news. So I can't hear my feelings shared, given more shape and refinement, and reflected back at me, unless there are other voices who share my views, that are on the air with it.

Maybe we're like whales. Sending out radar in the big wide ocean, looking for others like ourselves. Now there's one less source of signal reflection out there. And that is not a good thing.

[snappyturtle]

15. Poignant 'poetry' in my book. Thank you for posting this diary. K&R nt

[Enthusiast]

16. K&R! Thank you! nt

[Dirigo]

19. Nameless Tombstone For Freedom & Liberty Is All Progressives Have Left

Tombstone...Voice Of Liberty, Freedom of Speech, Progressive Politics Slandered & Killed By MSNBC JANUARY 2011

Declared a non-person Keith Olbermann expunged from airways throughout the nation by a junta inside MSNBC

[blackspade]

20. Kick!

[Kalyke]

21. Thanks for posting this, but I don't dare read it now.

I'm on a lunch break at work, but, still at my desk and don't want to break down crying.

:cry:

I already miss Keith. It's like one of my closest friends died or moved and I wouldn't be able to talk to them every day.

[orleans]

23. i posted this the other day about watching the show with my mom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=245721&mesg_id=248080

... as you quoted:
"a place that no longer exists anywhere but in my mind."
so damn true. sadly.