A penetrating personal account of the brutalities of 20th century Chinese communism

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang is a family history and autobiography of three generations of a Chinese family, spanning most of the 20th century in China. Published in 1991, the 650-page tome hadn’t come to my attention until recently. I delved in and found it fascinating. Released just after the collapse …

Continue reading A penetrating personal account of the brutalities of 20th century Chinese communism

Respect and Remember: A journalist’s commitment to those who serve

Years ago, when Martha Raddatz was Martha Bradlee, we were colleagues at WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston — she in the newsroom chasing stories, I in the editorial department, commenting on the news from a safe distance. Millions now know her as chief global affairs correspondent for ABC News: the intrepid reporter embedded in the …

Continue reading Respect and Remember: A journalist’s commitment to those who serve

Snarky versus Markey

Bay State Democrats have arranged themselves in a circular firing squad, leaving voters to choose between a senator who is old (80) but effective, or a congressman who is younger (47)– and gratuitously snide. Monday night's televised debate between incumbent Senator Ed Markey and 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton was a contentious, unpleasant exchange that …

Continue reading Snarky versus Markey