The Plight Of Men Like Mort
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Filed in: People
Mort Zuckerman is a smart man. The world needs smart
men. Mort Zuckerman is too smart to do much more than
care about the world and comment on the problems we
face.
If you've read U.S. News and World Report, or the New York Daily News, then you may know something of Mortimer B. Zuckerman. He's editor-in-chief of the magazine, and chairman and co-publisher of the newspaper.
My history and contact with Zuckerman is about the same as most who know who he is but have never met him. I've watched him on television a few dozen times and was impressed with his ability to articulate a current events situation, regardless of the topic.
Zuckerman also editorializes in his magazine, U.S. News and World Report. Again, he's articulate, clever, insightful, pragmatic, and writes the way he speaks. That means he's easily understood by the average reader or viewer.
Therein lies the problem of men like Mort. They know better than to enter the fray of politics, know enough to stay out of the trenches of dirt and slim in public service. Yet, men like Mort provide a service of their own. A voice. A voice that demands to be listened to because of clarity of thought. His is a voice with an audience that numbers in the millions.
And yet, the voice is remarkably silent. Silently unengaged in action, uninvolved in the day-to-day ebb and flow of those who want for power. He views. He comments. He has the perfect job. It pays well.
It has been said that, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Adjusting for the 21st century, perhaps I could provide an addendum. "Those who can't teach, comment."
In many respects I long to be able to write like Mort, perhaps even think like Mort. He's a smart man, a wealthy man, a man of influence and prestige. Alas, I am not.
If I cannot do, and I cannot teach, then perhaps I can, for a few brief moments, comment on what I see in the world, and feel the plight of men like Mort.
If you've read U.S. News and World Report, or the New York Daily News, then you may know something of Mortimer B. Zuckerman. He's editor-in-chief of the magazine, and chairman and co-publisher of the newspaper.
My history and contact with Zuckerman is about the same as most who know who he is but have never met him. I've watched him on television a few dozen times and was impressed with his ability to articulate a current events situation, regardless of the topic.
Zuckerman also editorializes in his magazine, U.S. News and World Report. Again, he's articulate, clever, insightful, pragmatic, and writes the way he speaks. That means he's easily understood by the average reader or viewer.
Therein lies the problem of men like Mort. They know better than to enter the fray of politics, know enough to stay out of the trenches of dirt and slim in public service. Yet, men like Mort provide a service of their own. A voice. A voice that demands to be listened to because of clarity of thought. His is a voice with an audience that numbers in the millions.
And yet, the voice is remarkably silent. Silently unengaged in action, uninvolved in the day-to-day ebb and flow of those who want for power. He views. He comments. He has the perfect job. It pays well.
It has been said that, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Adjusting for the 21st century, perhaps I could provide an addendum. "Those who can't teach, comment."
In many respects I long to be able to write like Mort, perhaps even think like Mort. He's a smart man, a wealthy man, a man of influence and prestige. Alas, I am not.
If I cannot do, and I cannot teach, then perhaps I can, for a few brief moments, comment on what I see in the world, and feel the plight of men like Mort.
