The Columnist by David Auburn

This past week has been Chicago Theater Week. I have gotten to a few events and have been reminded that I am able to both find the time and the resources to see more theater than I do. As part of this new passion for seeing theater; I went to see The Columnist by David Auburn at the American Blues Theater. It was an amazing production and I got to go with a friend who challenged me to explain the time frame of the play.

As I later wrote:

The Columnist by David Auburn

(Author of the Play Proof)

And I’m Trying to explain Vietnam To a friend

And I’m Trying to explain the Cold War To a friend

And I’m Trying to explain the 60’s To a friend

I should be more articulate

Courses in this have been taken by me

But how do you explain Why Vietnam

But how do you explain Why Anti-Communist

But how do you explain Why we walked chin deep into a mucky, mucky mess

Where is the fine line between

A world of back room gentlemen (and gentlewomen) agreements

A world where every single personal detail is run through the Mud

The press is fundamental

The press is amazing

The press is important

There are details that matter

There are details which are simply used to cut and bleed

Where is the fine line between

What do we do when there are Multiple truths

We are winning, We are losing, 

We are both at the same time

What is truth?

Why is the role of the press?

What does it mean to be an American?

What do you do when you are picked up by the tornado

And everything is changing?

My heart goes out to those who face the changes with fear and hate

But this world is changing

We are reviving the 60’s

Everything is changing

I did not live in the 60's or 70's but I see parallels to today. The past decade or so has been full of positive social upheavals in this country. And the population is falling into Us vs Them camps. The walls have fallen down: 

Camp A: Let's color completely outside the lines and make beautiful art.

Camp B: Let's rebuild the walls and paint them in neutral tones and believe with all our hearts the walls never feel down in the first place

But it has always been easier to find a monster under the bed to blame for our failures and problems. It is easier to focus on the ever-changing "Other" than to do the much-needed self-reflection. 

So the people march in the streets, so the students stand up for something greater themselves, so the press tells the story. It has never been the people vs the government vs the press. It never will be that simple. Celebrate the press. Celebrate the arts. Think and ponder and dream.