11.28.24 The Israel/Hezbollah cease-fire, civil political discussions, and qualities of timeless music

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It Episode: November 28, 2024 – The Israel/Hezbollah Cease-fire, Civil Political Discussions, and Qualities of Timeless Music
Host: Mary Reichard and Myrna Brown
Producer: WORLD Radio

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1. Introduction and Opening Remarks

The episode opens with Mary Reichard wishing listeners a happy Thanksgiving and introducing the main topics for the day. Myrna Brown highlights discussions on the recent Israel/Hezbollah cease-fire, navigating political conversations at the dinner table, and an exploration of timeless music from the Great American Songbook.

Notable Quote:

• Mary Reichard [00:06]: “This week's ceasefire agreement means people displaced by war in Lebanon and northern Israel could return home. But uncertainty still exists.”

2. Current Affairs: Israel/Hezbollah Cease-fire

Overview: The episode delves into the recent 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Mary Reichard reports on the initial impacts, including the return of displaced individuals to their homes in Lebanon and northern Israel. However, skepticism remains regarding the durability of this truces.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Terms: Both parties agreed to hold fire for 60 days, with Hezbollah disarming and relocating away from the Israeli border while Israel withdraws its ground forces from Lebanon.
• Skepticism: NATO Secretary-General Mark Ruda expresses cautious optimism, emphasizing the persistent presence of Hezbollah and Iranian support.
• Security Concerns: Israel remains vigilant, with spokesman David Mentzer warning of a forceful response to any ceasefire violations.

Notable Quotes:

• Cal Thomas [02:03]: “It’s not clear that this agreement will enable Israelis to feel safe enough to go back to their homes.”
• David Mentzer [02:36]: “We will respond forcefully to any violation with the US's full understanding.”

Expert Insights:

• Shuki Friedman: Director General of the Jewish People Policy Institute in Israel, discusses the challenges of completely dismantling Hezbollah and the broader geopolitical implications involving Iran.

Impact on Ukraine: Kent Covington briefly touches on the situation in Ukraine, noting Russian advancements and the strategic necessity for Ukraine to bolster its military strength to negotiate favorable terms.

3. Domestic Issues: Political Threats to Trump Administration

Overview: Kent Covington reports on the FBI's investigation into violent threats, including bomb and swatting attacks, targeting members of the incoming Trump administration and Republican lawmakers.

Key Points:

• Targets: Nearly a dozen individuals, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Trump's nominee for UN ambassador.
• Nature of Threats: Domestic terrorism is suspected, though foreign involvement hasn't been ruled out.
• Responses: Lawmaker Claudia Tenney emphasizes the need to stand up against these threats, highlighting the gravity of domestic terrorism.

Notable Quotes:

• Cal Thomas [02:00]: “Intimidated by these people.”
• Tom Homan [02:00]: “I’m not going to be intimidated by these people.”
• Congressman Lee Zeldin [02:24]: “A pipe bomb threat was targeting me and my family at my home and was sent with a pro-Palestinian themed message.”

4. Corporate Shifts: Retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Overview: Kristin Flavin reports on major corporations, including Ford, Toyota, Lowe's, and Walmart, retracting their DEI initiatives amid legal challenges and public criticism.

Key Points:

• Criticism of DEI: Accusations that DEI policies are discriminatory, favoring certain groups based on race or identity.
• Walmart's Stance: Reviewing grants to LGBT groups to prevent funding of "inappropriate messages aimed at kids."

Notable Quotes:

• Kristin Flavin [04:32]: “Critics say such policies are blatantly discriminatory as they favor certain groups or employees based on race or identity.”

5. Social Legislation: Ohio's New Privacy Law for Women's Restrooms

Overview: Kent Covington discusses Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's new law mandating that restroom and locker room assignments in schools be based on biological sex rather than gender identity.

Key Points:

• Law Details:
  • Male students must use men's restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa for female students.
  • Prohibits multi-gender facilities but allows single-occupancy or family restrooms.
• Implications: Aimed at protecting women's privacy, sparking debates on gender identity and safety in schools.

Notable Quotes:

• Kent Covington [05:08]: “The law also prohibits schools from having multi-gender locker rooms and restrooms.”

6. Rebuilding and Human Resilience: Stories from Lebanon and Israel

Overview: Mary Reichard and Kristin Flavin report on the aftermath of the conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel. Families are returning to assess the damage and rebuild their lives amid lingering fears of renewed violence.

Key Points:

• Personal Stories:
  • Bashir Ayub [07:20]: Oxfam country director in Beirut, describes the devastation and the emotional toll of potential future conflicts.
  • Community Efforts: Efforts to rebuild infrastructure and support displaced individuals are underway, but challenges persist.

Notable Quotes:

• Bashir Ayub [07:10]: “It was probably the most difficult one.”
• Cal Thomas [10:24]: “It's not clear that conditions agreement will enable Israelis to feel safe enough to go back to their homes.”

Emotional Impact: The segment underscores the prolonged trauma and the uncertain future for residents, emphasizing the need for sustained peace and support.

7. Bridging Political Divides: Red Blue Workshops in Philadelphia

Overview: Myrna Brown and Hunter Baker explore initiatives aimed at depolarizing American politics. The Southeast Pennsylvania Alliance of Braver Angels hosts Red Blue workshops where conservatives and liberals engage in moderated, civil conversations.

Key Points:

• Workshop Structure: Participants identify and deconstruct stereotypes, discuss misconceptions, and find common ground through guided exercises.
• Personal Stories:
  • Jerry Blakesley and Daughter Heather: A father-daughter duo who overcame political estrangement through participation in the workshops.
• Goals: Foster understanding, reduce echo chambers, and promote respectful discourse despite political differences.

Notable Quotes:

• Hunter Baker [12:16]: “The vision is to engage in accurate disagreement.”
• Bob Cates [13:37]: “If you're really practicing virtue, then what you can do is state the other person's position in terms that they themselves would accept.”
• Jerry Blakesley [17:07]: “You realize that the relationship and father-daughter relationship is much more important than any politics.”

Success Stories: Participants report meaningful connections and a greater willingness to listen and respect differing viewpoints, highlighting the potential for such workshops to mend personal and societal rifts.

8. Heartwarming Human Interest: A Thanksgiving Mix-Up

Overview: A touching story shared by Kristin Flavin recounts how Wanda Dench accidentally invited a teenage boy, Jamal Hinton, to her Thanksgiving dinner, mistaking him for her grandson.

Key Points:

• The Incident: Wanda sent a text to Jamal intending to invite her grandson. Jamal, though initially confused, accepted the invitation.
• Outcome: This unexpected encounter blossomed into an enduring Thanksgiving tradition, despite Wanda's battle with cancer.
• Message: Emphasizes the importance of family, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways communities can come together.

Notable Quotes:

• Wanda Dench [19:40]: “Grannies feed people.”
• Jamal Hinton [20:12]: “We still have more life to live, and if we catch things early, maybe everything will turn out good.”

Impact: The story went viral, showcasing the power of kindness and the unifying spirit of Thanksgiving.

9. The Great American Songbook: Celebrating Timeless Music

Overview: Bob Cates presents a segment dedicated to the Great American Songbook, highlighting its enduring legacy and cultural significance.

Key Points:

• Definition: A collection of popular music from 1910 to 1960, featuring sophisticated lyrics and melodies.
• Cultural Impact: Songs from this era are embedded in American life, heard in various settings from musicals to daily routines.
• Artists Highlighted: Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, and Billie Holiday, among others.
• Enduring Relevance: The music continues to resonate due to its universal themes of love, hope, and human experience.

Notable Quotes:

• Bob Cates [21:42]: “The combination of lyrics and music is artistically significant and satisfying because it is fascinating, provocative and always relevant.”
• Cal Thomas [23:12]: “Blue skies smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see.”

Conclusion: Cates emphasizes the American Songbook’s role in shaping cultural identity and fostering a shared national heritage through its memorable and meaningful compositions.

10. Thanksgiving Reflections and Spiritual Roots

Overview: Cal Thomas leads a reflection on the spiritual significance of Thanksgiving, urging listeners to return to its roots of gratitude towards God amidst contemporary societal divisions.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Traces the evolution of Thanksgiving from Abraham Lincoln's proclamation to its modern-day celebration intertwined with consumerism.
• Spiritual Message: Encourages humility, forgiveness, and focusing on what unites rather than divides, especially after divisive political campaigns.
• Cultural Commentary: Highlights the shift from religious gratitude to secular consumption, advocating for a return to the original intent of Thanksgiving.

Notable Quotes:

• Cal Thomas [27:03]: “The thought behind Thanksgiving is outward toward God and his blessings and not inward... a way to cleanse us from the poison that has infected so many.”
• Cal Thomas [27:20]: “Let that process begin with humility, forgiveness and confession to the one who ought to be the object of our gratitude.”

Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to heal, reflect on blessings, and strengthen relationships beyond political affiliations.

11. Closing Remarks and Teasers for Next Episode

Mary Reichard and Myrna Brown wrap up the episode by thanking listeners and previewing upcoming content, including an interview with film producer Dallas Jenkins and a continuation of the Great American Songbook series.

Notable Quotes:

• Mary Reichard [21:42]: “The vocalist is Mel Torme with George Shearing on the piano. I'm Robert Case.”
• Myrna Brown [27:03]: “Tomorrow, John Stonestreet will be here for Culture Friday and an interview with film producer Dallas Jenkins about the movie he says he was born to make, plus the music of Advent.”

Final Message: The hosts extend Thanksgiving greetings, emphasizing WORLD Radio’s mission of providing biblically grounded journalism that informs, educates, and inspires.

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Conclusion:

This episode of The World and Everything In It offers a comprehensive blend of international news, domestic issues, human interest stories, cultural deep-dives, and reflective commentary. By interweaving hard-hitting reports with heartwarming narratives and cultural appreciation, the podcast provides listeners with a well-rounded and engaging exploration of current events and timeless themes.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning and happy Thanksgiving. This week's ceasefire agreement means people displaced by war in Lebanon and northern Israel could return home. But uncertainty still exists.

[Cal Thomas]

It's not clear that conditions agreement will Lebanon Israelis to feel safe enough to go back.

[Myrna Brown]

Also improving your conversation about politics around the dinner table. And a musical introduction to the Great America American Songbook from Bob Cates.

[Bob Cates]

And all one has to do is mention the name Bing and people all around the world know exactly who you're referring to.

[Myrna Brown]

And world commentator Cal Thomas reminds us to whom our gratitude should be directed this Thanksgiving.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Thursday, November 28th. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported world Radio. I'm Mary Reicher.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Time now for the news with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

The FBI is investigating violent threats against members of the incoming Trump administration and others. Bomb threats and so called swatting attacks have reportedly targeted nearly a dozen of President elect Donald Trump's picks for leadership roles as well as some Republican lawmakers. Congressman Claudia Tenney of New York said Wednesday, we've got to stand up to these people.

[Kristin Flavin]

This is what terrorism looks like.

[Kent Covington]

This is local, you know, domestic terrorism.

[Kristin Flavin]

A lot of the hysteria on the left, you know, does get people incited.

[Kent Covington]

And we investigators, though, are not yet certain whether the perpetrators are domestic. They've not yet ruled out foreign actors. Among those targeted were Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump's nominee for ambassador to the un, as well as Trump's incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. No word on whether incoming border czar Tom Homan was targeted, but he told Fox News, I'm not going to be.

[Cal Thomas]

Intimidated by these people.

[Hunter Baker]

They're not going to silence me.

[Bob Cates]

Look, I'm going to do this job. I want to do this job because.

[Cal Thomas]

It'S an issue of national security.

[Kent Covington]

Among the GOP lawmakers targeted was Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York. He said, quote, a pipe bomb threat was targeting me and my family at my home and was sent in with a pro Palestinian themed message. In the Middle east, so far, the ceasefire in Lebanon has held up for now. The agreement between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group took effect Wednesday morning. But Israeli government spokesman David Mentzer had a stern warning for Hezbollah.

[Mary Reichard]

We will respond forcefully to any violation with the US's full understanding.

[Kent Covington]

Israel maintains full freedom of military action.

[Mary Reichard]

So if Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to again rearm itself, we will defend ourselves.

[Kent Covington]

Under the terms of the deal, both sides must hold their fire for at least 60 days and Hezbollah must disarm and move away from the Israeli border while Israel slowly withdraws its ground forces from Lebanon. But many are skeptical that the truce will hold. NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda I welcome it, but let's not be naive. Hezbollah is still there. Iran is still backing Hezbollah, so it is good that it is there, but now it has to be implemented. Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel at the start of the war in Gaza last year and Israel launched a ground invasion last month into Lebanon to take out the Iran backed group's military capabilities. Mark Ruda also weighed in on support for Ukraine as Russian forces are now reportedly advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since early in the invasion. We have to make sure that Ukraine is in a position of more strength than they are at the moment so that a deal can be struck which is favor favorable not to the Russians and therefore to China, North Korea and Iran. And retired three star General Keith Kellogg will serve as the Trump administration's point man for efforts to end the war. President Elect Donald Trump just tapped him to serve as the special envoy for the war in Ukraine. Meantime, the Biden administration is reportedly urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops, including those as young as 18. America's biggest retailer is the latest to walk back so called diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI policies. World's Kristin Flavin has more DEI initiatives.

[Kristin Flavin]

Have come under heavy fire recently. Critics say such policies are blatantly discriminatory as they favor certain groups or employees based on race or identity. A growing list of companies are walking away from dei, including Ford, Toyota and Lowe's, just to name a few. Walmart's announcement comes after a string of legal wins by groups challenging such corporate policies. The retail giant says it's also carefully reviewing its grants for LGBT groups and events to ensure those funds aren't paying for inappropriate messages aimed at kids. For World, I'm Kristin Flavin.

[Kent Covington]

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law aimed at protecting women's privacy. The law requires all schools to prevent male students from using women's restrooms and vice versa and that is to be defined by biology rather than so called gender identity. The law also applies to changing rooms and locker rooms in school buildings or other buildings used for school affiliated activities. It also prohibits schools from having multi gender locker rooms and restrooms. Schools can though have separate single occupancy or family restrooms. I'm Ken Kelvington and straight ahead. People in northern Israel and Lebanon consider returning to their homes plus keeping relationships strong even when you disagree over Politics. This is the World and Everything in it.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday, 28th November. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning, I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. First up, rebuilding a war zone. On Tuesday, Israel and Hezbollah made a deal for a 60 day ceasefire. Northern Israel and southern Lebanon have been blasted by missiles nearly every day since October 8th of last year. That mean evacuating people on either side of the border.

[Myrna Brown]

Now, with the ceasefire, long lines of cars are headed back into those areas as people are eager to learn whether their homes are still standing. World's Mary Munsee talked to a few families there, assessing the damage.

[Cal Thomas]

It's not my first war, unfortunately, but it was probably the most difficult one.

[Kristin Flavin]

Bashir Ayub is the country director for the nonprofit Oxfam in Lebanon. He lives in Beirut, a city in the middle of Lebanon that was a common Israeli target.

[Cal Thomas]

I'm a new father, so you know I'm not the swashbuckling aid worker that I was in previous conflicts.

[Kristin Flavin]

When Hezbollah started firing into Israel on October 8, Ayyub knew it was only a matter of time until Israel responded. For the first several months, it was a few missiles here and there, but that wasn't very uncommon. Then pagers started exploding.

[Cal Thomas]

If you were driving your car, you were worried that maybe the person beside you had a pager. If you're in a supermarket, it was the same.

[Kristin Flavin]

After that, Israel started firing more heavily on southern Beirut. Ayub lives about five minutes from where the worst of the damage was. And the sound of explosions and the dust from collapsing buildings became too much.

[Cal Thomas]

Actually, where I am right now is about a 40 minute drive up in the mountains from Beirut, and that's where I have been for two months.

[Kristin Flavin]

Ayub is pretty sure his house is still standing, but he isn't getting his hopes up about a prolonged ceasefire just in case peace doesn't last. And that's something everyone is watching closely.

[Cal Thomas]

It really depends to what extent Iran will push to rebuild Hezbollah power.

[Kristin Flavin]

Shuki Friedman is the Director General of the Jewish People Policy Institute in Israel.

[Cal Thomas]

Down the road, we have also an agreement to negotiate on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Then Hezbollah is claiming that in some points the border is going in favor of Israel. So it will be another test for the agreement.

[Kristin Flavin]

The agreement echoes United nations security council resolution 1701. That resolution ended the 2006 Lebanon war and put the UN and Lebanon in charge of monitoring Hezbollah. Under the agreement The Iran backed terrorist group was not supposed to be able to amass weapons. But in practice, the UN had very little power to enforce the resolution. This time the us, France and the UN have the power to decide whether either side has breached the agreement. And Israel has US backing if Hezbollah does breach it.

[Cal Thomas]

It's also true that the Israeli military and warehouses all become, you know, not empty, but close to the red line.

[Kristin Flavin]

And Friedman says at a certain point Israel has to stop trying to track down Hezbollah terrorists. He says there's a general understanding among Israeli civilians that there's no way to completely destroy Hezbollah in Lebanon. So eventually the military has to start weighing the costs and benefits of continuing to fight.

[Cal Thomas]

So at some point we have to get to an agreement and this point is not unreasonable to conclude the war or at least to hold it for some time and to enable Israel to gain more capabilities to continue if it wants or decide to continue in the future.

[Kristin Flavin]

The agreement requires the Israel Defense Forces to slowly withdraw from southern Lebanon and requires the Lebanese army to fill that gap.

[Cal Thomas]

It's not clear that conditions agreement will enable Israelis to feel safe enough to go back to their homes. I assume that some of them will remain in places where they've been evacuated to in Lebanon.

[Kristin Flavin]

Ayub won't try to take his son back home for another week. He's waiting for the dust to clear from the last barrages. He says it will take years to rebuild the physical structures, but it will take even longer to heal the scarred people. And he hopes his son never has to hear the sounds of war again.

[Cal Thomas]

So one of the first Arabic words that he learned was it's the term is shidar, as breaking the sound barrier. So I was hoping he would learn another word early on, but that was the phrase he picked up on the.

[Kristin Flavin]

Ceasefire doesn't really change how many people need help on both sides of the border. Tens of thousands of people were displaced in the conflict and many of them don't have a home to return to. So for now, it's business as usual for Ayub.

[Cal Thomas]

This just felt like honestly just another crisis. As sad as that sounds, it's just something else. And you dust yourself off and get ready for the next one.

[Kristin Flavin]

Reporting for World I'm Mary Muncie.

[Myrna Brown]

Coming up next on the World and everything in it. Talking politics in everyday life. President Ronald Reagan once said, all great change in America happens at the dinner table. But after this latest election, conversation could be sensitive. After all, the truth matters, but so do relationships. So how to keep the right priorities when Emotions run high.

[Mary Reichard]

Today, a story about how some Americans are setting the table for conversations about politics. Washington bureau reporter Carolina Lumeta visited a Red Blue workshop in Philadelphia with this report on how it's being done.

[Hunter Baker]

We've all been there. Talking about politics with people who have different viewpoints can be challenging, and getting family members to overcome political differences can feel insurmountable.

[Kent Covington]

Heather felt strongly enough about the way she felt, and it was different than mine that we probably had difficulty talking about it. Okay.

[Hunter Baker]

Ten years ago, Jerry Blakesley and his daughter Heather had a problem. After slammed doors and raised voices, they weren't on speaking terms. Heather wrote her father a note that she would not come home anymore, and they found themselves on opposing political sides until they went back to square one.

[Kristin Flavin]

I just felt really strongly that we.

[Jerry Blakesley]

Had to start at the kitchen table.

[Kent Covington]

And so it worked. We talked to each other.

[Hunter Baker]

Earlier this month, Jerry Blakeslee joined 15 other people for moderated conversations about politics in Philadelphia. Heather, now the editor at a local culture magazine, invited the Southeast Pennsylvania alliance of Braver Angels to host one of their Red Blue workshops. The nationwide nonprofit says it's on a mission to depolarize America through civil debates, community events, and workshops.

[Bob Cates]

If I'm not a founder, I am the next best thing.

[Hunter Baker]

Hunter Baker writes for World Opinions. He's also on the board of Braver Angels, and he says the vision is to engage in accurate disagreement.

[Bob Cates]

So, I mean, it's easy to disagree with each other and then to caricature what the other person believes. Right. And to turn it into the most unattractive option possible. But if you're really practicing virtue, then what you can do is you can state the other person's position in terms that they themselves would accept.

[Hunter Baker]

The first exercise at the Philadelphia workshop was to identify stereotypes. The red team met in a room and filled out a poster board with what they thought the blue team thought of them.

[Bob Cates]

So what are some stereotypes that you.

[Hunter Baker]

Think need for the Brits?

[Bob Cates]

Racist, misogynist, patriarchal.

[Jerry Blakesley]

Okay, we're now getting it out of here.

[Bob Cates]

That was on top of my lifter.

[Hunter Baker]

The poster board had three categories. What is false or misleading about the stereotype? What is true instead? And what is the kernel of truth in the assumption?

[Bob Cates]

What's false, misleading, or exaggerated about the.

[Myrna Brown]

Fact that all conservatives are intolerant?

[Bob Cates]

I would say specifically about.

[Jerry Blakesley]

Racial that.

[Bob Cates]

I believe we are the last bastions for actually judging people by their content of their character and not the color of their skin. Frankly, I think we're the true anti racist that's what I'm anti racist.

[Hunter Baker]

Organizers told me that the people who come to these workshops are typically more moderate in their political, political views or they have reached enough of a family breakdown that they're willing to hold their politics more loosely. Participants on both teams said they wanted to get out of the echo chambers that keep them from understanding the other side. When the teams came back together to present their stereotype responses, the blue team brought up abortion.

[Kent Covington]

The last one was that Democrats are baby killers.

[Bob Cates]

Right.

[Hunter Baker]

That we.

[Cal Thomas]

What is exaggerated and misleading is that.

[Bob Cates]

We don't value life and that we do.

[Hunter Baker]

Right.

[Cal Thomas]

What is true instead is that our priority is respecting the personal choice.

[Hunter Baker]

After each exercise, Republicans and Democrats paired up to discuss what they learned about each other. Craig Tavani on the red team found common ground with the blue team, even though he disagrees with many of their policy priorities.

[Bob Cates]

I still identify Republican and yet I.

[Cal Thomas]

Could see some of the thinking, some of the feelings on the other side.

[Kent Covington]

I said, yeah, I agree with that.

[Hunter Baker]

Teavani's Blue team partner, Eric Hamel said the same.

[Myrna Brown]

From what I heard today, that there is a lot of receptivity and willingness to understand where I'm coming from and where other left leaning people are coming from. So I mean, in that sense it's encouraging.

[Hunter Baker]

After the workshop, many participants were sharing contact information to keep in touch. Hunter Baker sees a need for conversations like these.

[Bob Cates]

As Americans, we have to govern ourselves. We are not governed by a dictator or a monarch. And if we're going to govern ourselves, then that means we also have to moderate our worst impulses. We have to be able to reason together.

[Hunter Baker]

For the Blakesleys, Jerry's participation came after years of learning to talk with his daughter. Heather said she has also learned how to respect her father's views, even if she doesn't hold them. I sat with both of them on a church bench outside after the workshop.

[Kent Covington]

I think we just decided to maybe not talk about it for a while and then we decided to listen a little bit better.

[Kristin Flavin]

Yeah. And also to not assume that we were avatars for the entire other side.

[Bob Cates]

Or the other party.

[Kristin Flavin]

That we had individual thoughts about things that maybe sometimes lined up and sometimes.

[Bob Cates]

Didn'T, you know, with our party.

[Hunter Baker]

Jerry and Heather didn't vote the same way this year. He is excited about the incoming Trump administration and she is concerned, but they're no longer trying to change each other's minds.

[Kent Covington]

You realize that the relationship and father daughter relationship is much more important than any politics.

[Hunter Baker]

Reporting for World, I'm Carolina Lumeta. In Philadelphia.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Knox Theological Seminary Reformed Flexible Integrated Programs for a call to ministry, more at knoxseminary. Edu World and from Dort University. Service opportunities at Dort give students a chance to gain practical wisdom for lives of service until all is made new.

[Myrna Brown]

Well, the late artist Bob Ross said, we don't make mistakes. We have happy accidents. Several years ago, Wanda Dench mistakenly sent a text to a teenage boy. Thinking it was her grandson, she invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. Jamal Hinton received that text and asked, who is this? Didn't text back. Grandma. He replied, you're not my grandma. But can I still get a plate? Though Hidden said, sure. Grandmas feed people. And that entire exchange went viral. She spoke to WFSA Channel 12 last month.

[Hunter Baker]

When he calls, I smile because Jamal.

[Bob Cates]

You know, we met back in 2016.

[Hunter Baker]

Been together every Thanksgiving eight years.

[Myrna Brown]

Going strong, Mary. But this year is a bit different because Denton is in chemotherapy for cancer. Yet the two plan to keep their tradition going. Regardless, Denton maintains her sunny outlook with a reminder to get those checkups.

[Hunter Baker]

We still have more life to live, and if we catch things early, maybe everything will turn out good.

[Myrna Brown]

Granny knows best. It's the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Thursday, November 28th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Erna Brown. Coming next on the World and everything in it, the Great American Songbook. Yesterday we introduced you to Bob Case. He's a musical history enthusiast who contributed to this program in its early days, and he's back with an occasional series on popular music from the early 20th century and today.

[Mary Reichard]

He acquaints us with some big name musicians that he'll profile going forward.

[Bob Cates]

The American Songbook is a collection of popular music from 1910 to 1960. It begins with Irving Berlin's 1911 international hit, Alexander's Ragtime Band and ends with Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock in 1955.

[Jerry Blakesley]

When the clock strikes Club, we'll cool.

[Myrna Brown]

Off and start a Rock around the Clock again.

[Bob Cates]

What makes the American Songbook so special is the lyrics. Many of the songs are written by talented and gifted poets. Their words empower the listener to reflect on what it means to be human. Speaking of common experiences and emotions like.

[Cal Thomas]

Love, it had to be you.

[Bob Cates]

It had to be you. And the music is sophisticated and surprising, written by artists who studied with and listened to the best composers who preceded them.

[Cal Thomas]

You are the one.

[Bob Cates]

The combination of lyrics and music is artistically significant and satisfying because it is fascinating, provocative and always relevant. I think of you night and day the popularity of the American Songbook is evident in that hardly any American reaches adulthood without at least one experience with either while attending a musical or sitting in a movie theater, or performing in a community or school production, or humming or dancing or tapping their feet to a classic popular song.

[Myrna Brown]

Just whistle while you work. Put on that grin and start right in to whistle loud and long.

[Bob Cates]

One can't enter a medical lobby, a office building or a Christmas shop without hearing the songs of the Great American Songbook.

[Cal Thomas]

I've got the world on a string.

[Bob Cates]

Several months ago, I was scanning through television listings and stumbled across a whole channel dedicated to just one artist, Frank Sinatra.

[Cal Thomas]

What a word.

[Bob Cates]

Who died in 1998, singing songs by composers who died largely before 1950. And here I was in 2023, thoroughly enjoying what I was hearing.

[Cal Thomas]

Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but.

[Bob Cates]

Blue skies do I see the American Songbook is so powerful a cultural artifact that all one needs to consider is that an entire worldwide human endeavor and cultural aspiration can be defined as coming from one street, Broadway, and from one Hamlet, Hollywood.

[Cal Thomas]

Singing in the rain Just singing in.

[Bob Cates]

The rain and all one has to do is mention the name Bing and people all around the world know exactly who you're referring to. It is widely accepted by those who study popular culture that the American Songbook has had the largest impact on the individual American of any artistic expression. Furthermore, America exported this popular art form all over the world. We Americans composed and they played, they sang, they danced, they karaoked to what we created. This was not European music, but American music. Relentlessly romantic, sunny, optimistic, melodic, rhythmic, clever, personal, hopeful and universal. I got rhythm, I got music I got my gal who could ask for anything more? As far back as 1703, Andrew Fletcher, Scottish parliamentarian, wrote this. I knew a very wise man who believed if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation. Fletcher goes on to say. And we find that most of the ancient legislators thought they could not, well, reform the manners of any city without the help of a lyric. So if you are interested in cultural apologetics, you should have a nodding acquaintance with the Great American Songbook to remind us to gather again. Let's close out with Sammy Fain and Irving Cajal's 1938 Evergreen. I'll be seeing you. The vocalist is Mel Torme with George Shearing on the piano. I'm Robert Case.

[Cal Thomas]

I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces all day through in the small cafe.

[Myrna Brown]

Today is Thursday, November 28th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichert. And it is Thanksgiving Day. It was President Abraham Lincoln who declared the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. He called for humble penitence for our national sins.

[Myrna Brown]

World commentator Cal Thomas says it's time to return to Thanksgiving's spiritual roots.

[Jerry Blakesley]

The thought behind Thanksgiving is outward toward God and his blessings and not inward, which suggests gratitude to no one in particular for whatever positives might have occurred in one's life. In the more secular view, these positives are not blessings, but are to be chalked up to luck or good fortune. Most presidents after Abraham Lincoln generally followed the pattern of giving thanks to God in some form. Even and especially during wars and economic downturns in the midst of the Great Depression and a looming World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was still able to proclaim in 1939 Let us, on the day set aside for this purpose, give thanks to the ruler of the universe for the strength which he has has vouchsafed us to carry on our daily labors, and for the hope that lives within us of the coming of a day when peace and the productive activities of peace shall reign on every continent. An optimistic sentiment, but far from reality for Roosevelt's Thanksgiving nod to deity. He seemed less hopeful about God's provision. He took matters into his own hands by declaring Thanksgiving to be on the fourth Thursday of the month. In years when the calendar contained five Thursdays, that would allow more time for Christmas shopping, which he thought would help boost the economy, a trend that continues even in this month when Thanksgiving comes naturally late on the calendar. Advertisers have been declaring Black Friday sales since October, as noted by the American Presidency Project. Beginning in the early 1940s, the language of Thanksgiving Day proclamation changed to emphasize American values and ideas and to assert the event's direct link to the first Thanksgiving of Plymouth Colony. Many myths have grown around Thanksgiving, the Mayflower and other historical events. The website Museum Gallery Archive reports. Four hundred years ago, Thanksgiving was a religious event and marked by fasting, not feasting. Recent research suggests that the first Thanksgiving of this kind was celebrated by new English settlers at Berkeley, Virginia, in 1619. They were Puritans, giving thanks for their safe arrival on the banks of the James River. Today, Thanksgiving is nearly a blur in the rush towards Christmas and the conspicuous consumption merchants exploit. It's too bad, because pausing to reflect amid the toxic political environment we've experienced this year and are likely to continue to experience is a way to cleanse us from the poison that has infected so many. It is also a way to turn our attention from things on earth that must pass away to the one who is eternal and in control of all things. After one of the most divisive presidential campaigns in modern history, dividing friends, family members and even members of some churches, this Thanksgiving offers an opportunity to put bitterness aside, attempt to heal wounds and focus on what unites us more than the political divisions. Let that process begin with humility, forgiveness and confession to the one who ought to be the object of our gratitude. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Myrna Brown]

Tomorrow, John Stonestreet will be here for Culture Friday and an interview with film producer Dallas Jenkins about the movie he says he was born to make, plus the music of Advent. That and more. Tomorrow. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Happy Thanksgiving. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Verses 13 and 14 of Colossians, chapter 1. Go now in grace and peace.