A new exhibit at the Library of Congress celebrates the art of political cartoonist Herbert Block (“Herblock”), looking at how he chronicled news events, from 1929 through 2001.
The art of Herblock
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Author Archives: Laura Hertzfeld
Coming home
Veterans Day. Credit: Flickr/Jeff Cagle
Returning from war, veterans face numerous challenges. For some, that includes starting a new career after their service. This Veterans Day, we take a look at stories old and new of how veterans cope with coming back.
Military spouses, journalists, veterans, and family members are sharing advice about returning from war in a “conversation” from PBS’ film series, POV. Regarding War is a space to share your stories and learn from those who’ve dealt with this difficult topic. The accompanying film The Way We Get By profiles a group of senior citizens who greet soldiers returning from war in Bangor, Maine.
American Experience shares letters written by servicemen and women written home to their families from World War I through the present day. These don’t all have happy endings, but they give a unique glimpse into what it’s like to be so far away and what it’s like to come back.
One example is from Lewis Plush, who fought in World War I:
“”Men fought to kill, to maim, to destroy. Some return home, others remain behind forever on the fields of their greatest sacrifice. There was a war, a great war, and now it is over.”
Plush was honorably discharged from service on February 15, 1919. He returned home and homesteaded property in the coastal mountains. He married in 1923, planted apples and raised turkeys on his ranch, and died in 1956 at age 63.
Two veterans profiled today are taking steps to start new careers after completing their military service. NPR’s Michel Martin spoke with two former service members who are now a college counselor in Atlanta and cardiovascular perfusionist at the Mayo Clinic, respectfully.
For more stories about military service and first-person accounts, EconomyBeat is featuring posts from Milblogging.com, where soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are sharing their stories.
Brought to you by the numbers 4 and 0
If you’ve Googled anything in the past week, you know that today is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. So in honor of the occasion, here’s The Count, talking about a few feelings (including frustration and love) that resonate with EconomyStory. Enjoy!
How would you design health care reform?
Now that health care reform has passed the House and is on its way to becoming reality, what are the choices that legislators are having to make to get the deal done? A game from American Public Media, Budget Hero, was designed for the 2008 election cycle, but has added elements that include more options for health care reform and other current issues. What would you add or cut to lower the national deficit?
Your Web browser software doesn’t support frames, but you can visit The Budget Hero at http://budgethero.publicradio.org/widget/widget.php?refid=apm.
For some background on the debate to help you make your choices, check out today’s health care debrief conversation with Newsweek editor Jonathan Alter on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show.
An economic glimpse of the South
With the highest unemployment rate nationally since 1983, it’s hard to believe the economists when they talk about the recession being over. This week’s station roundup takes a look at a program in Mississippi that’s targeting new opportunities across the state, a homelessness relief project in Florida, and a job plan from an unlikely industry in Alabama.
State officials in Mississippi are hoping that a new Economic Tour of various towns will help identify where jobs and other opportunities are needed most, The Clarion-Ledger reported this week. Some areas of the state are already making strides on their own. Mississippi Public Broadcasting profiles how the Gulf Coast town of Ocean Springs is helping small businesses keep insurance costs down.
In Tallahassee, Florida, stimulus funds are being used to help the homeless. Gina Jordan of WFSU reports on how three agencies in the state plan to distribute the funds to those who are on the street, as well as people who are at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure.
In Alabama, there was a bright spot this week for both an area of the country and an industry that have been hit hard by the economic crisis. Kia plans to expand suppliers to its car assembly plant near the Alabama/Georgia state line is , creating more than 3,600 jobs in the state.