Lamentation

Today is a very sad day for me.
It marks two very significant passings.

First is the death of Justice.
Convicted of Obstruction of Justice, I Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence is commuted by Prez.
I know the is a Constitutional right of the Prez, but it also stops the inquiry into the dealings of the Vice Prez.
It also gave the "ok" to expose covert agents without repercussion.
"Hey Mr Prez! How about a pardon for Ramos and Campion?"
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54224

Second is the passing for Opera Diva Beverly Sills.
What a loss of a great person and talent.
Sills recalled in her 1987 autobiography, Beverly."It was Carson who first told me, 'If you come on The Tonight Show, you'll humanize opera,' "
"Show 'em you look like everybody else, that you have kids, a life, that you have to diet.'"
And she did. For millions she became the face of the "average person" of opera. Everybody knew her.

Today talk shows are for hawking your latest project, more than intelligent conversation.
When is the last time Leno or Letterman has someone like a Bill Buckley or Gore Vidal? Have we no new personalities of the Arts?

We are a diverse culture. We need that diversity to keep growing.
Some of it has moved to cable. Which is not always available to the masses.

So I will mourn their passing.
But at least I have the memories of when both were great!