Dear Dr. Ink:
Cleaning out some of my musty “archive” the other day, I came across the National Lampoon Sunday Newspaper Parody from 1978 [which Doc paraphrases in his piece “The Global Doc“]. That is the one you seem to be recalling. The “paper” was the Dacron (Ohio) Republican-Democrat. The off-lead that day on page one has this headline: “Two Dacron Women Feared/Missing in Volcanic Disaster.” The subhead: “Japan Destroyed.” The lede: “Possible tragedy has marred the vacation plans of Miss Frances Bundle and her mother Olive as volcanoes destroyed Japan early today.”
Cheers,
Bill McGraw
Answer: Dr. Ink thanks this loyal reader for sharing this hilarious satire of local newspapering.
Dear Dr. Ink:
As a journalism student and someone with a keen interest in international affairs, I applaud your article, “The Global Doc.” Succinctly written and so true. Thank you. Oh, and I love your newsletters — Monday, Wednesday and Friday are looking up!
Truly,
Sherry Klippenstein
Answer: The ever-modest Dr. Ink blushes at such praise. And although he is not looking for any reason to increase his load of e-mail, he reminds readers that they can “subscribe” to have Dr. Ink’s column delivered directly by electronic mail.
Dear Dr. Ink:
If the National Geographic’s journalism is so good, why did they use Alexander Cockburn — a hereditary Stalinist and anti-Semite — to explain the Middle East conflict?
Stan Brin
Answer: Along with having a name that only a urologist could love, Alexander Cockburn is unfairly accused, in Dr. Ink’s opinion, of being a Stalinist or an anti-Semite. He is often described as a radical journalist and an apologist for the political left, and that he is, writing columns, including one for The Nation, and publishing his own newsletter. The accusations of anti-Semitism against him are an inevitable reaction to his strong posture against Israel, which Cockburn calls “a terrorist state” (an opinion with which Dr. Ink strongly disagrees). Such fiery stuff is destined to evoke outrage. Dr. Ink believes that one can criticize the current Israeli leadership and policies without falling into the trap of anti-Zionism or anti-Semitism. It must also be said that when the Doc highlights praiseworthy elements of a journal such as National Geographic, it is not a stamp of approval for every story or author who appears there. That said, Dr. Ink does not think that Cockburn’s byline in an issue of any publication disqualifies it from excellence.
