Actor and director Rob Reiner spoke during the recent Emmy Awards broadcast. paid a tribute In a letter to the late Norman Lear, founder of People for the American Way, he said that he expressed Norman's genius in Yiddish as “cockreffel.”
A cocklefel is a ladle for stirring a pot, says Reiner. explained. “And when Cockreffel's Norman stirred that pot, he ended up changing American culture.”
Norman is best known for her work in television, where she breaks new ground by portraying families and their struggles more realistically and making people laugh while compassionately tackling difficult issues such as racism, sexuality, and abortion. We have developed
But he was no stranger to Washington, D.C., and not just when he was awarded the National Medal of Arts or celebrated with the Kennedy Center Honors.
At the height of his television success, he founded People for the American Way to “stir the pot” here in D.C. and devoted himself to defending democracy. And he made waves.
In 1983, He spoke at a US Senate hearing To defend Federal Communications Commission policies intended to protect the public interest in broadcasting when the Reagan administration sought to strip them away.
“It's unfortunate that the FCC chairman should think of community service as a myth,” Lear testified.
Mark Lloyd, who served as general counsel for the FCC under President Barack Obama, said: I have written When the Reagan-era FCC repealed these policies after Lear's death, it led to “a hollowing out of the FCC's obligation to ensure that the telecommunications industry operates in the public interest.” Stated.
In 1990, when members of Congress tried to pass a constitutional amendment banning the display of the national flag as part of political protests, Mr. Lear, a patriot who had dropped out of college to fight the Nazis in World War II, He defended the First Amendment.
“I love this flag because it is a symbol of the constitutional government that guarantees the freedom of the land of the free and the home of the brave.” He saidHe added that Americans “have the freedom to speak out, criticize, and abuse.” And be brave enough to allow anyone who opposes us to do the same. ”
The young organization he founded in Washington, D.C., also made its mark. Early on, it became notoriously famous for some people. take the lead and charge Opposed to the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.
And it tipped the balance, exposing the televangelists that Lear considered such a threat to our country. The late Jerry Falwell got irrational on the subject of “People For the American Way.” blamed — with the LGBTQ community and abortion — against the attacks of 9/11.
Decades later, Lear offers a unique and insightful perspective on Donald Trump and the movement that rallied on his behalf. Trump proclaimed the showman-turned-politician's run for president a testament to the power of popular culture.
He celebrated his 100th birthday, wrote in the New York Times“To be honest, I'm a little worried that our democracy could be in better shape than it is right now.”
“I believe in truth and justice and the American way by waving the flag,” he wrote, “and how can so many people who call themselves patriots undermine our democracy and our Constitution?” I don't understand how they can support efforts to do so.”
He honestly said he was disappointed in some of the directions our politics, courts, and culture have taken in the Trump era. But he never lost faith in our country or its future and found new hope in the creativity and dedication of young people engaged in entertainment and political activities.
When Norman asked me to lead People for the American Way in his honor, he made it clear that he was still fully committed to the cause. And he was. He continued to advocate for federal judges to protect all Americans, not just the most powerful. He spoke out against politicians who were imposing new restrictions on voting rights. He was up to date on the results of last fall's Virginia state election.
He will never be replaced. And while the world remembers Norman for his accomplishments in Hollywood, we in DC will never forget the lasting legacy he created here. I am honored to be entrusted with this task.
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