Category: Holiday

Just watched the most painful segment on 60 Minutes about people in Cleveland where their homes are underwater. . . . They owe more than the houses are worth. I simply am at a loss for how such people are being treated. It makes one so angry, and, yet, you feel so helpless to help them, but we MUST! All the tears will not help them. All the words won’t help.

This afternoon, I saw the Ford’s Theatre production of A Christmas Carol. It was wonderful. It should tour every town in America. Grown men were crying, as was I. Scrooge sees the light! It should be seen by every bank official in this country. It is not so much the individuals at the banks as it is the institution that is earning the cold reputation of Scrooge. Will these institutions find the compassion that Scrooge found? Will they look back on their histories and find their souls?

It is hard to understand why banks will foreclose and not attempt to lower the principal that is owed to them. Instead, they let the houses stand empty — soon to be looted of anything that has any value, thus driving the value of the house toward zero while creating another homeless family. I was fortunate to grow up in a home, a house that cost $5,000 — a house that my father built with help from his father and from my mother. I remember the payment that Mom would make out each month to the bank. That house gave me some sense of security. I was taught to respect the house, my home, to do right by it, to be a good boy in it, to be proud of it.

A house without people is nothing but a house, no different than the other foreclosed houses. It is the people that make the life of a house, that make the cold floors warm, the stale smells, sweet. What about the value of family, of loved ones, of children with their cries and shouts of joy? I cannot believe there is not a way to save these houses and, thus, the people that give them life. Knowing what has been done, what can we now do? There is not a more timely play to be seen than A Christmas Carol. Perhaps Scrooge can light the path of compassion.

Again, have a lovely and loving holiday.

David

Hello all and a merry, merry, holiday to each of you and your loved ones.

It is hard, to say the least, to read and see the turmoil across the world. . . man’s inhumanity to man. It is hard to see people turned out of their homes. With a middle class that is fragile, with abuses continuing in Medicare and Welfare, in Congress, in city halls across the country, on Wall Street, with an ex-governor and others padding their own pockets. . . it is hard not to be skeptical about what lies ahead. Can we all pull together and make this a country that will show the world that, yes, we can govern ourselves, we are not a house divided, we are the UNITED States of America?

Taking a line from a new play I am about to start rehearsal on in DC — “Knowing what we have done, what can we not do?” I have not done enough in my life to help others. . . I suppose the most an actor can wish is that some enjoyment be gotten from the plays, the films, the television shows. I have been fortunate to participate in so many and see the satisfaction many of those shows have brought to people (a couple of plays closed after one night and a couple of films. . . well). Like many of you, I look forward to seeing the new Tim Burton-Johnny Depp Dark Shadows film.

So — knowing that none of us can simply decree the world to be what we want it to be, what do you say to taking a day off from the newspaper, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX – and all the other media? Don’t tweet, don’t check Facebook, put the cell phone on vibrate — not power off because your mother may call or son or daughter or dear friend — just take a quiet moment to be thankful for life because it can be so very wonderful.

AND, tune in on Dec. 20th at 9pm to TNT for Deck The Halls. Also, if you happen to be in DC, in January or February, come by Ford’s Theatre for Necessary Sacrifices.

There is no way for me to adequately express my appreciation to those who have supported me over the years. I’m sitting at my computer looking out at the ocean, the sun is bright with a slight chill in the air. . . and my wife and I have four glorious grandchildren. Can grandchildren be anything but glorious? How blessed I am.

My love to you all and let us each do what we can for peace, freedom, equality, and progress. And may our hearts be touched “as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.”

David

To all who tune into this address beautifully landscaped by Brigid, if you have any ideas you wish to discuss, send them along.

In these trying times for so many, may they get their act together in Washington — stop the you said this and I said that — and get something done that moves this country forward, that helps our children get the educations they need for these times and tomorrow’s times. Hats off to Bill Gates and his wife (so well-spoken and sharp she is) for putting the resources behind an educational effort to put America back together. A standing ovation to all like Warren Buffet, who is helping to persuade those on the high end to give more of their money away, and to so many we don’t read about in every community across this country who help out however they can.