The Saturday Evening Post » Steve George

Dismayed in the USA

Steve George — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:08:41 +0000

In the this issue we have a story spotlighting products that are still made in the USA. When I first read the piece, I was pleased to see so many familiar things. But I was almost equally dismayed to find that certain names I expected to see on this list—makers of cars and planes and other big, impressive all-American goods—didn’t qualify because so much of their manufacturing or component parts now originate from overseas.

More than that, I found myself thinking about the one thing I’d really like to see made in America—more jobs.

So, where are they? It’s a question on a lot of minds, especially in the wake of economic conditions that saw nearly 7 million jobs vanish. When the 2009 multibillion dollar stimulus package was unveiled, the government promised that stimulus would create and save some 3.5 million jobs, but making that promise was much easier than actually keeping a job tally, and many believe that the actual number will ultimately fall short of the mark.

The pundits say things are getting better. But it’s hard to be upbeat about the economy when most

of us are still reeling from one of the worst downturns since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, stimulus funding to date seems to be favoring Wall Street more than Main Street. Small business, the very heart of American private enterprise, is also the engine that drives the creation of

new jobs, yet recovery funds don’t seem to be making their way down to entrepreneurs—and the people they might employ—with a speed or efficiency that has made a real difference yet. Until it does—if it does—it’s hard to look on the bright side.

But it is surely there. While we may lament our ongoing economic woes, there’s something about tough times that brings out the best in us, that makes us roll up our sleeves and work harder, like the men and women profiled in writer Doug Donaldson’s story, “Enterprising Endurance.” Reading their stories reminded me that even in difficult times, America has an abundance of ambition, motivation, and even optimism. Thankfully, these things, too, are still made in the USA.

Stephen C. George

Editor-in-Chief, The Saturday Evening Post
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Dismayed in the USA The Saturday Evening Post

Fresh Eyes

Steve George — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:36 +0000

My son Thomas fancies himself an artist. He works in watercolors and pastels mostly (easier to clean up, you see),  and his subject matter is narrowly focused—actually, it’s mostly dinosaurs. But his love of art can’t be denied and so, to broaden his horizons a little bit, I often take him to museums and galleries to see what the big boys (and girls) can do.

So far, our gallery visits have tended to be quick. My young art lad breezes past the modern stuff, the abstract works. He’ll linger a little on Impressionist paintings and Renaissance art. But in fact, the only time I’ve ever seen him stop dead and stare at a piece of art was in the halls of our offices here, which are liberally decorated with prints of classic Post covers.

The one that caught his eye is called The Shiner. It features a girl sporting a black eye, a bandaged knee, and rumpled clothes from a schoolyard fight, but she still looks fresh and pleased with herself nonetheless. My son studied the girl’s face intently—I think it’s fair to say he developed a little crush on her. Then he looked at all the other details—the girl’s loose hair ribbon, her unlaced shoes, the various items on the wall above her, the expressions of the grownups just inside the door. Finally, his eyes settled on the artist’s signature, one that’s only too familiar to Post readers and generations of Americans.

“Who’s this Norman Rockwell?” Thomas finally asked. “He’s pretty good!”

It’s always exciting (and a little funny) to witness a new generation in the act of discovering something that you’ve known all your life was wonderful. And as we prepared this issue’s cover story (page 30), which celebrates the Post’s most celebrated artist, my son’s awed appraisal stuck with me. I found myself absorbed in illustrations I’d seen a thousand times, viewing them with fresh eyes, seeing details I’d never noticed before, and coming away with new admiration for the artist and his work.

We hope you have the same reaction, and that you share this issue with someone who’s perhaps not as familiar with the man we call “America’s artist.” But once they have a look, I’m confident they’ll agree: That Norman Rockwell, he is pretty good.

Stephen C. George

Editor-in-Chief, The Saturday Evening Post

s.george@saturdayeveningpost.com

Fresh Eyes The Saturday Evening Post