Nov. 12, 2007AmericaTHE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY $2.75 Pedro Arrupe The Centennial of His Birth: From Hiroshima to Rome Three Colleagues Remember Also: New England’s Veterans Charles M. Sennott GRADUATED from journalism school the sociology of the city.” in 2000, a heady time when newspa- While at The Sun, Simon wrote America pers were still hiring young people Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, a Published by Jesuits of the United States with enthusiasm but little experi- yearlong look at the Baltimore homicide Ience. With a little help from a friend, I unit that became the basis for an award- got a job at The Hartford Courant, a rep- winning drama on NBC. Though he Editor in Chief utable midsize newspaper. During my enjoyed success in television, Simon kept Drew Christiansen, S.J. three years at the Courant, management his job at the paper and might have stayed introduced a salary freeze, followed by for the rest of his career if the paper Acting Publisher voluntary buyouts. Layoffs came later, hadn’t been sold to Times Mirror, a Los James Martin, S.J. after I left the paper. Angeles-based newspaper chain. In the Anyone who reads the media pages early 1990s The Sun’s top editors were Managing Editor knows this is a familiar story. Newspapers replaced with a group from The Robert C. Collins, S.J. are in a bad way. Revenues are down Philadelphia Inquirer, men Simon loathed sharply because of rising paper costs and so much he named a particularly odious Business Manager declining ad revenue. Almost every major character on “The Wire” after one of Lisa Pope newspaper in the country has been forced them. He left the paper in 1995. Editorial Director to reduce staff size. Simon’s genius is that he has adapted There are many reasons to lament these his reporting skills to serial television. Karen Sue Smith developments. As critics have pointed out, When people ask, I’m hard pressed to say Online Editor who will keep an eye on government and what “The Wire” is about. On one level, big business if there is no robust and free it’s a police drama, but it transcends that Maurice Timothy Reidy press? This worries me too, though there is tired genre in fresh and surprising ways. It Associate Editors another reason why I’m saddened. Many of is really about Baltimore, a drug- and vio- my former colleagues are, if not without a lence-addled city that has failed to under- Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J. job, then unhap- go the urban George M. Anderson, S.J. py with the ones renaissance Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. they have, where of New York James P. McDermott, S.J. they have been Of Many Things or Provi- repeatedly asked dence, R.I. Matt Malone, S.J. to “do more with less.” Over the course of four seasons, “The James T. Keane, S.J. These are intelligent, hard-working Wire” has taken a look at four different men and women who would be dissatis- parts of Baltimore life: the drug trade, Literary Editor fied in almost any other line of work. And union life on the docks, city hall and the Patricia A. Kossmann now they must worry whether their job is public school system. In its portrayal of the next to go. Some of my friends have public institutions and inner-city African- Poetry Editor moved to business journalism, a more sta- American culture, “The Wire” is unri- James S. Torrens, S.J. ble, and lucrative, field. Others have left valed. journalism altogether, often to teach or go The show, of course, is fictional, but it Assistant Editor to law school. is heavily drawn from real life. The show’s Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. The decline of newspapers will have writers take pains to simulate the distinc- far-reaching effects that we will only grad- tive dialect of inner-city Baltimore, and Design and Production ually comprehend. One area that will many characters are based on real figures. Stephanie Ratcliffe almost certainly be diminished is our The city’s young white mayor, for exam- artistic and literary culture. For genera- ple, is partially inspired by the former city Advertising tions newspapers served as a farm league mayor—and current Maryland governor— Julia Sosa of sorts for the publishing and entertain- Martin O’Malley. At a time when few ment industries. Scores of playwrights and newspapers are able to mount this kind of 106 West 56th Street screenwriters, magazine writers and prize- sustained look at urban culture, Simon has New York, NY 10019-3803 winning authors got their start at a daily. found a way to do so using HBO’s budget. Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596. A prime example is the television writ- The fifth and final season of “The E-mail: [email protected]; er David Simon, who was profiled recent- Wire” starts in January, and Simon has [email protected]. ly in The New Yorker (“Stealing Life,” chosen to focus on the people who tell the Web site: www.americamagazine.org. 10/22). A former police reporter for The stories in Baltimore, namely journalists. It Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533. Baltimore Sun, Simon is the creative mind seems fitting that in its final act, “The © 2007 America Press, Inc. behind HBO’s “The Wire,” by far my Wire” will examine the profession that favorite show on television. He landed a served as midwife to the show’s own cre- job with The Sun after college and took ation. I can’t wait to watch. I also wonder: to the police beat with great zeal. Without a thriving newspaper industry, Cover art Pedro Arrupe, S.J., According to a former Sun editor, Simon where will the next David Simon come by Frederick H. Carlson; “saw the cop beat as a whole window onto from? Maurice Timothy Reidy www.carlsonstudio.com. www.americamagazine.org Vol. 197 No. 15, Whole No. 4793 November 12, 2007 Articles 9 A Heartbreaking Year 9 Charles M. Sennott A New England regiment comes home. Seizing the Imagination 13 Jim McDermott Three Jesuits who knew Pedro Arrupe well remember him. Love Will Decide Everything 18 Kevin F. Burke Pedro Arrupe recovered the Ignatian ‘mysticism of open eyes.’ Current Comment 4 24 Editorial Thanking Our Soldiers 5 Signs of the Times 6 Life in the 00s 8 High Taxes, Empty Desks Terry Golway Faith in Focus A Doubter Gives Lessons in Faith Gerald M. Fagin 22 Fine Arts Visiting the Age of Rembrandt Leo J. O’Donovan 24 Bookings A Friend of God William A. Barry 27 Poem 30 On Cleaning Out a Friend’s Refrigerator... Brian Doyle Book Reviews 31 From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act; The Law of God Letters 36 The Word 39 Perseverance and Holiness Daniel J. Harrington This week @ A video interview with Vincent T. O'Keefe, S.J. From the archives: Peter Hebblethwaite on Pedro Arrupe, S.J. Plus “The Good Word,” our blog on America Connects Scripture and preaching. All at www.americamagazine.org. Current Comment illegal logging is a worldwide phenomenon, especially in Conscience and Information developing countries. The Rainforest Foundation has said Two newspapers in Malaysia were recently closed down that the practice has been rampant for years in Cameroon, for specified periods as a punitive measure after their edi- for example, with corrupt government employees bearing tors published controversial cartoons. In both cases the much of the responsibility. Another environmental group, press could be seen as an equal opportunity offender, since the National Resources Defense Council, notes that part one cartoon pictured the prophet Muhammad and the of the responsibility for illegal logging lies in an escalating other pictured Jesus Christ, drinking a beer and smoking a consumer demand in industrialized countries, especially cigarette, above the caption “If someone repents for his for old-growth mahogany. Nearly all the mahogany mistakes, then this heaven awaits them.” These examples, shipped from Peru is logged illegally; the United States though, are only the tip of an iceberg of repression that consumes 80 percent of the exports. The council reports includes attempts to limit freedom of expression, the that it is urging U.S. officials to stop accepting invalid transfer of information and even freedom of conscience. export permits for Peruvian mahogany and is trying to Reporters Without Borders, a worldwide organization that persuade large furniture dealers to avoid buying mahogany monitors freedom of the press, has criticized Malaysia for that comes from illegal sources. these actions. In response, Malaysian political figures have dismissed Reporters Without Borders as working from Western values of press freedom and hence not qualified Necessary Ending to judge local values. The Franciscan academic tradition at the University of Freedom of conscience, however, goes beyond the Oxford in England is long and distinguished. The first fri- media. Recently Malaysia’s federal court refused to recog- ars arrived in the city in 1224 and began a ministry of nize the conversion of a woman from Islam to Christianity. learning that would involve such original thinkers as Roger She could be subject to forced rehabilitation, heavy fines Bacon, John Duns Scotus and William of Occam. The and prison, or will have to emigrate to escape such penal- upheavals of the Reformation, which led to the dissolution ties. The bishop of Melaka-Johor, Paul Tan Chee Ing, S.J., of religious foundations, imposed a lengthy hiatus on the has said that “to deny this basic human right of a person to activities of the Franciscans.