Latest news with #Franks
Spectator
an hour ago
- General
- Spectator
Tim Franks goes in search of what it means to be Jewish
It's hard to classify this thought-provoking book – part memoir, part philosophical exploration, but mostly a deeply researched family history. And what a history that is. Tim Franks, born in 1968, has been a BBC reporter for almost two decades, and now presents Newshour on the World Service. So he knows how to tell stories about other people. But the events here concern himself, and many of them are heartbreaking, as he searches for an answer to the question of what comprises identity and to what extent we are products of our ancestors. Franks is descended from rabbis, including one who played a part in keeping Bevis Marks, the oldest continually functioning synagogue in Europe, at its present site in London; another went to lead the congregation in Curaçao, then a Dutch colony, and by the 18th century one of the most important Jewish communities in the New World. He is also a reporter who is prepared to take risks. While working in Venezuela, chasing a story of corruption ahead of parliamentary elections, he found himself on the back of a motorbike taxi on a busy highway in Caracas when his helmet flew off. He not only gripped harder but recited the Sh'ma, a key Jewish prayer. He survived and reported the story, thus perfectly blending his identity as a Jew and a journalist. He is full of questions, curiosity being the essential quality in his profession, as he takes us through the centuries – from Portugal, where he goes to discover 'the oxymoronic story of Jewish Lisbon' and on to Constantinople, Curaçao, Cuba, Amsterdam, Lithuania and Auschwitz. Family history starts in this book with Ester Orobio Furtado, Franks's five times great-grandmother who sailed for Amsterdam in the early 18th century to escape the gruesome torture of the auto-da-fé inflicted on Jews during the Spanish Inquisition. Along the way he introduces us to a vast swathe of characters, including Hannah Arendt, George Eliot and Jean-Paul Sartre (not relations), as well as Benjamin Disraeli (who was). 'Cousin Diz,' as Franks calls him, rejected Judaism but mythologised his Jewishness. Pages are devoted to explaining why Disraeli indulged the oft-repeated but erroneous additional name of Villa Real given to his ancestors. It meant that his was no ordinary Jewish stock – rather, as Franks writes, consommé juif. But disproving it matters, since accepting it downplays the role of England as a nation of fluidity and opportunity, not just for Disraeli, prime minister, but also for Franks, BBC presenter. But if Disraeli was exceptional, the story of another relation is included here precisely because he was not. David Van Ryn, Franks's great-uncle, moved from the Netherlands to Canada and then returned to Europe to fight in the first world war, where he was killed in 1915, aged 21. He is referenced because he was just one of thousands of young men slaughtered. Equally, 20th-century Amsterdam proved no safe haven for large numbers of Franks's forebears, descendants of Ester from 'Jewish Lisbon', who were killed by the Nazis. Only one in four Dutch Jews survived the Holocaust. Those who might be expecting here an expansion of Franks's 2010 broadcast From Our Own Correspondent – in which he memorably discussed his role and other people's perceptions of him as the BBC's Middle East correspondent as both a Jew and a journalist – to examine the Middle East today, will be disappointed. But he sees that experience as 'the founding solipsism' of this book, and his three-and-a-half years in the region as deeply seared into his identity. He is unflinching in describing the horror he witnessed at first hand when, for example, Dr Izzedin Abu-Eleish took him around the remains of his Gaza home to see his dead daughters' hair glued in clumps on the ceiling. To the question 'How far does a journalist go to convey the trauma of a devastated father?', all the way is the response. When Franks talks of the periodic cataclysms that have befallen Jews through the ages he is unwilling to say whether that is the fate of Jews or simply their experience. Don't expect neat answers to this question, as he has already warned readers that he much prefers to interrogate the answers of others than to proffer his own. This is partly rooted in what he calls his 'humourless and utter devotion to the idea that the BBC is better off when its staff don't mouth off'. Franks concludes, as of course he must, that his identity is both Jewish and journalist. No need to choose. The one makes him better at being the other.
1News
8 hours ago
- 1News
Idaho man accused of killing two firefighters once aspired to be one
A 20-year-old man's life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to "kind of go downhill'. The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said today. Roley, who authorities say took his own life after yesterday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting carriers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine. 'I don't know that we're ever going to be able to guarantee people's peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this,' Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. 'But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.' Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks. ADVERTISEMENT 'There was an interaction with the firefighters,' Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. 'It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.' Smoke rises from a fire near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where responding firefighters were shot and killed by sniper fire. (Source: Associated Press) Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said. Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said. He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho 'for the better part of 2024', although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said. When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police. The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbours reported that Roley's vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle. ADVERTISEMENT Hours after the shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters' bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office in Spokane, Washington, about 56 kilometres from Coeur d'Alene. A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after two firefighters were killed when they were ambushed by sniper fire in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. (Source: Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP) Governor Brad Little ordered US and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honour the firefighters until the day after their memorial service. 'All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,' he said in a statement. Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference today. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard. Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic. Coeur d'Alene Fire Department fire engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. 'We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants,' said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Woody McEvers. By this afternoon, the fire was 'reasonably contained", and responders had 'stopped significant forward progress", Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 10.5ha.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- NDTV
Man Accused Of Killing 2 Idaho Firefighters Had Once Aspired To Be One
Couer d'alene: A 20-year-old man's life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to "kind of go downhill." The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday. Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine. "I don't know that we're ever going to be able to guarantee people's peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this," Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. "But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders." Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks. "There was an interaction with the firefighters," Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. "It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was." Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said. Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said. He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho "for the better part of 2024," although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said. When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police. The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley's vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle. Hours after Sunday's shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters' bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur d'Alene. On Tuesday, a procession of police and fire vehicles accompanied a hearse as onlookers along a quiet street held flags and in some cases saluted as the vehicles got underway. People dotted an overpass, where a fire truck bearing a large U.S. flag stood, as the procession passed on the interstate below. Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service. "All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before," he said in a statement. Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard. Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic. Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. "We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants," Coeur d'Alene Mayor Woody McEvers said. By Monday afternoon, the fire was "reasonably contained," and responders had "stopped significant forward progress," Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres (10.5 hectares).
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Coeur d'Alene shooting: Ohio sniper Wess Roley who killed 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one
A 20-year-old man's life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Idaho shooter Wess Roley wanted to be a firefighter. (X and Reuters ) Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to "kind of go downhill.' The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday. Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine. 'I don't know that we're ever going to be able to guarantee people's peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this,' Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. 'But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.' Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks. 'There was an interaction with the firefighters,' Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. 'It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.' Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said. Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said. He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho 'for the better part of 2024,' although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said. When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police. The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley's vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle. Hours after Sunday's shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters' bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur d'Alene. Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service. 'All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,' he said in a statement. Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard. Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic. Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. 'We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants,' said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Woody McEvers. By Monday afternoon, the fire was 'reasonably contained,' and responders had 'stopped significant forward progress," Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres (10.5 hectares).
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
The man accused of killing 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A 20-year-old man's life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to 'kind of go downhill.' The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday. Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine. 'I don't know that we're ever going to be able to guarantee people's peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this,' Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. 'But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.' Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks. 'There was an interaction with the firefighters,' Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. 'It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.' Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said. Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said. He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho 'for the better part of 2024,' although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said. When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police. The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley's vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle. Hours after Sunday's shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters' bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles from Coeur d'Alene. Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service. 'All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,' he said in a statement. Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard. Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic. Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. 'We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants,' said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Woody McEvers. By Monday afternoon, the fire was 'reasonably contained,' and responders had 'stopped significant forward progress,' Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres.
