San Antonio's David Martin Davies shares Five Things He's Learned about America
View the next in our new series of messages, ideas, and inspiration – shared directly from Americans we admire.
Five Things I’ve Learned began with the aim of learning directly from people we long admired. Now, as we get ready for our upcoming Fall Class Series, we’re also continuing to collect and share written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences give shape to the issues at the heart of our upcoming national election.
Thanks to everyone for the kind and enthusiastic response we’ve received to this ongoing series.
Today, from San Antonio, Texas, journalist and radio host David Martin Davies shares Five Things He’s Learned About America.
We’re so pleased to be able to offer David’s reflections on our current moment. For more than 30 years, he’s been covering Texas, the border, and Mexico. He’s the host of “The Source,” an hour-long live call-in news program, and since 1999, he was been the host and producer of “Texas Matters,” a weekly radio news magazine and podcast that looks at the issues, events, and people in the Lone Star State.
Five Things I’ve Learned about America
“I’m David Martin Davies – I’m a journalist with Texas Public Radio and the Five things I’ve Learned about America all connect to the most important real estate in America – the kitchen table.”
The kitchen table is where families come together.
“The kitchen table is where we come together to resolve our conflicts. It won’t always be pretty. There will always be disagreements. Just remember we’re family. “
This is where we share our meals. Let’s remember where that food comes from.
“Some folks are having tough times, but this is a nation that has abundance, and we can share. America is a nation that shares.”
Too many people aren’t at the kitchen table tonight – our loved ones who are the victims of gun violence.
“There shouldn’t be an empty chair at a kitchen table because a gun got into the hands of the wrong person and a child lost their life. We can fix that.”
The kitchen table is also where we pay our bills and balance the check book.
“A growing number of people don’t have a kitchen table. They are being priced out of the housing market because of corporate greed.”
We all want a kitchen table that is stable and dependable, one that won’t collapse under its own weight.
“Political stability is when a government or political system functions smoothly and avoids major disruptions. Let’s not go borrowing trouble and make America unstable. We’ve got a good thing going.”
San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT DAVID
David Martin Davies is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering Texas, the border and Mexico.
David is the host of “The Source,” an hour-long live call-in news program that airs on KSTX at noon Monday through Thursday. Since 1999 he was been the host and producer of “Texas Matters,” a weekly radio news magazine and podcast that looks at the issues, events and people in the Lone Star State.
David’s reporting has been featured on National Public Radio, American Public Media’s “Marketplace” and the BBC. He has written for The San Antonio Light, The San Antonio Express-News, The Texas Observer and other publications.
His reporting has been recognized with numerous awards. In 2022,2021 and 2020 Davies was recognized with first place awards for News/Public Affairs by the Public Media Journalists Association.
In 2019 David was honored with a National Edward R. Murrow Award for his radio documentary exposing human sex trafficking. Davies was also awarded in 2019 by the Public Radio News Directors Inc. for best talk show. Davies was named the 2008 Texas Radio Journalist of the Year by the Houston Press Club. In 2019 he was recognized with a First Amendment Awards by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Association for Women in Communications San Antonio Professional Chapter honored Davies with the 2015 Edna McGaffey Media Excellence Headliner Award.
David is the author and creator of the comic “San Antonio Secret History.” He is the co-author of the book San Antonio 365.
MORE ABOUT FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT AMERICA
Five Things I’ve Learned about America presents live, personal conversations with leading thinkers, organizers, and advocates for our democracy. In tandem, we’re soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences are equally inspiring and instructive.
If you’ve just recently discovered us, please check out recent reflections about America from people we admire including including Tony Alcaraz, Yvette Benavides, Sarah Fay, Francisco Guajardo, Tina Hedin, Marya Hornbacher, Megan Matson, Jeannine Ouellette, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Greg Sandow, Brooke Warner, Oliver Wasow, and Jamie Whalen.
And check out our free conversation series presented in partnership with Resolute Square, featuring 90-minute sessions with Americans we admire including Alan Light, Jennifer Mercieca, Beto O'Rourke, Trygve Olson, and Stuart Stevens.