When the state of our political discourse appears to be
“Your guy is more corrupt than our guy”,
I can’t help but wonder how we got this way. I believe the “Media” in all its’ forms have
caused much of our angst. The effort to
capture readers with their attendant profits has lead to; misleading headlines,
opinions appearing as news items (often on the front page), pictures that don’t have to do with the
action being cited, (usually unflattering), as well as making the impossible
seem a realistic goal (taking away guns or eliminating abortion). One of the worst things the media does is to
name the deranged shooters that continue to crop up. We have no need to know their names and the
only result that comes from publishing the names is to glorify the idiot that
picks up a gun because he can’t get attention any other way. I can’t help but wonder how many mass
shootings wouldn’t have occurred if the shooter knew they would only be
referred to as negative adjectives.
Putting dates on photos, as well as statements as to whether or not they
have been altered would also do a lot to let us know what is fake and what is
not. Fear and anger lead to hate and all
three leave reason in the dust. I can
only hope the media will take some responsibility to tamp down the hate that
permeates our society.
