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Last Updated: Aug 22, 2008 - 12:10:50 AM |
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Bad Media
I generally don’t think much of the endless stream of rants about the national media. To listen to those complaining, the media is an entity with incredible mind control power over the American people and has a hidden (or not so hidden) liberal (or conservative, depending on your view) agenda. In that mindset, the media doesn’t serve the people but rather serves to control them.
I’ll bet there are more than a few guys in the executive offices of “the media” who wish that were the case. Instead, they probably spend their time crying over their red-ink stained spreadsheets.
I do, however, have to concede that the upcoming election is getting ridiculous. It is beginning to feel as though the major media is playing the role of a snotty little trouble-maker. It’s not as if the candidates themselves aren’t bad enough in taking the slightest gaffe made by their opponent and twisting it as though it were an ironclad personality disorder that will surely result in the annihilation of the world as we know it.
Apparently that’s not enough because it seems the media is there to egg it all on. I can almost see them - shifty eyes and whispering, “Hey, did you hear what McCain said about Obama?” Or, “Can you believe what Obama said about McCain?” And then they run with that ad-nauseum until the entire American public that is not in a coma is right on the verge of having their heads explode - before moving on to exploit the next inconsequential piece of garbage.
Boy, it sure would be nice if someone actually wanted to talk about the real issues facing our country - it’s not like they don’t have a whole bunch of those topics to choose from. Pick one - any one - and tell us how you’re going to fix it.
And to make that happen, it sure would be nice if the media held just a little bit of fire to the candidates’ feet. But apparently it’s more fun - and profitable - talking trash.
I don’t believe “the media” has any agenda whatsoever except to make money. As such, they are providing what they believe the American public wants to see.
Perhaps its time to start asking for something else. Certainly as a nation in these troubled times, we deserve better. In order to get that, though, we’re going to have to ask for it through letters, emails and telephone calls to both the media and to the candidates. Yep, that will require a bit of time but won’t it be worth it in the end? I think so, unless, of course, you happen to be Paris Hilton or Brittany Spears.
A Good Guy
She wasn’t much over two feet tall. The kids all around her had a good foot or more on her. They also had the quickness and agility that comes with their advanced age - they had to be at least seven or eight years old to her three or four.
She stood there with her plastic shopping bag. It was empty. Yes, the passing trucks and floats threw candy her way but she just wasn’t quick enough - all of the other kids would scoop it up before she started to make her move.
As the parade passed on by, she looked down at her empty plastic bag. As each truck passed she waved the wave that only little girls can do yet her bag continued to flutter in the breeze. She didn’t cry or complain but certainly she knew that things could be different… if only…
Suddenly, “if only” happened. State house candidate Jim Van Scoyoc was coming down the road with an ice cream bucket full of candy throwing it out to the waiting children. Despite the hundreds of people lining the parade route in downtown Williamsburg, I managed to catch his eye as he walked past. He veered out of the parade and immediately sized up the problem.
With a light breeze blowing, the coordination of having only three or so years of practice moving her hands was not quite sufficient to hold the bag open - but another, older girl came by to help. The little girl smiled as Van Scoyoc dropped a heaping handful of candy into her bag. He had no idea who she was - she was definitely nowhere near being able to vote for him, but for Van Scoyoc the campaign was secondary to a little girl with an empty candy bag.
This has nothing to do with whether or not Jim Van Scoyoc is a good candidate - but it has everything to do with him being a good guy.
More Good Guys
I’ve written dozens of stories on law enforcement over years. Often, people like to complain or joke about them but those same people never hesitate to call when the chips are down. And law enforcement officers never hesitate to come to their aid when that happens.
Over the past few months, I have found Sheriff Nick Roggentien to be not only a gentleman but also a man dedicated to the principle of ‘To Protect and Serve.’
Roggentien and his deputies are truly the good guys. Next time you see them, give ‘em a hand and a thank you. They deserve it.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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