Something to ponder.

One of the most rational voices in media today is Fareed Zakaria.  His world view and intelligent understanding of the complex interactions between people and nations, echo the true spirit of journalism.  

His latest opinion post in the Washington Post reflects the patriotism and pride of citizenship that is only felt by first and sometimes second generation citizens. By the time the third generation rolls around pride in America is replaced by interest in self. It is only when the immigrant's gratitude is fresh in memory that we truly appreciate what we have under the Red, White and Blue.
 
Here's what he had to say:

Liar, liar . . . !

Perhaps you've (Both of you.) noticed that I haven't written anything here since the brilliant Clint Eastwood send-up of the Republican National Convention. I just couldn't beat Eastwood's ironic performance. I've also been really depressed and disgusted at the state of American political discourse.

Well, it's finally got my blood pressure up. The tipping point was the "special interest's" defamation of the "special interests" who are backing proposition 32 in our lovely state of looney toons. One set of special interests claiming that they are not special interests while they blatantly misquote, misinterpret and distort the actual law proposed by the the other "special interests" also claiming not to be special interests. 

Forget the outright prevarications by the major candidates and the various Political Action Committees that back them. Ignore if you will the irresponsible posts on Facebook and the other "social sites". Forgive the racist, and religious blasphemies foisted by zealots on both side of the aisle. It's all part of the new politics of fear and intimidation that have resulted from an out of control culture promulgated by the pandering pundits of the 24 hour news cycle. 

Our only salvation lies in the one thing the American People will not do. That is to read the propositions, get educated on the issues, study the candidates, their records, their promises and their almost daily positional zigzags and then get your ass off the couch and vote. 

The Elimination of Choice

Watching the Republican National Convention is an exercise in ambivalence; Condoleeza Rice with her thoughtful and soul stirring speech, brought me to tears of patriotic pride. Chris Christie demanded a respect for the American People seldom heard from any politician. A respect totally ignored by Ryan. This is a crucial election year (Aren't they all?) and frankly, even though I tilt left, I would have loved to be able to choose a reality based alternative to the inexperienced, star struck current administration.  I thought Mitt Romney might have been that choice, but just as with John McCain, the choice of a Vice Presidential running mate has closed that avenue. Last night Ryan did the exact opposite of the tone set by Christie, he showed the ultimate disrespect for himself and his party by ignoring Christie's admonition to "tell the truth". The Washington Post, not a bastion of liberalism and Obama love, summed up my reaction to both Ryan and his personal ethics in this editorial: "Mr, Ryan's Misleading Speech." I've voted in every election, local and national for the last five decades. This time I may not bother.

Chris Christie - Killer Speech.

Here's Chris Christie's Keynote from the 2012 Republican National Convention. (Full Speech Courtesy of NBC) There are some very important points here including some not very subtle slams at the intractability of Republican Congress and the doctrinaire ideology of the Tea Party. Interesting was the delayed reaction from the delegates at a number of the more non-partisan and apolitical valid visions for America and the denial of the targets of some of his observations. He did not toe the party line, he makes sense expounding basically sound principals of government, it's a damn shame that the Republican Party will, divisively ignore the basic common sense inherent in his comments and doubtless revert to the intractable positions they have taken for the last 46 months. I'm glad it's Romney who's running and not Christie.

Seventy-One Hit, Twelve Dead and Counting

A young friend posted this on Facebook this morning: "Cannot adequately express how DEVASTATED I am that the legend of my generation seems to be shootings and terrorism. what is wrong with this world?"

That heartfelt post got me thinking about the question and contemplating my favorite irritant, "Media and the end of a Civil Society".  I doubt that anyone will disagree that the alleged shooter, James Holmes, was mentally unbalanced, but what are the cultural influences that feed the manifestation of that unbalance?

We've always dealt with random acts of violence and senseless chaos and mayhem, of one sort or another, but with the invention of Television and the subsequent proliferation of instant, mindless and unfiltered (not censured; filtered) daily delivery of horrific images and thoughtless and discourteous human interactions, the slide into incivility and arrogance became accepted.

Violence is part of human nature, it is a protective mechanism which, under mindful circumstances, can be useful, even life-saving. Violence untempered with civility and the recognition of the humanity of our fellow beings leads to the kind of violence to which my friend refers.

We're not that long, as beings, off of all fours. As societies  emerged and the competition for resources increased and we formed extended family units, tribes, to ensure our survival. Tribes led to territorial imperative and thus the dehumanization of those of other tribes, cultures, races and attitudes.

We dehumanize because it's easier. It's easier to call someone an asshole than to empathize with what may be causing that behavior. It's easier to dehumanize than to accept someone's differences as we wish them to accept ours.

This dehumanization manifests itself in the absence of courtesy and acknowledgement, the disappearance of the simple civilities of "please" and "thank-you", "if you don't mind" and "may I?".  

We dehumanize all Middle-Easterners as "terrorists". All African-Americans as "lazy", all Latinos as "illegals." All Poles as "dumb" all Irish as "drunkards". Get the idea?

All kids, have always played war games, whether they've been fighting with sticks or acting out militant motion pantomime as in mock sword fights.It's part of our nature. Today those games take on a frightening reality with the addition of the electronic devices of our generation and thus the dehumanization, violence and takes on a fantasy aspect that transfers to our relations with actual people.

These games, the violent cartoons, the blood and mayhem newscasts, the plethora of bloodthirsty, demonic maniacal movies and Television shows are not the cause, they are the reflection. They are a mirror of our attitudes not the initiator. They reinforce our innate need to separate to protect ourselves and our turf. Our source of survival.

So what is the answer? It starts at the moment of birth with a loving, nurturing parent who views the newborn as a whole human being, an independent being that deserves respect and affirmation of sovereignty.

  

That may not be the magic panacea for all of society's ills, but it's a damn good start.

Whatever Happened to Journalism?

I started my career in broadcasting when radio was less than a quarter century old; when major markets had only three or four television stations and those of us who were lucky enough to find our way into the media were just trying to figure out what the "one-eyed monster" was all about. We were inventing television and redefining radio as we went along. We had studios equipped with one or maybe two black and white cameras, and if we wanted to change lenses we did so on the air. There was no audio or videotape, no satellites, no 24 hr "news cycles" and no cable. If you wanted to record something you actually cut an acetate record or used Craig Curtis' new technology called Kinescope.

We, plunged forward with an idealism and intellectual integrity that, at best, could be called naive.

Of this we were sure, news was sacrosanct. When we went on the air we were journalists in the tradition of the newspaper columnists, writers and reporters who preceded us and from whom we learned. Broadcasting was taught in the journalism classes in both High Schools and College. There were no talking heads, no anchors filling time interviewing other anchors who echo their opinions. When there was a difference of opinion among qualified experts and guests, nobody tried to shout each other down with half truths and hyperbolic bullshit. We treated our audience and ourselves with respect. 

Today, when I force myself to sample what purports itself to be news, either local or on cable, I am heartsick. No matter where you look it's the same fear mongering, chirpy, over made-up chipmunks and concerned faced silver haired and tonged anchors mouthing endless platitudes aimed at convincing us that something "could've' happened except for the fact that they themselves are on guard and on the scene.

Now, why this harangue? Because last night I watched the first episode of HBO's new original drama "THE NEWSROOM".  From the opening Jeff Daniels monologue, aimed at an anchor to be, through the evolution of the program it is obvious that  Aaron Sorkin the producer/writer, is fed up with the state of broadcast news and is willing to say so in no uncertain terms. Check it out, so far it's an honest attempt to comment on the cynical underestimating the intelligence of the American audience, the disappearance of broadcast journalism and what might be a way to bring it back.

We STILL don't learn shit from history

Part 2.

The following is from Democratic President Harry Truman, while on a cross country campaign tour in 1948. On September 19, Truman said: "You stayed home in 1946 (referring to the mid-term Congressional election) and you got the 80th Congress, and you got just exactly what you deserved. You didn't exercise your God-given right to to control this country. Now you're going to have another chance."  

Then on September 20th: "Understand me, when I speak of what Republicans (The 80th Congress) have been doing. I'm not talking of the average Republican voter," Truman told the twenty-five thousand people spread across the lawn of the State Capitol at Denver.

      "Nobody knows better than I that man for man, individually, most Republicans are fine people. But there's a big difference between the individual Republican voter and the policies of the Republican Party. Something happens to Republican leaders when they get control of Government.

      Republicans in Washington have a habit of becoming curiously deaf to the voice of the people. They have a hard time hearing what the ordinary people of the country are saying. But they have no trouble at all hearing what Wall Street is saying. They are able to catch the slightest whisper from big business and the special interests."       

Sound familiar?