If you've ever brought up the Daily Show in political conversation you've probably heard it: "That's not a news show, it's a comedy show." If you haven't you've probably at least heard the tragic state that our youth today are in, with so many getting all their news from the likes of Stewart and Colbert. Well...they're right.
The Show and the Report are in fact comedy shows and at the same time they are a news source for many. In a way, that's the punchline. Reporting in this nation has come to be of such a low quality, that people are turning to comedy shows instead. It has come to the point where you actually may be better informed by watching a comedian, rather than someone who has a degree in journalism. At least with the comedian you get facts and jokes, instead of opinion and opinion masquerading as facts. Of course, Stewart also benefits from having a "media" which is so easy to make fun of. But to make matters worse, they're so low on information content that you may actually learn more by watching someone make fun of them.
I'd like to think that it didn't always used to be this way, that there was a time when journalist adhered to a set of professional ethics, and took seriously their responsibility to inform the public without interjecting their own biases. At the same time I've heard tell that Mark Twain said something to the effect that the only truth printed in newspapers is in the ads ...so maybe not. But, I do know one thing used to be the case. I know that there was a time when the people speaking to crowds on the national mall were political thinkers, philosophers, reverends, and real grass roots activists. Today we turn to comedians and radio talk show hosts. I think there is something wrong with that.
Maybe it's always been that way too, but I'd like to think that we can demand better. If we demand that our journalists be journalists, perhaps the comedians can go back to telling jokes. If we demand real political thinkers and activists, perhaps the talk show hosts can to back to their booths. If we can bring ourselves to gather for the thrill of the inauguration but stay involved for the dirty confusing politics, perhaps we can actually gather for a reason and not simply to show how disillusioned we are with the way things are going. If we can demand of ourselves that we develop an understanding of the issues which matches our passion for our opinions, maybe we can move forward and stop coasting on the accomplishments of previous generations.
...maybe.
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