Miscellaneous Notes on a Failing Society

This is the first post in three months, due to 1) preparation for the holiday season; 2) the holiday season; 3) recovery from the holiday season.

First comment concerns the shabby state of American journalism. One small example (and they occur daily) is today's story on a cable network (MSNBC) regaarding John McCain. McCain was asked if he thought Huckabee should withdraw from the Presidential race due to his losses in the Virginia, Maryland and D.C. primaries. McCain replied that of course he would like to see Huckabee withdraw, but had long defended his right to stay in the race as long as he wants. Headline of story then became: "McCain asks Huckabee to Withdraw." Within four hours or so (in time for the evening pundants), the story will be "McCain Pressures Huckabee to Withdraw."

Thus, McCain's point of "it's really up to him," gets twisted and distorted to pressuring Huckabee to withdraw. Sooo...when the media talks of how the country has polarized itself, it should look to itself in the first instance. [And, of course, when asked about McCain's comment, Huckabee will probably twist the story to his own advantage, rather than challenging the media with: "I don't think that's really the point McCain was making."]

I doubt this is intentional. In most cases, it is more likely that most shabby journalism is simply the pursuit of controversy for the sake of ratings.

MSNBC, by the way, has apparently become the left's counterpart to the right's Fox News.

Meanwhile, sports fans, we all know deep down inside, its really all about baseball. Despite the minor problems facing the country regarding Social Security, health care, immigration, two wars, education, the economy, etc., etc., Henry Waxman today took up roughly 5-6 hours of national media time pondering the question of whether or not Roger Clemens really told the truth concerning his use of steriods.

This is a story that would have died out long ago had not some enterprising "reporter" complimented the main story with "news" that apparently Mrs. Clemens also received steroid injections, thus enabling the networks to re-run an ad photo of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens in Speedo and bikini. What's better than sex and baseball?

So much for sports and politics. Next up is the rather mundane subject of what is the meaning of life...as seen through the eyes of Nicole Kidman's recent film "Invasion."

I am a sucker for Kidman's films (as well as Jody Foster's stuff). Their latest offerings, however, are along the lines of "occasionally we have to do something to pay the rent." Foster's latest is "The Brave One," sort a feminist version of the old Charlie Bronson "Death Wish" series. Kidman's is sort of a remake of the cult classic, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Because, I suppose, both films feature genuinely good actresses, they must pretend to have some "deeper meaning." Like, people who normally go to Kidman and Foster films do not expect to see Grade B (or lower) movies.

But, being niave and not wanting to believe that either of these great actresses would "sell their art for money," I played along and really, really tried to understand the deeper meanings with which each professed to be dealing. Next post will deal with Kidman and the one after that with Foster.