Waxing Poetically: Addressing Culture with a Twist of Poetry

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This post is for all those folks who watch the news and think to themselves, “Wow, that’s horrible news but why is it the top story?” The following is what bothers me most about the news: exploited horror stories for profit. Is there an ethical line that just shouldn’t be crossed? There is for me. yet all the major news programs on all the major networks seem to be going to great length to cover the latest terror lurking in the night.

Clearly, I realize how sensational stories about missing children like two year-old Caylee Anthony and the horrible murder of that 22 year-old man in Canada who was beheaded on a bus can attract attention just by their nature I also, being a realist know such things may happen, and as someone deeply faithful, I do pray for all these people. However, for these types of crimes and tragedies to be replayed, recycled and rehashed so much that they become a source of revenue for all the cable news outlets and national papers on a 24-hour loop actually seems a bit evil to me. I’m sure, for instance, that the young man in Canada would want his killer to be known by the public and I do suppose national exposure makes the killer more likely to be brought to justice (to use a “Bushian” term).

Still other times as in the Virginia Tech shooting, weeks after the incident had been lived through, we were still watching that killer’s homemade manifesto on every major newscast in the country. After Anna Nicole Smith’s death, a similar cycle. Who’s the Baby’s father? Was Anna or was she not an a-hole? Better yet, if a celebrity has a serious mental deterioration ala Britney Spears, people want to know all dirty the details, not because they care for the person’s well being, but because it’s fun to watch.

To me, news should serve my most vital needs. If for instance, there is a killer on the loose and I’m in grave danger of being killed, THEN I most assuredly want to know about it! However, if the murderer has been caught for two months and is safely in police custody, telling me about it again IS NOT going to serve ANY productive purpose other than to make the victims’ families and friends cry more and unfortunately the deceased will not be brought back by any amount of interviewing, debating or probing. The only reason I see for this cycle of coverage far beyond its usefulness is ratings and to profit from the misery of others. This perpetuation of dark, dismal and sad stories beyond there initial usefulness is in my view, a disrespect to those who have suffered…. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Please be honest when responding and wax thoughtfully.
Be well until next time and I’ll see ya later.

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