My response to the Sunday Scribblings prompt to write about news. This is something I feel really strongly about and it was hard to write as I have a lot of thoughts about it. I didn’t want it to sound didactic, not sure that I pulled that off. Here it goes:
There is a certain type of news that I feel we all have an ethical responsibility to stay current on. World affairs, the environment, our government, health issues, or issues that have an impact on how we are a part of our community-on all levels from local to global. This news makes a difference about how I live my life…the things I feel I can purchase either for environmental reasons or political reasons. I sold my car and decided to walk or bus primarily as a way to vote with my dollars- a response to environmental and political news (okay, it helps my budget a lot too). The news makes a difference in how I might vote since I’m optimistic that it counts for something-at least on a local level.
Sometimes it does get overwhelming, and sometimes it makes me cry and I feel like I have to step away for a day or so. Then I wonder what would it be like to not know what is going on anywhere except for in my own little corner of the world. This would be much like it was before news was exchanged in any way other that person to person or by letter. The price we seem to pay for all the joys of technology is that we are all more connected to the sorrows as well. When I do feel overwhelmed, I go to my garden. It’s a nurturing place.
There is another type of news in our world. And this type of news really bothers me and it’s also really hard for me to write about. I think of it as “ambulance chasing.” It’s news that dwells on personal tragedy or personal lives. Unless reporters deal with this news from the broader perspective (personal safety or how to help people), then it’s just not necessary and I’m not interested. I avoid a lot of this news by not having a television. I will admit there are some stories that a personal perspective is important to have, but those people are usually willing to talk about their experience and it’s part of a bigger story.
One last thought: “news” about celebrity’s personal lives isn’t news. It’s gossip.
Time to turn the news on and see what’s going on out in the world.