Terrorist Sponsored News

As I write this entry, the news has just come on that Paul Johnson's body has been found beheaded.

It is, most definitely, a terrible tragedy.

But an even greater tragedy is the "journalism" which has covered this and other terrorist demands from day one. We, as Americans, all know that the family is suffering and grieving. We grieve as a nation when we learn of the loss of our citizens. And the coverage tears us apart. This is precisely what the terrorists want done. Why do the major news networks all feel it incumbent upon them to gratify the desires of these jerks? Did anyone really think all the media coverage of the terrorists demands would change the outcome one whit? If not, why broadcast it? There is only one agenda, folks, and its un-American. By their coverage, our media has handed to the terrorists time and again exactly what they want. The terrorists did not expect us to turn around and give in to their demands - that was not their purpose. Their purpose was to make our country appear heartless and cold to those hand wringing bleating hearts who will inevitably blame our government for its refusal to give in to terrorist demands.

These attacks on civilian contractors are designed to assault our collective conscience - but we must remember, these people are in the middle east by their own choices. It doesn't make their kidnap and murder right, but we need to keep these things in proper perspective. Civilians working outside the U.S. - particularly in these perilous times - do so at their peril. There is no guarantee anywhere that you won't be murdered while you sleep - but putting yourself in the middle of a war zone with rampant terrorism greatly increases the possibility. Perhaps some do put themselves in the danger zone strictly for monetary gain, but I tend to think that those still working under these conditions are doing so because they have a strong belief that perhaps they are doing a good work. And if that is the case, then they most certainly deserve our respect.

But I digress . . .

I'm angriest right this moment at our media. Technology is most definitely a two-edged sword that cuts both ways.

On the one hand, we the people want and demand every little detail we can get of the most sordid stories. Unfortunately, we don't always consider how much we NEED to know and WHEN we need to know it.

TMI (Too much information) is a great flaw that has been exposed in the age of technology - things we just don't need to know about are trotted out on every major news network and on the internet before the story has even gotten warm. Along with it are the explanations ad nauseum of how we should feel and what we should think. Information overload ensues, and frankly, I'm afraid that most Americans who get their news from the networks and traditional media outlets just don't take the time to think things through for themselves. We've become a nation who wants everything condensed into quick and dirty sound bytes and cliffnotes. Heaven forbid that we should actually THINK about the news presented to us and whether or not the purveyor of said news has an agenda.

The blogging community, I believe, can be a force for good - but time alone will tell the impact we're able to have. Blogs will never have an impact on those who are content with having their news spoon-fed to them along with their opinions - but hopefully, more and more of those tired of the current information overload will begin to think more critically.

KAYZ OUT