That our political/media culture has become intolerably polluted is no longer worth debating. I'll tune in to an occasional report for a few moments, but the obvious biases and disdain for civil conversation are so offensive to my value system that some alternative -- any alternative -- soon seems preferable.
I've been known to watch a Mandarin or Japanese news report for longer than I can tolerate Fox or MSNBC, even though my fluency in those languages rivals that of a three-month-old infant.
President Obama recently suggested, according to a headline I saw but did not click on, that Americans stop watching Cable TV news. Although that would no doubt be good for his fortunes, politically and in policy matters, his advice struck me as wise from a different perspective -- our mental health.
Try to think about this very, very carefully. Breathe deeply. How does listening to bigots like Glenn Beck affect you? Regardless of your political leanings, it is unlikely that his hysteria relaxes you.
Watching a vicious dog fight would be equally useful.
It may sem odd for a journalist to advise people to shut off the "news," except that what these type of people -- Beck, Keith Olbermann, et.al. -- do is not related to journalism.
Rather, they are actors who specialize in acting out over the news. They demonize each other and their respective political constituencies. They are doing nothing to heal this country, which as Obama has repeatedly noted is necessary if we are ever to move forward as a united society that addresses its real problems, not the foolish nonsense put forward by modern-day Know-Nothings.
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