A work in progress - The USA

The past several weeks of media coverage of "breaking" and other news have been typical of the kind of fare that has historically marked the supremacy of TV over the newspapers, magazines and specialty publications that were the bare bones of all the news that was fit to print. The generation that fought WWII had relied on the daily and weekly papers --- and the radio --- to keep us informed. We knew that those unnamed "ink-stained wretches" had pounded their beats to write the "who, what, when, where, why and how" and from time immemorial had to satisfy a hard-nosed city editor to get their stuff published..."Just the facts, ma'am."

Coming to my point, I'll state the truth that opinion was reserved to be printed on the editorial page and was defined as such --- and never elsewhere in the publication. Radio shows were defined as entertainment --- or to serve as outlet for political bias (for example: Roosevelt's "fireside chats").

The medium also sent forth straight news, again observing the separation of bias. Great public debates (Lincoln-Douglas) led to the present mode of comparing beliefs at political campaigns to be beamed out to the public so that we might form a public belief as to major problems ranging from slavery two centuries ago to civil rights today. Old beliefs seem to be time-limited and subject to changes over the years. What might have been gospel in the last century is "humbug" this week. And this process may be modified by, say, MSNBC or FOX NEWS, whichever outlet is selected for viewing.

Consider the plight and subsequent exoneration of Shirley Sherrod, an African-American woman who was accused of being racist in carrying out her duties at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was fired. All this was based on the publication of a part of a speech she had made indicating racial bias.

Later, the entire speech, when it was aired, showed quite the opposite. Her resignation was rescinded, with apologies from the President himself. But the beat goes on and the country is undergoing a heated concern for race and the dialogue is hot and bitter.

This beloved country has been a work in progress since her birth, and we must adopt a balanced attitude toward race and civil rights, nor be swayed by either the extremes of far left or far right bias. More to be trusted is CNN --- any day in the week!