I read the newspaper. I also read a wide range of magazines. However, there is a time lag, so I do try to read the news online. I say try because:
- It often isn’t news. I don’t care who’s had a liposuction, hair plugs, sex change, or is selling their 97 room mansion, complete with indoor landing strip.
- I prefer reading to video—not because video is bad, but because there is always an unnecessary commentary before, during and after the video. In many cases they have to rerun segments of the video over and over to allow for the commentary.
- Most news stories allow for comments. Unfortunately, these are, for the most part, anonymous. This brings out the worst of the worst in people. If you read Malcolm Gladwell’s books, it’s the equivalent of the abandoned building with broken windows—normal people will throw a rock through a window because it is now the norm.
Our newspaper, the Virginian-Pilot now requires editorials to be signed. Let’s put that into context.
What if the following were anonymous?
“Give me liberty or give me death!” (Actually this one sort of is, it’s impossible to positively attribute to Patrick Henry.)
“I shall return.”
“I have nothing to offer but blood, soil, tears and sweat.”
“I ask, not what your country can do for you, but what you and do for your country.”
“I have a dream.”
Great people with great ideas state their thoughts and take ownership.
Trolls merely mumble from under their rocks.
My point – if you have something worth saying, proudly take ownership of it. Ben Franklin did, and so did Malcolm X. Be great—you have the capacity, so do it.
sfnowak 
Steve, I agree with you for the most part about owning our words and thoughts. There are times, though, that some persons want to give and leave for posterity “ideas that seem to belong to the spirit of the times,” and want no credit for them.
Take Jesus Christ, for example. How many times did He say, “Go, Say Nothing to No One”…like in Mark 1:29 and Luke 5. He spoke and healed with a complete absence of any agenda for the benefit of self. He did not heal merely for show when healing the minor suffering of a feverish older woman. When Peter tells Jesus He has won a following and that all were looking for Him, he decides to push on to other towns, without care for popularity, intent on pursuing His mission. His miracles in private with no fanfare, especially when He instructs the healed not to say anything to anyone—is proof Jesus wanted no spectacles, and nothing for Himself.
Just this past Wednesday evening–under a drunken Te-kill-ya stupor–my
friends and myself were being a bit melancholy and talking about our dads.
Oh, yes, it always starts out negative about what our dads didn’t do, how much they didn’t love, and all the rest. But once we remove the negative memory filter, the guys begin remembering all the good stuff…and then
John blurts out from the clear blue: “The crime of love is forgetting.”
Where did those words come from?