Why I Don’t Watch the News

I am often asked, “Do you watch the news?” or “Did you see this on the news?” at this point, in the conversation I hang my head in embarrassment and mumble something about not getting that channel. This is a true statement. In our house, where we are located, we can get no channels without cable or satellite. Yes, I am aware that there are ways to get local channels without paying big bucks, but the truth is that I have very little desire to see the news even if I could watch it. Why?

First, it’s depressing. News almost never highlights positive and useful things. It glorifies the bad things that happen. I can find out without looking at the television the bad things that go on. Every day I see broken, hurting people without the help of the press.

Second, all the principal news subsidiaries (there’s only about five or six) say the same thing. Some of you are thinking, “What did you expect, it’s the same news. Duh.” Which is true, but every one of them has the same bias? When did that become acceptable journalism? It’s not!! Any news company’s job is only to report the news not spin or refuse entirely to report news with the intent of leading the listener in a certain direction. The American people like lost sheep will follow wherever the media leads us. Let us, the people, decide what we believe about social issues. I think most of us can handle that much.

Third, there is so much fake news out there that, if you’re like me, you have no desire or time to filter through all the nonsense to try and figure out what the truth is and it’s to the point that it’s often impossible to discern the legitimate from the fake news.

On top of that, most of the news preys on the sensational because they want to lure the American people into watching the news. It appears the news media in our country wants to keep the American people angry at each other. They feed the anger and hatred because it provides more “sensational” news stories. They want you and I to feel uneasy. They desire to promote unrest because they know some will act out their angst and they have more news and more people watching.

I love finding good news. News of people helping their neighbors, news of people being kind to each other and doing positive things. If they reported that kind of story, perhaps I watch more news.

Comments

Live Fearlessly

As I was driving home today, I passed a person walking on the side of the road. Since it was cold, and snowy, I thought I should stop and offer the person a ride. As I drove on by, I was irritated with myself for not stopping. I could have and should have but I didn't. Why? I was scared! Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I'm willing to bet there are things that make you afraid. It may be snakes or spiders that send the ticker into overdrive. Or maybe it's your job and finances that keep you up at night when you should be resting. Then again perhaps it's relationships that consume your thoughts and energy. As followers of God, we know that we are told not to be afraid. Yet we often are afraid despite everything we know. As I was driving away from a missed opportunity, I began thinking about what it is that makes us afraid. I honestly am not sure what it is that causes us to be afraid when we should be bold, but I

Tragedy: A Christian Response

I want to start by telling you a story. We were new parents. When Our oldest, a son, was about eighteen to twenty months we had another baby, a girl with brown hair and huge eyes. One day as I went to feed her, my son who may have been two at the time wandered off to another part of the house. The next thing I heard was a thud. I grabbed my baby girl and ran to see what happened. There was my son with a table on top of him. He had pulled it over on himself and more blood than I had ever seen was running all over. We put him in the car and dashed for the ER. It was not a fun trip. He had a skull fracture and many stitches. Fast forward about fourteen or fifteen years, I’m at a stop light and watch my youngest daughter about ten start across a street on a bike start across a street just as a truck comes around a corner into the path of the bike. She hit the side of the truck and bounced onto the road. I grabbed her up and checked her over there were no injuries, but

Just A Word of Praise!!

On Sunday, after church, we went to a town about thirty minutes away. On the way we drove through an area where they were working on the road. It was no big deal. We had lunch, bought some food for the week, and drove back home. Later, as we were on our way to church for the evening service, I heard the ominous flapping sound that a tire makes when it’s flat. Yikes! I pulled over and while I was debating how I was going to change a tire. A car coming in the opposite direction drove by and stopped. As the driver appeared from the vehicle, I recognized him as a neighbor and fellow believer. He approached the car, and asked if I had an air compressor to inflate the tire. My answer, “Yes, but I’m not sure how good it is. I’ve never actually managed to inflate a tire using it. I may not be using it properly.” I produced it from the trunk of the car and handed it to him. Within a few minutes, he had it hooked up and running. As it turned out, I was using it properly,

Inspirations

Search This Blog