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Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Well said, DA!
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Thanks,
People don't seem to remember that, had it not been for a Free Press, Edward R. Morrow would have never taken on and exposed Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Woodward and Bernstein et. al could never have told us about Watergate and Walter Cronkite wouldn't have taken a hard look at the Vietnam Conflict. Enron might still be cheating people. We wouldn't know the name Lewinski.
Anyone really think those stories weren't worth coverage? Anyone think that the respective administrations in those times would have told us the truth about them?
Just to borrow an item out of this weeks' news. If we were to only hear what the government wants us to, we would have believed that what we heard from the deck of an aircraft carrier a year ago was true -- that "Major Combat" is over in Iraq. Tell that to the hundred plus families who lost sons and daughters during the month of April.
Truth is that members of the government are the best "Spin Doctors" in the world.
That's why the media has to be adversarial.
Does it go too far sometimes. Yes. Are some mistakes made? Yes. Are they honest ones. Usually.
It's easy (too easy) to blame all of our ills on the media. But it most often goes back to, "If there's smoke, there's fire." Generally, if there isn't something to report on, it won't get reported.
Better get off this soapbox (an early form of editorial). My knees are getting tired.
***BTW A-Sig, had a great weekend in Norman. Took Mrs. DA down to see the Memorial (I'd been there once before). She was very moved.