Freedom: That's Just Some People Talking

I can't take credit for the notion that fact is what enough people believe and truth is determined by how fervently they believe it. Also at a loss to rebut that observation so as to land squarely where it is needed most. Whatever happened to acquiescence to people whom we admit know more than we do? The demonization of proper facts in favor of the feel good construct has spawned supporting governors who refuse Medicaid expansion, giving credence to endorphin raising theorists in lieu of objective sources of news, eschewing the role of citizen in our system of self-governance and the list, once begun, reaches book length.

On this, the eve of the Mueller appearance before Congress, the republic cries out like a modern Diogenes. Who will tell the truth that the chief executive was far from exonerated and that his collusions and obstructions were preemptively vanished by a corrupted attorney general who got to frame the Mueller report before its dissemination? And how on Earth can someone dissolve into a puddle of what-about-ism and cultish ear covering to perpetuate the validity of a chosen side, regardless?

Be reminded of this quote from Ben Bradlee: "As long as a journalist tells the truth, in conscience and fairness, it is not his job to worry about consequences. The truth is never as dangerous as a lie in the long run. I truly believe the truth sets men free."

Freedom is what America should be all about, yes?

Hackery

I'm no longer a Catholic because of, among other things, Sky King, airing Sunday mornings on NBC right around the scheduled children's mass at St. Anastasia's.

I had yelled at the top of my lungs so often "that's just stupid" that I was encouraged (by special dispensation) to worship at the parish of St. Magnavox along with Sky, Penny, Clipper, Sheriff Mitch and an assortment of villains straight out of the clear blue of the western sky. Not exactly Bertrand Russell, but formative nonetheless.

Religion and politics are just about inseparable; the two things carrying the most warnings of fruitless discussion make up the bulk of everyday civics. The unengaged are blissfully preoccupied with whatever the popular culture is dispensing while the engaged are hard pressed to find what they need to know in any other form.

Time was, capsule summaries of events, references to people by resumé, recollections of scholarly history and so forth were the meat and potatoes of the news business.

In a word: objectivity.