Neil Postman blames the media for the less-than-positive change in today’s society in his book  “The Disappearance of Childhood.”

Denzel Washington: “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do read it, you’re misinformed.”  “In our society, now it’s just first — who cares, get it out there. We don’t care who it hurts. We don’t care who we destroy. We don’t care if it’s true. Just say it, sell it. Anything you practice, you’ll get good at — including BS.”

These were his remarks, as reported by  thehill.com.   Aan actor and as a man, I admire Mr. Washington.  His common sense can hardly be questioned, and as for his humanity, it most certainly precedes him.  His presence with intellect, even at a hoedown, would command attention for more reasons than one.

The field is wide with political commentators.  Like supermarket tabloids, many often use aggressive and usually mean-spirited tactics to sell their issues/agenda.  Their purpose with insidious intellect is deliberate to create hullabaloo.  Controversy can be a goldmine (as proven in the presidential debates) for the experienced instigator.  I worked as a stock boy in 1950s.  Seeing the supermarkets tabloids, with eye-catching headlines, I would inquire to my mother about the truthfulness. One of her answers has remained so clear all these years.  “People who believe the mess they put in them papers have little faith, and people who make that stuff up have even less.”  Always to this date, it reminds me of having empathy for others and shame for myself for doing nasty things unto others, believing it would bring shame unto me.  Proving that early childhood lessons that money and power can be the root of all evil.

How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) by  Ann Coulter.  Coulter’s pretentious style is a comic monolog.  This is a stereotypical lead-in, mimicking the “How many does it take to change a light bulb” joke.  The state of the Democratic Party: “Teddy Kennedy crawls out of Boston Harbor with a quart of Scotch in one pocket and a pair of pantyhose in the other; Democrats hail him as their party’s spiritual leader.” A sucker punch, pretentiously divisive in its’ intent, but nonetheless, sticks to the minds of the captive audience like grits to the waistline.  Verbal bullying creates a floating conundrum of embarrassment by adding the right embellishments for a mushrooming mocktail.  It’s political warfare, diversionary tactics, and using verbal (IED) improvised explosive devices to avoid the table of compromise.  Salesmanship 101: Become the person by mirroring the personality or the cause of the people you are trying to appease.  Get them listening and laughing; as they grow to like you, then you can sell most, if not all, a bridge to nowhere.

“The left wants power taken away from the white establishment,” These words roared with certainty from the mouth of another political commentator on live television.  “They want a profound change in the way America is run. Taking power away from the white precincts is the quickest way to do that.”   Some on the left call this “dog whistling” because it reaches the ears of the intended target.  Free speech at its’ fineness. The commentator was speaking of the Electoral College, which the founding fathers created to ensure that the slave states could maintain power within the union.  A factor!

What do these types of commentators and tabloids offer to induce constructive conversation for a better America?  Nothing!  What do they look, and sound like to our youth?  Grownups, acting as bullies while making real money, become potential role models, the MEGA effect for many youths.  What clarity is given to calm any possible fears some youth may have?  In many cases, none.  Millennials! are you listening? The cycle repeats from generation to generation, assisting in “The Disappearance of Childhood.”   Reiterating Mr. Denzel Washington’s statement, “Anything you practice, you’ll get good at — including BS.”

“If There’s no Enemy Within, the Enemy Outside cannot Hurt You.”

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