August 11, 2020 (Tuesday)
Will Rogers is still quoted, 85 years after his passing, and perhaps the most famous quote is, “All I know is what I read in the papers.” He could not have foreseen the demise of the newspaper industry that seems to be taking place these days. I will write in this blog about a few things I saw in the newspaper (or elsewhere).
I was reading the online edition of the Rockport Pilot, scanning pages quickly, when I thought I saw a line that said: “People our age have finished all their lives.” What? I need to take a second look. Oh, what it says is, “People our age have fished all their lives.” Quite a difference. Whew! I have thoughts at my age about “finishing” life. It’s a relief to know that the paper did not say that.
Then, as I read the online “Drudge Report,” I saw a photograph of Biden with a choke hold around Trump’s neck, accompanied by the headline, “Biden and Trump argue about who is the most senile.” Nope. Never happened. Picture is a total fake. ( I made a copy of it). Description is an outright lie. Don’t believe everything you see.
When quoted, I heard a politician say, “I did not say that.” And then he explained: “Some quote me or writes about what I supposedly said. A reader or listener interprets what I said. Then he repeats his interpretation as a direct quote, which it is most certainly not.” Don’t believe everything you read or hear. (A side note: Don’t believe it when someone announces, “The Bible says thus and so.” Read it yourself and see if that’s what it says. And find out for sure what it means).
The internet has opened a whole new world of “alternate facts.” If somebody says, “It was on the internet, so it has to be true,” be sure to laugh out loud as strongly as you can. ‘Taint so! Hearing and believing innuendo has made skeptics of many.
When Will Rogers said he believed what was in the newspapers, I think what he said was partly facetious but mostly true. Most news stories in those days were written from an objective point of view, but today’s media companies have clearly chosen sides, so everything you read or hear has to be investigated by you to determine its truth or relevance. “Uncle Walter (Cronkite)” has left the building.
Somewhere along life’s way I learned a word that I must not forget: “bias.” What does it mean? It means, ” a mental leaning or inclination; partiality.” Please do not deny your own biases, because all of us are biased in some ways. We have to be if we are to have any discernment at all. You have some biases. No one need try to persuade you otherwise. You know what you believe and you stand by it. But our biases can bring us trouble if we are unable to listen at all to what our detractors say.
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my oldest son!
FBC Administrative Assistant for 40 years!