THE BIG NEWS VERSUS THE REAL NEWS

First thing I have to say: the death of Michael Jackson does merit some attention.

I was at Brewster’s, my favorite local coffee shop, trying to get some work done when Breaking News from CNN popped into my email inbox. That’s when I learned that Michael Jackson, at the young age of 50 (and since I’m 51, yes, 50 IS young) was being rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. Not long afterwards I found out he was dead.

Whether you liked him or not, Michael Jackson was a major force in modern music. If he isn’t the father of the music video, at the very least one of those who helped it become what it is today.

Long before his death, I already had the “Thriller” and “Beat It” music videos on my Ipod. This was the Michael Jackson I admired. The handsome young man who sang with power and moved with grace.

I don’t know what happened that made him change. I’m not sure anyone will ever know. But this isn’t the time nor the place to go over his latter years and what he may or may not have done. That is because while I am talking about Michael Jackson, that is not the true topic of this column.

Here is what I’m troubled by: while I agree that Michael Jackson’s death is news, I’m not convinced that it’s worth the AMOUNT of news devoted to it.

The day he died it was as if the news outlets forgot about anything else going on in the world. Farrah Fawcett, who’d died of cancer that morning, was pushed out of spotlight quickly. Iranians protesting the elections? What Iranians?

The day after his death I saw news trucks all parked in front of the LA coroner’s office waiting breathlessly for autopsy results. Both days Jackson was lionized with words, time and attention I haven’t heard for the death of a president.

One news story reported how what I believe was Gary, Indiana had named a street after the Jackson family. The admiration in the reporter’s words and tone might make you think the city had dome something important, such as opened a new library or free clinic or maybe lowered the crime rate. Nope – it had named a street after the Jackson family. That was considered a big deal.

And as we’ve seen in other deaths of famous people, there’s been enough questions raised to feed the 24 hour news cycle. Is there a will, isn’t there a will, what really killed the pop star, what about the kids?

Oh yeah, let’s not forget there are three kids who’ve just lost their dad. What must this news orgy look like to them? Hopefully, Jackson’s mother (who as I type this has custody of the children) has been able to keep them away from the worst of the reports. The news outlets certainly won’t care if the kids are exploited – after all, they’re news!

And do you want to know the worst thing about this? The news outlets aren’t spending all this time on the story just because they’re obsessed with celebrity (though some of them probably are). They are filling the airwaves with this story, pushing more important ones on the back burner if not ignoring them entirely, because they know that a lot more people will tune in to hear the latest about Michael Jackson and the aftermath of his death then they will to hear about Iranian protesters or bills before Congress that will impact our lives.

What does that say about us viewers?

Interesting column concerning writers and the current economy

Kristine Kathryn Rusch, a successful award winning writer, comments upon why the current economy is a golden age for short story authors, and has comments on how one in general can cope with the economic crisis with a good attitude intact.

You can read it HERE.

My columns can be seen online!

As I've indicated in past posts, I write a weekly column called "Laura's Look" that is seen in the Highlands County News Sun on Sundays.

Now, for those who haven't had a chance to read them, you can go to the News Sun website and search for my name, "Laura Ware." You'll find my comments on a variety of topics.

Read and let me know what you think!!

I KNEW reading was good for you!

Reading novels enhances social skills: study

The Virginia Tech Massacre

I just made myself turn off the news coverage. Words like "tragic" don't even begin to describe it.

Today I called my college kid, knowing he was okay, just to hear his voice. Bless him, he understood and kept his smart remarks to a minimum.

Pray for the familes and friends of those poor victims

Dobson vs. Thompson

Let me start this post by saying I like Dr. James Dobson. His books on marriage and raising kids are usually first rate. I remember buying "Parenting Isn't for Cowards" simply because I loved the title.

But Dr. Dobson was wrong, in my opinion, when he first implied that former Senator Fred Thompson wasn't a Christian, and on finding that he was a believer, then said pretty much he wasn't "evangelical" enough for most Christians.

Dobson's recent public remarks seem to show him leaning towards Newt Gingrich, though as far as I know Newt isn't an evangelical Christian either.

I understand that as head of Focus on the Family Dr. Dobson carries a lot of weight with people. And there are those who would say he has the pulse of the "evangelical Christians."

I have to disagree on this. I think Dr. Dobson stepped over a line when he publically suggested that the wrong kind of Christian (i.e., not a James Dobson kind of Christian) would fail to get Christian's votes.

I wish I could vote for someone who totally shared by beliefs. Sadly, no one like that ever seems to be running. So I try to vote for the person who I think will do the best job.

In my opinion, Dr. Dobson owes Fred Thompson a public apology. It would be the Christian thing to do.

Donatella Versace's daughter.

Donatella Versace is a fashion designer. She creates styles that women like me are supposed to want to wear (I say supposed to but I'm not a huge fashion maven - anyone who's seen my wardrobe will testify to this).

Anyway, it turns out that her daughter has been diagnosed is undergoing treatment for anorexia.

It gets my attention because so many fashion models that are used by designers like Versace are little more than skin and bones. I mean, people are talking about having to create sub-zero sizes now! And it is truly unrealistic to expect women to maintain their health and these terribly low weights.

Will the fashion industry take Versace's daughter's condition as a warning?

John Edwards, his wife, cancer, and running for President

Today John Edwards announced that his wife Elizabeth's cancer had returned. (You may remember that Mrs. Edwards was diagnosed with cancer around the end of the 2004 presidential election). He also announced that he would continue his run for President.

I'm sure he's going to catch flak for this. He should make his wife the priority, etc. etc.. Some might even see his decision as cold.

I probably won't vote for Edwards. But I don't think he's a monster for continuing what he is doing.

What is he supposed to do? Bring his life to a screeching halt? I get the impression his wife doesn't want him to do that. She wants him to continue his avocation. And she will support him as much as he is able.

He stated that he will be with her when he needs to be. It seems to me he will put her before the campaign. That is right. But it doesn't mean he must abandon it entirely.

John Edwards will probably get criticized by me at some point. But not for this.

My prayers are with the Edwards family.

Tired of it...

Am I the only one tired of the coverage of the aftermath of Anna Nicole Smith's death?

Don't get me wrong. I'm sorry she died. I'm also sorry for her baby daughter - it is crazy how this child has been thrown into such a questionable state while several men play "I'm the daddy."

But is it really breaking news? Is it really something we need to follow every second of? Something to be treated as hard news?

Or am I crazy?

Hmmm....

Rush Limbaugh nominated for 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.