'Sick to my guts...'

I usually don't make posts like this because I'm way outta my element. But I am sick of all of the hype I see in the media. The whole one sided take on journalism. Each program has an agenda. As my wife says, 'You find what you're looking for'. It would absolutely kill a mainstream media person like Olbermann to say President Bush has done something good and right. Likewise it would kill a 'talk radio' media person like Limbaugh to say that Senator Clinton or Senator Obama did something good and right. We are a country shown the extremes. Most of the mainstream media are such Bush haters, that's right I stated 'haters', that they would actually explode if they had to report on the good that he has done. Likewise 'Fox' news and talk radio hosts are such Democrat haters that they, too, would explode if they had to report on any good that they have done. 'Fair and balanced' my butt! Everyone, everyone has their agenda. It is so true that we find what we are looking for. The mainstream media seems to only report on the stuff that pushes their anti-Bush, anti-Republican agenda. Likewise, talk radio and the like seems to only report on the stuff that pushes their anti-Hilary, anti-Democratic agenda.

And I'm so sick to my guts of it.

I try and listen to both sides of the story but it is so hard to listen through all the second-grade name calling and hype. No one is really talking about anything. Both sides are only showing and pushing the extreme of the opposing view. A good example of this is when I saw a small bit of Bill Maher the other night. I usually don't watch his program because of this very issue but we were up late and channel surfing. Mos Def was one of the guests. He made the statement (and this is paraphrased, you can read the transcript here), 'Everybody wants to be America's friend. And America goes to these places and kills people!' To which Bill replied, 'Islam spread through the sword. Have you read your history?'

'Yes.'

'Then you know for a hundred years the Muslims almost conquered the whole known world and were killing anyone who would not convert to their faith.'

'That's a very convenient revision of history.'

'Really? So, Muslims are better people?'

This is exactly what I'm talking about. One extreme or the other. You are either a murdering, religious, fanatical prude or an open-minded, free-thinking, humanist philanthropist. This is such crap!

The answer is in the middle somewhere where we all live. But that position will not win an election. That position will not even get you on TV or the radio. Nope. People like the dark contrast between the 'evil' Republicans and the 'good' Democrats or the 'good' Republicans and the 'evil' Democrats. 'They (fill in your nemesis here) only want to take away your rights!'

It seems that you can't be a Republican unless you are for guns, war, low taxes, and small government. And you can't be a Democrat unless you are for anti-guns, no war, high taxes and big government. But that is the extreme in both parties. A lot of people I know are all for low taxes and small government but at the same time they don't like guns or war.

Something that is going to go by the wayside, i.e., I'm sure that the mainstream media won't comment on it or add it to a Countdown rant, is Senator Clinton was asked if she would bring the troops home during her first year of being president. Her (paraphased) answer? 'We don't know what will be happing then. We don't know how involved Iran will be. We don't know what Iraq will be like. Etc.' What? She is demanding that we bring our troops home now but sidesteps the issue if she were president?!? 'This is George Bush's war' was her cry not too long ago. Now she doesn't want to make a stand to say she will bring the troops home if she's elected?

And don't even get me started on the whole General Petraeus thing. I have seen where one side is saying that President Bush is the one who has desecrated the General and the other side is pointing out that it was the Democrats that wanted the report in the first place but now don't like the outcome. I hate that we have made the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people political.

Where is the voice of the people? Or, is there really just a few of us that are actually in the dreaded (and hated) middle? Maybe I'm naive and the country really is extremist one way or the other. Maybe that's why I'm an Episcopalian.

Here is a prayer that all of us should be able to pray whichever side of the aisle we're on:

O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

Lord, keep this nation under your care.

To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name.

For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.

Peace be with you.

+ OD