The Sage Connection

Today I paid attention

and this is what I learned

Posted

I usually start my day with television news. I pay attention to the weather and traffic reports and pretty much ignore the rest. Today I paid attention to the entire show and here is what I learned:

  • Congress still hates everybody. They are all right, so nobody is wrong. Or everyone is wrong, so nobody is right. The commentator didn’t tell me so, of course, I don’t know. Walter Cronkite died, so I can no longer decide for myself based on unbiased facts.
  • The rain and wind are back, so leaves will fall. Falling leaves can cause branches to break. I swear to God that is what they said.
  • Although COVID death numbers are down the IMPORTANT news is we must still be very afraid. Apparently, nurses everywhere are quitting because they don’t want to be vaccinated. Last week they were quitting because they were tired and fed up with people dying because they weren’t vaccinated.
  • A tiger at the Point Defiance Zoo died during a breeding introduction. It seems she wasn’t in the mood. Do tigers not know when to breed? Do they not breed if not properly introduced? Do they not get to choose their breeding partners? If they were in the wild (where they belong) would this happen? Inquiring minds want to know.
  • More people are falling off their electric scooters. They are also falling off other things. Everyone was encouraged to wear helmets. No mention of leather clothing, elbow or knee pads, Apparently the rest of your body doesn’t matter.
  • Some nut on TikToc has encouraged students to sneak up on and slap their teachers to see who can get the most ‘likes’. The commentator warned that these kids could be prosecuted for assault.
  • They further announced the Department of Justice is investigating the alarming increase of threats against teachers and school staff. How long have the kids been back in school? How long has the investigation been going on? Do they have parents? We may never know.
  • Dog thefts are up. Some of the favored breeds are Huskies, Poodles, Labradors, Maltase and Shih Tzu. The commentator recommended a GPS collar. I personally recommend shooting the thieves.

Clearly there was more news broadcast that day but I couldn’t take anymore. My sides hurt too much from laughing.

Where is the good news? The people who do good deeds for no recognition or reward? I know they are out there because I know many of them and I have only been here a few years.

Why do we not have lead stories about local heroes? Volunteers like the anonymous donor who has made pet food and veterinary services available for the low-income elderly through the Senior Services for the South Sound?

For that matter, where is the news about what is going on in the state capitol of Olympia?

Volunteers who continue to serve after funds run out for the program they work under? Neighbors who drive elderly (or youngsters) to doctor appointments? Friends and strangers who feed the hungry on the street or in their neighborhood?

There are occasional brief mentions of these heroes, but by and large they are pretty much ignored in favor of bad and/or fear-mongering news.

Social Media is filled with self-serving experts who have no solid knowledge in the subjects they spout, and yet people do not check their sources and blindly take their word as gospel; adding to the fear, misinformation and out-right lies some of us accept as fact.

Local publications like The JOLT are gaining a following by those interested in factual local news, spotlight on local heroes and upcoming events. Hopefully this type of news will become the news of the future – and the fluff and doom and gloom will become the filler…hopefully…

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below. 

Comments

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  • LindaPanowicz

    Right on! Thank you for the commentary.

    Thursday, October 7, 2021 Report this

  • FgsltW1202

    I love your sense of humor! You are right on, and you put a smile on my face this morning. Good job!

    Thursday, October 7, 2021 Report this

  • WilliamPorter

    You made me smile + laugh - thank you for writing! Please write more!!

    Saturday, October 9, 2021 Report this