Is no news, good news?

I am turning off the news more often than not these days. The only legitimate reason I find to read or look at whats happening in the world beyond my own backyard, is to determine who is in need of my prayers the most. What is up with that?

A beautiful place in Australia.

School taught me that an informed citizen was a responsible citizen. I can remember devouring newspapers and news magazines. Journalism was a fascinating subject to me and was practiced by many excellent organizations.

Today, I believe there are very few organizations that allow their writers to be journalists. We are being informed by a generation of writers who were not given the time or experiences to develop the skills to truly investigate a story. In a culture that often values speed over accuracy; profits over integrity; our writers rehash what they are told. Told by messengers who work on carefully crafting the message of their masters, governments, corporations or [fill in the organization of your choice].

We have devalued journalists so thoroughly that the organizations that used to develop and pay them are disappearing. Rapidly. Our Fourth Estate is dying a not so slow death.

WHO WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE?

Our leaders, both private and public are trained to “stay on message”, to calmly deflect unwanted questions, before responding with a sound bite from the prepared script. I've prepped those leaders. I am complicit. They try to tell us only what they want us to hear. More often than not, they succeed.

It seems we are unwilling to demand the truth. We accept the most outrageous statements from the fear factories of fate masquerading as our news outlets, as fact. When in fact, they are often nothing more than calculated words designed to … promote fear, hatred, failure, war, famine.

Listen closely, there is no hope for us. If you believe there is hope, you are simply not in touch with reality. If you believe that love or peace define who we are as humans, you are a romantic fool. If you disagree with me, you must be one of them. Time to turn the channel.

WHAT DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN?

We teach our children that to succeed in the world they should set goals, keep their eye on the ball, stay focused,visualize the outcome they desire. All of these ideas suggest, that what we keep foremost in our thoughts, hearts and minds will drive our actions and inevitably our results. Time has provided tons of evidence that these ideas work.

Should governments, nations or corporations operate any differently?

Most of the people I know, love their families, friends and neighbors. They teach their children to tell the truth. They value peace and freedom. They enjoy varied interests, from hunting to musical theatre. The signposts of their life are celebrated in love and as much harmony as possible.

Perhaps naively, I believe that day to day, my brothers and sisters around the world strive for lives of love, happiness, peace and plenty as well. “We hold these truths to be self evident...”

THE FIVE W'S AND THE FOURTH ESTATE

Who are “they” that would have us believe that the world is a steaming cauldron of hate and fear?

What is in it for them? For us?

Where are the leaders with integrity and compassion?

When will we as an electorate, deem it no longer acceptable for our government to focus on war and profit rather than peace and prosperity for all?

Why do we accept half truths and inflammatory hyperbole from our leaders?

How will change occur if we don't take responsibility for where our focus is as a people and a nation?

These are some of the questions journalists could be asking on our behalf. If however, journalists are truly going extinct, we as citizens must become the fourth estate as well.

BE A PEACE CORRESPONDENT

I'm not suggesting that we all become war correspondents, quite the opposite: become a peace correspondent; a happiness and prosperity correspondent: a golden rule correspondent.

All politics are local, we start at home. Ask questions that clarify to the leaders in your community what is important to you and your neighbors. If you find the answer to be mercurial, ask again and again. Truth rings true.

Ask your own questions, and not those posited by the fear factories of hate. Is war really the most important thing to you? Is hating your neighbor because of their skin color, sexual orientation or religion important to you? Is making sure that 90% of the wealth in the world be in the hands of 1% of the population your primary concern? Is your life really driven by fear and hatred?

What do you value, desire and love for you and your children?

I believe in you. You can make a difference. Next question?

Namaste.

Lon