Blue Nettles

I've probably had face-to-face or telephone interactions with a thousand people (give or take 500) this year. It may have been somebody at a checkout stand, a bank teller, representative at some company or with friends, family, clients, etc.

Most of these interactions have been reasonably pleasant or at least without any animosity or anger. Even when the conversation was confrontational it was possible to get through it without lawsuits or violence.

I believe most people (say 6 billion or so) have had a similar experience. But you wouldn't know it.

Television news, more than any other media, seems to require a focus on the sensational, the violent and the grotesque. It thrives on conflict (much of it manufactured) and confrontation.

But what we see on TV doesn't fit with what most of us experience in our daily lives. I reject it as a picture of reality for the world. Whether intentional or not, it seems to be a tool that generates fear. Fear about our health, food, politics, companies, other countries and their people, our neighbors.

Be afraid! You're up against...everything! You need the media to be your watchdog and the government to be your protector.

I categorically reject this propaganda, as well. Charley