Current Events (None of my Business)

photo by PSC

Current Events (None of my Business)

Time it was when information was dropped at your doorstep in the morning,

delivered into your living room as the nightly news. 

Bold headlines, factual, impartial, impersonal recitation of events,

entrusted to us with confidence; everyone acquiring the same information,

interpretation left up to the listener.  Conversations with friends 

and neighbors to discuss, consider, debate, contemplate, deliberate;

judgments to be decided by each individual.

At some point, the spin became the thing, with opinions sneaking in –

liberal, conservative, commercial, industrial, scientific, naturalistic;

“news” becoming someone’s personal viewpoint, peppered by propaganda,

sprinkled with innuendo, shouted out hourly on the radio –

each faction, coloring the truth, offering its own version of events.

Political discussions becoming obsolete, taboo;

the world effectively divided into “us” and “them” –

biased reporting having made each side too fired up,

incapable of listening objectively to logic.

Now, “news” is streaming non-stop 24/7.

Reality shows have become the new reality. 

We’re stuck in idle over "Idol",

pondering the latest misstep in "Dancing",

wondering who will be the sole "Survivor",

have all gone gaga over Gaga. 

We’re inundated with the latest reports:

who’s dating – or marrying – whom?

who’s pregnant and who’s the daddy?

who is gay or bi-sexual, transvestite or transsexual?

who’s addicted to what and

which rehab program they’re enrolled in.

Call me an old fogey, old fart and old fashioned,

but, honest to God, it’s nobody’s business (but their own),

and frankly, Scarlet, I don’t give a damn.