FOOLS DON'T MATTER

 

 

 

Rudy Takala
June 17, 2005
NewsWithViews.com

I was attempting to watch the news a few days ago, which isn’t something I use a television for particularly much. Unfortunately, I quickly recalled why I don’t use the television for that purpose. On MSNBC, Joe Scarborough had a thrilling lineup of stories planned; namely Natalee Holloway, Michael Jackson, and Tom Cruise. On Fox, Greta van Susteren was talking about Natalee Holloway, Michael Jackson, and a serial killer. How, precisely, these tales of pedophilia, drunkenness, free sex, and whatever else the stories concern are pertinent to our society, I’m not sure; but they certainly do a good job of detracting attention from issues that actually matter.

One issue of significance to our nation is the life of an actor, Tom Cruise. He’s thinking about getting married for the third or fourth time. His current girlfriend was twelve years old when he married last time; evidently, he was just using his other wives to pass the time until this one was old enough. As he explained to Oprah, "Honestly, I haven't [had this kind of experience before].”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the International Criminal Court recently announced, "We are… beginning an investigation into crimes against humanity - war crimes, and possibly crimes of genocide” in the African region of Darfur. Unfortunately, American news agencies don’t have time to talk about that.

Another issue that Americans must fret over is the future of Michael Jackson. An alleged child molester, his destiny is closely related to the fate of America as a nation. Why else would we pay more attention to him than we’ve been paying to the state of international relations? Jackson’s jury was indecisive, however, in determining his guilt, and they got the weekend off from deliberations. Left in a state of nervous anticipation until they’d reconvened and decided, we had little to do and the media little to report.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently attended a regional security conference, where representatives of various nations were present. He noted the fact of China’s recent military buildup, and the fact that it now has the world’s third-largest military budget. “Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: Why this growing investment? Why these continuing large arms purchases?” Rumsfeld asked.

As a communist publication proclaimed in retaliation, “Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld journeyed to Singapore to deliver a blunt attack on China for having the audacity, as a sovereign nation representing one-fifth of the world’s population, to try to defend itself against U.S. and Japanese imperialism—two of its former colonial oppressors. The message, delivered in an arrogant tone, reeks of hypocrisy. It will not achieve its goals.” Well, it’s good to know that at least some people still have time to talk about politics. China, incidentally, now accounts for 24.4% of the U.S. trade deficit, up from 9.4% in 1990.

Despite it all, what seems to be the most important news event of our time is the story of Natalee Holloway’s vacation to Aruba. According to reports, she went to the island, got drunk, had “questionable” relations with one (possibly more) of the natives, and disappeared. Hence, the sensationalism of the media began. Personally, I believe that going to foreign nations for a week and getting drunk is a bad idea, and so is having a physical relationship with the foreigners you met four or so days ago. Those who do it have a reasonable expectation to get hurt. It may be unfortunate, but it shouldn’t be national news when they do.

Meanwhile, our Republican-controlled House, by a vote of 338-86, decided the founders were wrong with respect to the value of national sovereignty, and maintained U.S. participation in the World Trade Organization.

During the late 18th century, the American founders fought and died under the motto nemo me impune lacessit – no one provokes me with impunity. Their objective was to ensure liberty for their posterity, or death for themselves. Needless to say, they found success in the prior ideal. Unfortunately, their posterity has found no greater use for that freedom than watching circus freaks on television. Their boredom with self-determination must be why they’re so eager to give it up.

According to a recent Gallup poll, confidence in television news has reached an all-time low, dropping from 36% in 2000 to 28% today. Perhaps that’s why the media prefers to talk about things no one cares about; who’d lie, or even care if anyone lied, about a pedophile?

Regardless, the media’s fixation on individuals who aren’t even slightly relevant to the course of this world is a detriment to the health of our Republic. In the centuries to come, no one will remember the famous reprobates of our society. They’ll simply remember our society as a collectivity of reprobates, scorning us as we scorn the Germans who elected Adolf Hitler. Our idolization of perverts and fools bodes ill for our people.

© 2005 Rudy Takala - All Rights Reserved