Walter Cronkite was known as “the most trusted man in America.” He was anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–1981). I’d like him back.
At the time, there were three major networks, and much of what was aired was entertainment oriented, at least as I remember it. There were news programs, local and national. But there didn’t seem to be as much programing with the intention of getting folks riled up. And there weren’t hundreds of networks and programs. And ads. And ads that looked like programs.
I’m sure that there were biases and slants. But I don’t recall programming where people reporting the news (or were purporting to communicate the news) were using their loudest voices and angriest faces while they were interviewing people. (Maybe that part got edited out.)
I’m already weary of the nastiness and hatefulness and lack of civility.
I want to be informed. But I don’t want yelling. I don’t want sneering. I don’t want lying. I don’t want lack of respect. I don’t want disdain.
I want to get information in a calm, sensible, comprehensible way. I’m ready to listen to all sides. As long as no one is unkind. (See above.)
Meanwhile, I certainly plan to vote. And the thing I’m most interested in voting for this fall is a local bond issue for our zoo. Some new buildings. Some improvements to others. A new exhibit for endangered African penguins (warm weather birds, not the Arctic kind).
This is the promotional logo for the zoo bond issue. There are yard signs around town. This is from a recycle bag that they were giving out a couple of weeks ago. I got two. This past week, I got two more.
My final “Behind the Scene at the Zoo” session was Wednesday. We saw the reptiles and amphibians.
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- Looking at this venomous snake from the front of the enclosure.
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- Looking down into the space, from the rear, behind-the-scenes area.
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- Looking at the back of this snake’s space. HOT means it’s a venomous snake. The “A” label tells you what kind of anti-venom should be used if the snake should strike one of the zoo employees. (It’s only happened once in the past fifteen years, but they are diligent about their safety procedures.)
I have one more Life Long Learning class, coming up next month. “A Literary Introduction to Social Justice.” Sounds interesting. Thought-provoking. Current.
If it is within your power, make peace with all people.
Romans 12:18 (The Voice Translation)
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon. Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives, it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.