Angst,
cheers, odds and ends
I suppose I have Spring fever. That might provide a plausible
explanation for the staccato form this editorial is going
to take. There’s a lot going on in the world—and
in my mind—these days. I could spend a whole column
on any number of topics, but instead, let me just share
a few snippets with you.
Bill Minor: Why is this Democratic yes-man considered such
a brilliant journalist? Repeatedly, Mr. Minor gets a voluminous
column every Sunday in the Clarion-Ledger to rhapsodize
about absolutely any Democrat and rail against any Republican.
This so-called “Dean of Mississippi Political Journalism”
oohs and aahs over Governor Musgrove’s ability to
work on five hours’ sleep but attacks Haley Barbour
for having a job in D.C. and dealing with the dreaded “special
interests” (which, by the way, Mr. Minor, your hero
Clinton was and forever will be the king of dealing in favors).
Ironically, if Governor Musgrove, a conservative Democrat,
was a member of the GOP, Minor would be tearing him apart
for some infraction, real or imaginary. The columnist’s
myopia results in a Democrat=good/Republican=bad tunnel
vision in his editorials, which are nothing more now than
liberal apologia.
Objectivity is not to be found in Minor’s dusty, old
typewriter. Even Mr. Conservative himself, Bill Buckley,
is more fair-minded in the assessment of political opponents.
On the other hand, Minor’s compatriot at the Gannett
organ, Sid Salter, continues to be the best of the new breed
of state political journalists in my judgment.
The Major Media: If you didn’t know that CNN, ABC,
CBS and NBC News, The New York Times and The Washington
Post were out of step and out of touch, you should know
it by now. The increasing irrelevancy and aloofness of these
networks are currently in full display during the coverage
of the war.
On the other hand, there’s the fresh air and vitality—and
objectivity—of Fox News. I first began to watch and
admire Fox during the Elian Gonzales fiasco in which our
government, led by Janet Reno, forced that child back to
a life under communism. The extreme difference in Fox’s
war coverage is noticeable and appreciated.
Iraqi Freedom or American Security?: I am very disturbed
by the fact that our current war has been touted as the
battle for Iraqi freedom. Isn’t it really about American
safety and our national interest? And if it is, why are
we afraid to name it as such? This war would probably never
had happened were it not for the events of 9/11, thus we
are disabling Hussein for our own selfish reasons, and rightfully
so. Yet now the spin is that we are liberating Iraq. That’s
wonderful, but it’s secondary.
Once again, Ayn Rand had it right: as long as America acts
for the sake of others (as in Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia
where we had no national interest to promote) it is proper
by today’s warped foreign policy standards of morality.
But, let this country defend itself and it’s automatically
considered wrong and selfish, hence the cloaking of the
war in liberation rhetoric. Depressing.
“Having A Dialogue”: What does this phrase really
mean? We hear it all of the time and yet it’s ultimately
meaningless. If you want to arrive at truth, there must
be intellectual parameters in a discussion; just talking
to each other is a waste of breath without clearly defined
goals and reality as a point of reference. There is a such
thing as right and wrong. Even compromise has to be based
on fact. I suppose it sounds open minded to say you’re
going to “have a dialogue” with somebody. Personally,
I find spirited debate much more fun and educational.
My old philosophy teacher—with whom I disagreed about
most everything with—once told me that rules of debate
should mandate that persons involved change their minds
if valid points are made against their beliefs. If they
don’t accept such a standard, he said, walk away.
Could you imagine such stringency in the modern, muddled
“dialogues”?
To close out on a personal note, I want to congratulate
my wife, Natalie, for going back to school and finishing
out her marketing degree at Delta State. She gets her Bachelor’s
this month and it’s been tough for her: she homeschools,
has a toddler at home, keeps up the house and puts up with
me. She made it, though, and has really earned more of my
respect. As someone who never finished college I admire
those who persevere and do so. Especially someone I love
so much.
By the way, if you want to have a “dialogue”
with me about anything on your mind, drop a line to jack@coopwood.net.
I’d love to hear what you have to say. DBJ
JACK
CRISS
DBJ Executive Editor
