(This poem is going to be a little depressing and dark. I remember trying to watch the nightly news and this is what came of it. It’s actually an old poem that I decided to rework after stumbling onto it.)
I am told to be informed
So I sit and watch the news
And try my best to stay
Ignoring my stomach’s turns
The opening murder
Puts me on edge
While the parade of rapes
Twist my stomach sour
Death of children
Making me rise to stand
Inching closer to the door
To escape the horror
Before my eyes
The parade of crime
Oozes from the tube
Joined by the shock of war
Fires blazing near and far
Caused by man or god
Disasters leaving people dead
And others on the street
My spirit hurts
And my loathing rises
Disgusted by my species
Depicted full of sin
Soon a light is shown
The saving of a puppy
Taken from a dire fate
Fostered back to health
A meager mint of hope
After a feast of evil
I look onto the clock
Seeing only fifteen minutes gone
The truth is always bitter…and your poem showed me just that.
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It isn’t even really the truth that bugs me. I just get a sense that the news focuses on the bad side of life. There’s an old phrase ‘If it bleeds, it leads’, which is disturbingly true. I mean, 15 minutes to get to a positive event? That’s just not right.
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The thing is that, if they keep on showing all the good things, then no one will watch. For example, if your book had no villain (if any book had no villain, or someone/something bad) then it would have had been all good and no one would have been interested. When it comes to news, the good ones are usually pushed behind, while the bad ones are brought forth, exaggerated, glorified, pounded into our minds mercilessly. That’s why I like a quote:
“Whenever I open the newspaper, I turn to the last page (sports page), because that’s where I get to read the first good news”
-(Don’t know who said this)
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I’m just saying there should be a mix, so a person isn’t angry and depressed before they reach the first good piece of news. The media shouldn’t work like a television show or book with villains and gripping drama. They’re supposed to deliver the news. Leave drama for the tabloids.
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I can understand what you mean. It is not just right. How can we change that, though? I’ve been wondering…
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Seek out our news in other venues. The internet allows us to pick and choose what we learn about. At least that’s all I can think of.
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Yeah. Sometimes its better not to read/listen/watch the news at all (although it can be very risky). When it comes to me, if I read a bad news, all I can do is nod my head sideways, feel pity and move on. What power do I have? And what are those who have power doing? Its so weird.
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The only power one has is to control what they know and use it wisely. Some in power are trying to fix things while others are more concerned with retaining their power. Change is a risk to their station, so they will keep the status quo. I don’t know if it’s more in that boat than the first group, but it sure feels that way.
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Yes. I feel bad for everyone. Even myself. Its confusing and bewildering…
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That is a very true poem, Charles. I often feel that way when I see the news these days. Makes me feel sick. I want to see more puppy’s being rescued and less violence!
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Definitely. There are so many good things that happen in the world, so I don’t see why the media can’t put one of them in their first 5 minutes.
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Very vivid. I can see the images myself. 😦
I, too, can’t stand watching the news.
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I think more people are turning away from the mainstream media because of the negativity and bias.
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I have hated watching the news since I was five and there were some ‘bad guys’ hiding out in the area. It scared me to death. Now, anytime someone wants to watch the news, I leave the room. (But thankfully, my parents are really into watching the news either.) If we want to know anything, the internet has all the headlines on our home page.
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That’s what I do. My parents are faithful news watchers, but they go for PBS and BBC to get less biased opinions. I still stick with my Daily Show and Colbert Report news. 🙂
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Good idea…and I’ll just stick with the sy-fy and music channels. 🙂
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They have music channels? I thought MTV stood for Moronic TV and VH1 was Vividly Horrible. 🙂
I go with Comedy Central a bunch too because I like laughing.
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Hmm, I like that!
And my Dad liked the Comedy Central station too.
(I watch westerns and cartoons!) LOL
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Which cartoons? I’m out of the animation loop, so I’m curious what’s new.
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Mostly Disney movies, but some Scooby-Do and Animaniacs (Ooo, and I’m a big Hercules fan, too!) I don’t care for any of the other new cartoons.
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Animaniacs are always good.
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Excellent poem, you depict how depressing the news and this world can be.
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Thanks. Though, I wish it wasn’t so.
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Very true. I try to avoid the news whenever possible.
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