"Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.”

A dear friend is going through a small trial in his life brought on by a local newscaster.  While he has lost a few nights’ sleep and meals, it won’t last long as truth will eventually prevail.  This journalist is carrying a personal vendetta, promoting the values of some of his own beliefs.  To make the story newsworthy, the reporter has had to create and exaggerate this event to the point of being unrecognizable to anyone who knows my friend.  I served with this man in a capacity that allowed me to gain an appreciation of his honesty and integrity.  This story which has run on the news several times, is not true!

I bring this up only to give a differing view.  I always enjoy learning; I find myself gravitating to those with a wealth of knowledge and experience.  The Dali Lama was recently quoted as having suggested our society is improving every year and has for centuries.  The individual interviewed in this story was confounded by these words, obviously holding a differing view.  When the Dali Lama was asked to explain why he felt as he did, his response was in part, “Today we have 24-hour news, seven days a week on several channels.  Each station is attempting to gain viewership.  The good news doesn’t sell, so we are bombarded with negative news all day, everywhere we look.”  He went on to say, “Look around you at the love and compassion that exists everywhere.  Today entire countries mobilize to assist those who have been hit by catastrophe.  We know more, we learn faster, and we have gained an appreciation for each other.  We are better today than yesterday, and we will, as a society, continue to improve.”

These comments hit me hard as I felt the sincerity of this spiritual leader’s belief and knew how the news intentionally distorted my friend’s work.  We need to stay informed. I agree. I would never suggest turning off life or entertainment.  But I advise that if we get caught up in believing the news is our world, we are entirely off base.

As I travel and explore, I witness the truth in the Dali Lama’s words.  I find personally, everywhere I go, new friends completely committed to the betterment of our world.  I go to bed each night assured our world is full of good people who are there for us.  Our differences are ever so slight.  Our convictions align nearly perfectly.  Where we have differences, we show respect.  Through love, we gain an understanding of a different perspective.

While watching an occasional news story, I will remember John Stossel’s “Give me a break or Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.”

Jaren

Share Button
This entry was posted in Business. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.”

  1. Teresa says:

    Good point Jaren! I am particularly one of those who gets caught up in current events but I also know the need to keep all things in proper perspective, make a list of what are my most important goals and stick to it!

  2. Cami says:

    Jaren~ It really is sad how people feed on so much negative that this is what sells magazines and makes the news.. It is sad that it is at the expense of another person that this happens. I for one would like to hear more of the good being done but I also want to keep up on the things that are “true” that need to be told.. I am sorry that your friend is really getting hit by things being said that are not true.. The saying “live your life so that if something bad is said about you those around you will not believe it of you” holds true but damage still can be done from those who don’t know you and don’t know what to think.. Good luck to your friend and tell him the storm will eventually blow over and other news with take its place..

  3. Micah says:

    An optimistic post Jaren. If you are familiar with Eastern philosophies regarding our Ego, you might also be familiar with how the ego likes to identify itself by those things that often draw the most attention, and that is often the pain we experience individually or as a community. The Ego loves to say “wo is me, look at how much I(we) suffer, endure or are headed towards destruction”. Because so many people’s ego is stuck in this negative mentality, negative news feeds and confirms to them their pain or negative view of life. I was once stuck in this downward and depressing view of society. I could only see the negative and couldn’t see how we would ever hope to see a better world. Of course we often see what we are looking for and so to change our view, we have to start ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world”. It is up to each of us to take the initiative to reach out our hand to make peace and bring about positive change in the world. Change the way you look at things and you’ll find the things you look at change. The world is headed in whatever direction you inwardly want it to go. By our choices and actions we elect which direction we want it to go. “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve”.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.