Herbert: Change the Channel

[La_Serpiente]

Change the Channel

Saddam is now a staple of the Leno and Letterman shows.

And Paris Hilton outgunned President Bush in a prime-time shootout between Fox and ABC.

And we're already choosing up sides on Kobe's and Jacko's guilt or innocence.

We really are amusing ourselves to death, as Neil Postman pointed out a couple of decades ago. He might as well have been speaking into the void. It's only gotten worse.

Americans are the best-informed people in the history of the world. But we are experts at distancing ourselves from any real unpleasantness. Most of us behave as though we bear no personal responsibility for the deep human suffering all around us, and no obligation to try and alleviate it.

Paris, Jacko, Saddam. The world is like one big media show, a made-for-TV spectacular. We can change the channel if things get too ugly. Or just turn the television off. Genuine social consciousness is for squares.

more...

Change the Channel

Free Registration Required