The politics of Love

[oxbow]

I've been thinking a lot in the past few days about how to stay active in politics without giving in to the pettiness and sniping that debate seems to inevitably devolve to in today's media environment. This deal with Helen Thomas and the roses has really got a hold on me because of that. I think it's great the way ordinary people have stepped up to support her for telling the Emperor that he has no clothes on.

I wish the media would report more on these kind of stories, or at least take notice of how such journalism is rewarded. I think that a lot of journalists went into the business because they idolized people like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Kronkite, men who shaped the American landscape simply by investigating and reporting the truth. These people are American heroes and I think even the editors, who tend to be more conservative, must have had some respect for them to go into the business.

I want to focus less on attacking our enemies and try to love our friends, if not our enemies. It's hard when it's so easy to point out the mote in their eyes, but I'm trying really hard not to. Even when I posted a thread about this in GDP, most people seemed to think that the roses are a nonstory, and that nobody else would report on them.

What do you guys think? Is it possible to have a politics of love in today's America? With all the bad stuff the Bushies are doing, can we start talking more about some of the good things that people like Helen Thomas are trying to do? Will it make a difference?

[Cleita]

1. That's because the real media and the real journalists are

pushed to the fringe these days. The mainstream media today are propaganda mills that have very little journalistic integrity and are not going to publish anything that makes their puppetmasters look bad.

[LaurenG]

2. I think it is possible to have politics of love

I think each loving thought word and deed makes a dent in the negative energy surrounding the planet. I do think it will make a difference. What a great seed to plant in our minds.

[Digit]

3. I send emails directly to the parties I want to thank

I sent one to Helen the day after the press conference thanking her for speaking out.
I let her know that I admired her integrity and her professionalism.

It was funny, the movie "Dave" had just been aired in which she had a small part. In the movie
the double for the president announced he was going to make sure everyone who wanted to work would be able to work.
In the movie, Helen stood up, smiled her biggest grin and said, "THANK YOU, Mr, President".

I let Helen know I had just watched the movie and began clapping when I saw that.

Anyway, she sent me a nice email back thanking me for my kind words.
So, it is not a huge gesture in the scope of the universe, but I have shared this little story with store clerks and friends.

...a ripple here, and ripple there....