Reflecting on an Odd News Week

News coverage for this week went from strange to odd to extremely unsettling. I almost wish I’d been vacationing on a remote island with no access to the outside world. Did you hear about these stories…?

“FOR THE KIDS…”
The week began with the announcement that Jon and Kate Gosselin (on TLC’s show “Jon & Kate Plus 8″) were separating. An announcement they made on their own reality show. I was one of the viewers who made that the most watched show on TLC to date. When it was over I felt sad and voyeuristic. What had been a light, fun show about family life to the extreme with 8 kids, suddenly turned into a tragic tale probably resulting from the stress of family life complicated by the lure of fame. I felt unpersuaded as Jon and Kate tried to convince me the show had been for the kids, the million dollar home was for the kids, and this divorce was the best thing for the kids.

“IT’S OK, HE’S REALLY SORRY…”
Next, South Carolina governor Mark Sanford called a press conference where he opened by explaining how much he loved hiking the Appalachians. Where, by the way, he wasn’t hiking recently as he’d told his staff. And, again by the way, he was actually in Argentina with an extra-marital honey. He was sorry to the community of faith, and let me know he understood it was wrong with a dissertation on what sin is. Meanwhile, he lied to his staff (and got them to lie publicly on his behalf), he deceived his family, and he left the government of South Carolina thinking he was in the U.S. while he was out of the country. Most other employees in similar situations wouldn’t be taking time to work on family issues, but to look for a new job.

“DEATH IN THREE’S…”
We also saw a trio of Hollywood deaths this week. Ed McMahon, who I met briefly during my broadcasting days. I will admit the encounter was too brief to claim any real knowledge of the man, but in a few minutes together he expressed a sincere appreciation for the career he had, extreme gratitude toward fans who he felt made his career possible, and a wonderful graciousness toward any fan who wanted to interact with him. He seemed to be a real gentleman. Then, there was the tragedy of Farrah Fawcett’s death at 62 of cancer. I never met her, but did have her famous poster. As an woman known most probably for her looks, I deeply respect her willingness to share her struggle with cancer in the recent documentary aired on TV. Her death quickly became overshadowed by Michael Jackson’s the same day. I never met him, and quite frankly he freaked me out a little. He seemed to be a guy who was always searching for who he really was. What a sad legacy that his life was as tragic as his death by many standards.

“REPORTERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR FACTS…with me…”
But, the real tragedy in those deaths was an article I read comparing Jackson’s death to Elvis. (Which then stirred the memory that he’d been married to Lisa Marie Presley. Creepy.) Anyway, the article said Elvis “died in midlife at the age of 42.” Since when is 42 midlife? We can say Michael Jackson died in midlife – he was 50. But I don’t think midlife can really be applied until at least 48 years of age. I may feel the same about 50 as a midlife point within the next decade, but for now I’m adamantly against anything less than 45 being termed “midlife.”

“GIVE ME A ‘G’. GIVE ME A ‘U’. GIVE ME AN ‘ILTY’…”
Cheerleader wars hit a new point as LeShawn Cathlene Fisher, of Oklahoma, was sentenced to five years in prison for using a stun gun on a high school cheerleading sponsor. She told a judge she shocked Bethany Lorenz because she wanted the sponsor to “listen to her”, but she didn’t intend to hurt her. And Fisher’s response to the judgment, “I love my children, my family, my friends. I don’t deserve this.” I understand how her logic comes close to the parental speech about how this punishment is “hurting me more than it hurts you.” But, you can’t love people and think that gives you freedom to pass out any punishments you think necessary to get people to listen to you. If that were the case, I guarantee you every parent in American would be carrying a stun gun to use on their children, especially parents of teenagers.

“GETTING HANDS UP IN CHURCH…”
Kentucky Pastor Ken Pagano is showing his support for the pro-gun lobby by hosting a “bring your gun to church” service. The service will be held at New Bethel Church in Louisville on Saturday night. Pastor Pagano is as comfortable on the firing range as he is behind the pulpit, and he wants to make it clear that not all Christians are pacifists. Anyone wanting to argue with the guy? (I didn’t think so.) His point is to celebrate the rights and freedoms of Americans. It’s an Assembly of God church, which may explain why they keep their hands in the air the entire service. The one thing I’m interested in knowing – what will the offering totals be for this service when you know the ushers are carrying guns? We live in Texas, this might be an idea for our church to try.

Now you know why I’ve decided to take a break from reading the paper and watching TV news for a few days. I can’t handle anymore weird stories. I’m going to focus on things reported on the internet. Those stories are sure to be much less weird. Right?

The Unexamined Life and All
- Jeff

Posted: June 26, 2009 
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Tagged: News
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