American Media

Writing non-fiction means truth telling. Whether one is a journalist, historian or technical writer the documenting is menat to be honest and factual. The journalist especially bears an ethical and professional obligation to stick to reporting the facts without personal bias or evaluation.  The historian's main job also is providing facts though it is inevitable that opinions and evaluations are included. This is acceptable as long as the audience can detect the difference. It is so easy for a reporter to confuse the facts as they happened with their interpretation of those facts. What is completely unacceptable is historical revisionism which is nothing more than altering the facts to suit one's presuppositions.


While various existing codes have some differences, most share common elements including the principles of — truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability — as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public. Wikipedia


Modern American journalism has so veered from high standards of objective reporting that I wish we could have term limits for journalists. It is difficult to find a trustworthy media professional who cares more about reporting facts than pushing an agenda. The twisting, churning and selective presenting is out of hand and we desperately need a revival of high ethics among media professionals. Thankfully now with blogging and social media anyone can speak their mind without the censorship that has had a strangle hold on American print, radio and television broadcasting.


It grieves me to imagine people in other countries acquiring an opinion about what American citizens are like based on what is fed them by newspapers and the often worthless television programs produced by Hollywood. I can't yell it loudly enough to the rest of the world- please don't believe that the United States is what you see on television. Most of us live ordinary lives and seek to be good, honest, hard working citizens and caring family people. I've heard story after story about people discovering what Americans are really like (the good stories) when visitors travel around and meet the real people. 


Not to brag but Americans are largely still prone to generosity and compassion. I know that is a sweeping generalization but I also know it is true. One recent example is the way so many people (even may I personally know) took time off work and their busy lives to go to Haiti to help the earthquake victims last year. I was amazed by the en masse focus on raising money and supplies to ship to Haiti as well as those who traveled there just to help in some way with construction, clean up, clean water, food, medical care, etc. There can be no evil intent when helping people who have no way to repay.

Concerning documenting history I intend to tell the truth about my mother, grandmother and other relatives who set the stage at least for my life. There were men but more women who set the backdrop for my childhood. I am committed to making a clear distinction between when I am writing the historical facts and sharing my opinions about them. This is a scary, daunting undertaking because I want to do it well.


I also need to state that I am a loyal and patriotic lover of my country. I cry when I hear our national anthem. I know we are far from perfect but like loving one's imperfect family I love my imperfect yet beautiful country. I love a lot of other countries too; especially places I've visited or long to visit but... there's no place like home. There was even one time I came back to the US and actually did think about kissing the ground when I left the airplane.


Yet I have a perpetual wanderlust for visiting and even living in other countries. Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world. There exists a long list of places where I long to visit and even live for a time. There's not enough life to fit it all in. I love meeting people and experiencing life from new perspectives. I just want to be clear about who I am and what I am about. I am an American woman writing about life growing up and living here. Because I am an American woman I take my liberty to be authentic about the good and bad.


Whether concerning my country or family of origin I intend to speak the truth but do not want to downgrade or tear down. Any fool can look for what is wrong and focus on it with a big yellow highlighter! What little imagination is required to look for the negative and squawk and complain about it? The human condition is such that the finger pointing so often points back toward the complainer. We are joint strugglers on life's stage where none are excluded from problems, trials, tears or regrets.  So bottom line….while we are here we can be more accepting, less judging and we might as well dance!

So here is a clip of my favorite danceing style: West Coast Swing. Warning: it's Addictive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MmbApsDQ3o&feature=related