Good And Bad News

 

There is some truth to what the great wise ass says. Ignorance is bliss?  Well, yes and no.  I'd rather know the doings of manipulative and corrupt people seeking to hide their nasty and evil behavior.  In years past secrets could be more easily kept, and people were unaware of behind-the scene, out-of-sight steps to mislead and lie in pursuit of power and money. 

Therefore, despite the avalanche of news we now endure through social media and cable news, at least we have a greater understanding of and appreciation for the art of deception and outright lying.  However, the burden is still on us to separate fact from fiction when our news source(s) cannot be trusted.  

Consider the Associated Press April 18, 2023 article: Dominion reach $787M settlement over election claims. (begin) Fox News agreed Tuesday to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election.

The stunning settlement emerged just as opening statements were supposed to begin, abruptly ending a case that had embarrassed Fox News over several months and raised the possibility that network founder Rupert Murdoch and stars such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity would have to testify publicly.

“The truth matters. Lies have consequences,” Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson told reporters outside a Delaware courthouse after Superior Court Judge Eric Davis announced the deal.

Outside of the $787.5 million promised to Colorado-based Dominion, it was unclear what other consequences Fox would face. Fox acknowledged in a statement “the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false,” but no apology was offered. (end)

The Good News was that this lie of Bad News was exposed, and a hefty price was paid. Nevertheless, tens of millions of people watched and believed and still believe Fox News about politics.  

We now have news 24-hours a day and from many sources.  The challenge is for us not to be "wussies." We avoid that characterization when we are guided by the Good News of Jesus our Christ and when that News influences our values and moral choices. In this way we can avoid being constantly depressed - a temptation that is hard to resist.

Deacon David Pierce