In years past as I was growing into my teen years I discovered an item that was always available around the house that could provide many hours of relaxation as well as brain food. It was, and still is called, a newspaper.
I had for several prior years delivered the newspapers to families in my neighborhood to pick up some spending money, so I was not exactly a stranger to the paper; I just never bothered to look at it as a younger kid.
But in my teen years, some of my school classes would assign certain homework projects to the students that required opening up the daily newspaper and having not only to read it, but to then sit and write a report on whatever given subject the teacher had directed. Sort of like a book report, but on current events.
As I got more familiar with the newspaper it got to be a quite frequent occasion that I would actually sit down and read from it without being told or instructed. In other words, I enjoyed this form of non-mandated learning.
I became quite impressed with the different writers’ talents at forming stories from local events that had taken place, some of which occurred right in my own neighborhood involving people with whom I knew quite well. Those close to home articles always got my attention and instead of writing a report on them I would file it away in my memory so I could talk about them with other kids, and sometimes, adults!
Newspapers back in those days before television were fascinating as to their honesty and presentation of just exactly what took place during the incident being reported on. As a famous TV detective said many times, “Just the facts” as he questioned people involved with a crime he was investigating.
And that is exactly what those stories were; a compilation of facts and nothing else; no conclusions, no second-guessing, no ad-libbing or twisting the stories in any direction except to follow the truthful facts.
Back then, reporters and journalists had one very special requirement in mind as they composed their story/report, and that was integrity. The dictionary defines that word as: “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.”
Today there is a whole new world of reporting and journalistic talents and character assignments; in about 80 percent of story reporting both in newspapers and in television news programs commonly called the “Mainstream Media” (MSM), there is a total absence of integrity. In other words the “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty” have vanished from TV and print reporters’ stories and articles in four fifths of the MSM.
The reason for this absence of accurate and honest reporting can be attributed to a lack of scrutiny in the hiring of reporters and journalists as to their political leanings. And yet, there are many occasions where such hirings are predicated on what political persuasion those employees hold personally, as they may be required by management to slant, conclude, twist and at times even lie to follow the wishes of the media ownerships’ political desires.
Of course the so-called “left-wing media,” so plentiful in today’s press and TV reporting, is vehemently denied by the culprits, but there are too many independent organizations tracking, listening, observing and scrutinizing all MSM deliverances of news reporting that confirm the extreme bias of the high percentage of such violations.
Another very prevalent tactic utilized by these pro left newspapers and TV stations, and perhaps more integrity-less, is the practice of not reporting at all on stories or happenings that are unfavorable to the left. This takes a real lack of ethical or moral principles, creating a vivid loss of integrity.
This loss of integrity is not always confined to the Mainstream Media; on occasion, someone of “star” stature can be just as integrity-less while ranting on television. One such example involved late-night show host David Letterman when he turned totally repugnant and repulsive declaring that Alaska Governor and erstwhile U. S. Vice President candidate Sarah Palin, who was in New York to appear on a program autism in children, “bought makeup at Bloomingdale’s to update her ‘# flight attendant’ look.”
That was about as bereft of ethical and moral principles as a person could legally stoop, insulting not only Governor Palin but many thousands of flight attendants, hopefully inviting a spilled cup of hot coffee on his lap on some future flight.
And as if that totally uncalled for remark wasn’t debasing enough, Letterman went on with his journey through the muck and filth that makes his show such a hit by saying, as reported by Real Clear Politics Video on June 09, 2009 that on Letterman’s “Late Show” he jokingly said that Palin’s daughter, Willow, was “knocked up” by New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez
So the absolutely lying, baseless, tasteless and devoid of any integrity, left wing personalities, seem to have to mouth fecal matter and other filth in attempts to be funny; while at the same time bring extreme discomfort to innocent persons through no fault of their own. These brainless, foul mannered louts should be banned from the air as their tasteless counterparts in the MSM should be chastised for ignoring and distorting political news.
Those who condone these types of people are as bad as what comes out of the mouths of these integrity-less dorks
Gerald A. “Jerry” McConnell, 92, of Hampton, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, Mass., surrounded by his loved ones. He was born May 27, 1924 in Altoona, Pa., the fifth son of the late John E. and Grace (Fletcher) McConnell.
Jerry served ten years with the US Marine Corps and participated in the landing against Japanese Army on Guadalcanal and another ten years with the US Air Force. After moving to Hampton in 1957 he started his community activities serving in many capacities.
He shared 72 years of marriage with his wife Betty P. (Hamilton) McConnell. In addition to his wife, family members include nieces and nephews.
