letter to the editor
Leave melodrama out of news; concentrate on important facts

Whatever happened to reporting factual news? When did our hunger for the truth get replaced with empty, dramatic events that prey on soap opera-like themes? Why is the news today sensationalized and missing important facts? For example, why is it that we are hearing more from the news and reading more in the newspapers about the “Texas Seven” than we are about George W. Bush’s inauguration speech? Ten years from now, Bush’s four-year term as president will affect us much more than seven convicts.

Am I alone in wanting to hear a factual analysis of the Inauguration? Am I crazy for wanting to better understand exactly what Bush said and the meaning behind it? Years after Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy’s speeches, we have remembered meaningful quotes from their Inauguration speeches.

“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” — FDR

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” — JFK

I was hoping to read in the newspapers or hear on the news that Bush’s speech was not the typical inaugural speech. I wanted to hear that Bush spoke in a very trusting and genuine manner and that his presentation was heartfelt and emotional. He appealed to the values of the American by urging them to take individual responsibility. He stated that Americans need “acts of great love, not necessarily great acts.” He swiftly took responsibility away form the government and placed it in the hands of the people.

Following the repeated phrase, “America, at its best…,” Bush identified four principles civil society demands from us.

Civility.
Courage.
Compassion.
Character.

Maybe we can take these principles Bush was speaking about and apply them to our individual lives. Hey, maybe we could even apply them to articles we write and news we broadcast. I think at the least, we need a to return to the factual presentation of news events, and discard the melodrama.

Kathryn Gamble
senior speech communication major

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