Saturday, December 8, 2012

Opinion versus News


A few days ago, I did a posting on the problems with the 24-hour news channels, especially their reliance on using “spin doctors” to present both extremes on an issue rather than sticking to the facts.  Yesterday, I came across this verse from Lao Tzu in the Tao te Ching (translated by Ursula LeGuin):

                        Opinion is the barren flower of the Way,
                        the beginning of ignorance.

This captures my concern very nicely.  By focusing on the two extreme opinions of every question, we do nothing to truly enlighten people.   We only reinforce the differences, nurturing ignorance rather than helping to find the middle path to understanding and, eventually, solving a problem.

What we need from our 24-hour news channels is a commitment to presenting the facts and true analysis rather than simply presenting opinions.  The latter helps to fill the time, but doesn’t enlighten.

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