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I think I've admitted to this before; I'm a news show junkie. Dateline, 60 mins, 48 hours, 20/20, all those numbers and dates and crap. They're not really technically news, of course. They're editorials on topics that occasionally have factual content. Long ago I made peace with the fact that most "news" of today would make Edward R. Murrow spin in his grave like a frog in a blender.
Still, apropos to my rant of a few days ago, 20/20 jumped the shark last night with such a splash that it made Geraldo Rivera look like a high point in the show's history. I really couldn't believe that the third rate Fox network style Easter special streaming out of the tube was really a prime time ABC news show. I looked it up to be sure, "Scholars, theologians and archaeologists examine the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Elizabeth Vargas reports from Jerusalem."
I watched in growing dismay as the inspired by Hallmark "report" barreled forward. Elizabeth Vargas did her best Diane Sawyer imitation, speaking in low tones of heavy import, as if every word were somehow profound and moving. Then, as if to make sure you noticed you'd just been subjected to a Sunday school special, they plugged both abcnews.com and beliefnet.com.
I must emphasize that I have nothing against any belief system. My own beliefs are a convoluted chaos of at least a dozen traditions, the big three among them. They make me happy. If one's faith works for them and makes them a better person, then it should be given the utmost respect.
However, seeing core Christian beliefs enumerated on a "news show" makes my hackles stand straight up. It demeans Christianity, the Fourth Estate, and the First Amendment in one broadcast train wreak. I stifled the urge to projectile vomit.
Still, apropos to my rant of a few days ago, 20/20 jumped the shark last night with such a splash that it made Geraldo Rivera look like a high point in the show's history. I really couldn't believe that the third rate Fox network style Easter special streaming out of the tube was really a prime time ABC news show. I looked it up to be sure, "Scholars, theologians and archaeologists examine the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Elizabeth Vargas reports from Jerusalem."
I watched in growing dismay as the inspired by Hallmark "report" barreled forward. Elizabeth Vargas did her best Diane Sawyer imitation, speaking in low tones of heavy import, as if every word were somehow profound and moving. Then, as if to make sure you noticed you'd just been subjected to a Sunday school special, they plugged both abcnews.com and beliefnet.com.
I must emphasize that I have nothing against any belief system. My own beliefs are a convoluted chaos of at least a dozen traditions, the big three among them. They make me happy. If one's faith works for them and makes them a better person, then it should be given the utmost respect.
However, seeing core Christian beliefs enumerated on a "news show" makes my hackles stand straight up. It demeans Christianity, the Fourth Estate, and the First Amendment in one broadcast train wreak. I stifled the urge to projectile vomit.