From the Bench
SINS OF THE FATHER
We are great headline readers. We are rapid judgment-makers. It goes with today’s quick-fix mindset. Fix it, or throw it away and give me a new one.
We are great on image, and short on substance. Today’s fad is tomorrow’s trash heap. Where will Britney Spears be five years, maybe only five months, from now? (Those of you over fifty without young granddaughters are asking, "Who is Britney Spears?")
The Nike sneakers that are $120 today will be on sale for $29.95 next season. (We’ll let you in on a little secret. Nike will STILL make money. Dollar-a-day labor put the cost at $5.00, not including advertising.)
What does this have to do with Musa Smith? A lot, for, you see, we crave heroes. And when we find them, so do the advertisers. And TV. And People magazine. And on and on.
And we want to know EVERYTHING about our heroes…..their secret love life, what they eat, what they wear. Especially what they wear. Advertisers love it.
We have been trained by the media to live our lives vicariously through them. Whatever they eat, we want to eat. Whatever they wear, we want to wear.
In addition, they serve another purpose. They are the small-town gossip that no longer exists because we are no longer in the small town. Instead of getting our news at church, or the Rotary Club, or on the bench uptown, we get it from "Inside Edition", "Regis and Whoever," or "People" magazine, without leaving the comfort of our living room and the convenience of our refrigerator.
A new nemesis has been added recently. The internet. Now you can be guided to the big stories even before they are in print. Today’s story on Musa Smith’s father is a prime example.
We hail this innovation!!
Therefore, we urge you, Musa. Keep your head down and your chin up! (What?) Keep your legs churning and trample the headlines, right on through "The National Enquirer" Many will not get past the headline; however, the past sins of your father have nothing to do with you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Keep on running. If you do, Wheaties and Nike and American Express will come knocking. Promise.
As for you readers, tell everybody you know that you were led to Musa via www.neganews.com.
Like the rest of the media, we have no shame.