I have been listening to the radio lately. To talk radio specifically. Just the other day I was listening to one of the disembodied voices on the dial and was impressed (not in a positive way) by how negative his words were. It was disturbing. He was talking about the latest military offensive in Afghanistan and how the killing of innocents in war is the price that is paid and he didn't mind that either the Taliban or innocents were killed - that they should all be killed. His thoughts expressed by his words were disturbing and the fact that he has a large listening audience even more so.
Listening to this got me thinking. Thinking about the media in general. When I was in elementary school, third, maybe forth grade, we had an assignment to find some good news in the paper and bring in a clipping to share in class. This proved to be a challenge. I looked in the New York Times and couldn't find anything and then I had my parents help me look. We finally came across something after reading through the entire paper. This was in the late 1960's. We take in a daily diet of if not negative news stories, then inane stories about celebrity and the temporary highs of it or the severe downfalls. Whether it's the local news channel reporting on the latest traffic fatality or house fire, or the national news reporting on the two wars raging, the fodder is all about the suffering that we in this human life experience. If there is an uplifting story in the news, it is either a brief human interest piece, or perhaps a stand alone show that is a point in time event and not sustained. I'm thinking that maybe it's time to change all of that. Maybe it's time to have an alternative. Happiness is fleeting and temporary. I realize that. But I also feel as though there should be an alternative to the non-stop 24/7 flow of negativity that's currently provided to us. I believe that at our core, perfection lies. It's there but all too often not accessible. I'm interested in the goodness. In promoting the goodness. The kindness that exists in us all, underneath the mud and gunk. I propose that this be an outlet for that goodness to be expressed and to flourish. I propose that this be a spot for beauty to be promoted. A place where stories can be shared and that one can come to be inspired or lifted up if that's what is needed. I'm not sure where this will all lead, but this is a start.
