Comments for A Wee Blether

Comment on Consuming media justly by Adam J. Copeland

Adam J. Copeland — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:19:50 +0000

Thanks for the comments, folks. I like @MaryAnn’s idea of some sort of occasional news source with deep analysis, but yeah, I wonder what we’d miss as well. I sometimes think about that when I listen to NPR — they do completely skip many news stories some networks spends hours on, partly because they have essayists and culture critiques, etc.

Oh, and for the record, I don’t watch any news on TV — haven’t even owned a set since high school. Though I guess I do catch an occasional clip online. And I did watch The Wire on DVDs and streaming because it’s the best show in the history of television.

Comment on Consuming media justly by Kerri

Kerri — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:36:06 +0000

Martin Marty had a wonderful montly publication called “Context” that included qoutables from a variety of sources – I wonder if it is still around. Great questions Adam. And happy anniversary

Comment on Consuming media justly by Marci Glass

Marci Glass — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:25:22 +0000

I don’t watch news on TV. At all. Unless you count Jon Stewart’s “fake news” Daily Show. I do listen to NPR quite a bit.
I subscribe to both our local newspaper and the daily NY Times, although I rarely have time (take time) to sit down and read them both. In many ways, our subscription to both papers is more to throw our support behind a way of distributing information that seems to be losing its existence.
I do read news online throughout the day as well.
And I appreciate your point. I do.
BUT…
How are we to know where to seek justice if we are uninformed of the injustices in our community and world? I know you aren’t claiming that we should hide in a closet and stay away from all news. But, I do think reading the news helps me connect my gifts and ability to serve with the real needs that are out there in the world.
And, I think we’re in the political mess we’re in precisely because the country is woefully uninformed and uneducated. When Lindsey Lohan and Glenn Beck are the “news” America wants to hear about, we’re all in trouble.

Comment on Consuming media justly by MaryAnn McKibben Dana

MaryAnn McKibben Dana — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:12:21 +0000

Barth said that, but he also once preached an entire hour-long sermon in the 1930s to a group of German pastors without once mentioning Hitler. He was accused of being irresponsible, but he said, “Hitler is a nothing. I am called to preach Christ crucified.” I think that’s what Marva Dawn is getting at. Hitler is not a “nothing,” but Barth’s point is, we sure can get blown off course in our need to be ‘relevant.’

And we can get mired in the pointless kerfuffles that don’t ultimately matter. I think it’s time to stop talking about Glenn Beck, for example. We’ve said our piece and will continue to preach social justice and it’s time to move on.

I’m actually starting to resonate with Marva Dawn on this. You hate to tune out of the 24 news cycle altogether, because there is critical stuff to respond to. On the other hand, there is such triviality to sift through to stay current. Being informed comes at a cost.

Here’s what I think would be ideal, for me anyway:
1. an indepth resource, print or online, that analyzes the news deeply. Maybe it would come out maybe every three weeks–enough time to put the pointless kerfuffles in perspective, or just ignore them altogether
AND
2. some kind of e-mail ‘alert’ that comes out as needed but can highlight truly time-critical stuff, especially stuff that needs a response from the pulpit, or to a letter to a congressman, etc.

Comment on Consuming media justly by Adam J. Copeland

Adam J. Copeland — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:57:01 +0000

True. And I love that quote. But I wonder what Barth would say about Fox News and Google news alerts. Does the professor in her ivory tower reflect more helpfully than the talking heads on TV? And if so, by whom are we best formed and informed?

Comment on Consuming media justly by joan calvin

joan calvin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:22:27 +0000

OTOH, Barth said one should preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.

Comment on When God goes to school by Marcus Goodyear

Marcus Goodyear — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:10:23 +0000

I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. We’re new to PCUSA, so I really ought to hang out here more. So much to read so little time.

I especially like how you interpret your memories of your father’s advice as vocational. And I like the implied method of identifying our vocation–it’s where we’re supposed to be. Why do we make it so hard?

Comment on Organic Milk Mystery: Solved, not Expired by Adam J. Copeland

Adam J. Copeland — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:01:15 +0000

Umm, I don’t know. I think the distinction all has to do with pasteurization, Catherine, but maybe not. Check your local carton and let us know

Comment on Organic Milk Mystery: Solved, not Expired by Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:11:00 +0000

I’m thinking that this only applies to organic milk that is meant to be mass produced. If I buy local organic milk it doesn’t last any longer than regular milk. So, is local better than something like Horizon, since it hasn’t undergone these extra procedures?

Comment on Solving life’s mysteries one pondering at a time by dan wolpert

dan wolpert — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:38:04 +0000

Well, I look forward to an online live interview with the ‘yellow things’ next week….