The polarization and extreme positions in our nation
received a huge boost when President Donald Trump cried out “Fake News.” Millions of Americans now label any fact
that they do not like as fake news, completely dismissing any actual thought or
debate.
Certainly, throughout history news stories have been exaggerated
or built upon lies. We’ve gone to war because of such stories. But labeling a
story as ‘fake’ should at least require the reasons a person holds such a view.
But, not in today’s world. It is simple, convenient, and is the ultimate answer
for idiots. Somehow branding facts as ‘fake’ seem
to satisfy millions of people that their views are still perfect.
While we worry about foreign nations that interfere in our
elections, we ignore the fact that we are killing democracy and capitalism. Russia, China,
North Korea and other nations need do nothing to harm America because we
continue to do it to ourselves.
If decriers of fake news provided specific reasons that a story
is false, they would do America a great service. Pointing out exaggerations, missing facts, incorrect facts,
flaws in opinion polls, and childish mistakes in stories, without rancor or condescension,
might compel news outlets to do a better job.
For example, a recent story about the murder of a mother and father at a
college stated that the college was in Michigan and also in Illinois. That
degree of poor fact gathering and sober editing calls into question what other
parts of the story are wrong. Simply shouting, “fake news” is not helpful.
We need to find common ground with fellow Americans. This does not mean that we surrender our core
values, but we must consider alternative views and compromise extreme
positions.
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