GET YOUR HAPPY ON! - a meliorist worldview

This has been a sad month for losing great American patriots who helped peel back the media’s tendency to air disinformation. First, we lost Tim Russert, the great NBC anchor whose infectious excitement about the issues made Sunday morning politics a little more interesting.

Today, I learned of George Carlin’s death. I loved listening to George Carlin and watching him live was amazing! George Carlin told truths that people didn’t want to hear, but he always made you laugh when he shared his perspective; he was a folk doctor, whose mission was to cure social ills with his bittersweet pills. Awesome!

George Carlin, Bill Hicks, and Richard Pryor were my three favorite stand-up comedians, and now all three of them are dead. It doesn’t seem fair. At least, we still have the memories of them recorded digitally, so many future generations can enjoy the insights of those fallen comic prophets.

R.I.P. George Carlin. You will be missed.

Tim Russert died today at the age of 58. I didn’t know him personally, but sometimes I felt like I did.

Mr. Russert was one of those TV personalities who conveyed truth and conviction in every phrase he uttered. I am truly sorry to see his passing.

With Mr. Russert gone, I wonder how the news reporting will change. Often, I get the feeling that so much network and cable news is reported first to entertain and create fear; news as information and education seem to have become secondary motivations more often than not. Rarely, does the news inspire or enlighten the viewer.

Even print news is subject to the filter of the market, but not so with Tim Russert.

He entreated his interview subjects to engage him over tough issues that concern us all, and he did it with compassion, grace, and a wry sense of humor.

I will miss you, Mr. Russert. Thank you.

Have a safe and fun weekend, my friends!