C O M M E N TA R Y
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY
negativity. Everywhere we
look and most of the things
NEGATIVITY
that we see and hear are negative. You
cannot seem to get away from it, as
negativity is everywhere. I have spent a
lot of time thinking about this situation.
Once, we were a country known for
our optimism; however, the new and
upcoming generations seem to be headed
the other way, towards pessimism. It is
not just individuals who feel this way. It
seems that the government does too.
Everyone appears to have accepted this
jaded philosophy.
I am sure you have heard the ads that
tell you that it isn’t “if” the stock market
is going to crash but rather “when.” Of
course, they also tell you that you can
avoid that problem by investing in certain
products that they represent and by
which they will make money. The use of
“fear” in advertising is not new, but I do
not remember it being as prevalent as it
is now.
This is particularly true in politics. In
the recent elections, we reached new
heights (or depths, if you will) with
billions of dollars being spent to rip the
candidates apart. It would be bad enough
if they left it at the polling places, but it
has carried over after they get elected,
whether it be to federal, state or local
listener decide what is right and what
is wrong?
Let’s not forget the language that is
being used. Radio is especially abusive
when it comes to grammar and
so-called “blue” language. The “blue”
refers to words that would have had me
thrown off the air if I had used them.
Nobody seems to worry or care about
the children who are listening or watching.
They just do their thing, as they go for the
ratings. It’s now a matter of how far can
you push the limits.
What I would like to see, especially
among the leaders of this country, is some
“positive” thoughts. I would love to hear
about their confidence in the American
Way; how this is the best country in the
world; and how this country rebounds
from anything when we stand united.
I guess I would like some inspiration
to move forward instead of constantly
criticizing the greatest country in the
world.
God Bless America!
By Dick Crippen
Dick Crippen
offices. Perhaps it is just me, but I
honestly do not vote (nor want in office)
a candidate because he or she calls their
opponent the best insulting names and
generally stages the best negative
campaign. As a matter of fact, I often find
myself voting the other way. Maybe we
should follow England’s example and
limit the campaigning to six weeks before
the election. I believe most of us would be
in favor of that change.
Amongst all of the above, I have to
mention that a profession I was once very
proud to be a part of has been degraded
by negativity as well. The new theory in
news reporting seems to be to find something
wrong and then blow it up as big as
possible. In television, where the pictures
control everything, we used to laugh
about the phrase “If it bleeds, it leads.”
That is no longer a joke and, instead, has
become a fact.
I remember having to put “commentary”
on the screen when I expressed an opinion,
so that the viewers knew I was stating my
own views. Today, news “reporters” seem
to think we should only hear their slant
on a subject. Shouldn’t the viewer or
9
128 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015