Wow, what a week it has been. Thought provoking to say the least.
It's been a great (read intellectual, stimulating, reflective) time to be a media professor. I've been able to engage my students about the First Amendment, inspired writing and news on demand.
First, Imus. My two cents: He yelled fire in a theatre. I am all for free speech, it is my profession, but context is everything. Why degrade women's sports, especially women's collegiate basketball? Women have it tough enough on the court - they get little to no respect in collegiate or professional B-Ball. And to use sexist, racist language to boot? What was he thinking....oh, right, he wasn't (I hope).
Kurt Vonnegut. So it goes. The man who helped me understand the power and beauty of words. The writer who inspired me to write. I actually got to meet him a few years ago, to shake his hand, look into those mischievous eyes and thank him for his gifts to humankind. He just smiled at me (it was in a public, crowded space). Bless you, Mr. Vonnegut.
Virginia Tech. My heart hurts. Being on a college campus should be challenging, not life-threatening or ending. But what an incredible lesson in 24/7 news coverage for media students. And what grace under pressure performed by the Virginia Tech media students. Bravo to all involved on that campus. The campus newspaper editor, a young woman, asked great, penetrating, relevant questions and gave intelligent, unbiased answers on CNN Tuesday night, outshining and classing the so-called professionals. Out of the mouths of the young...
Hopefully, we were all listening and pondering these events. And of course, there are the "usual" suicide bombings, economic challenges, weather disasters. So it goes.
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