Dish It to Downing: Lighthouses In A Foggy World

People who know me well know that I am a “passionate” person. Not so much in the romantic sense but rather in my commitment to the things that matter to me. I have a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. That makes it sort of hard to get along in a world where almost anything goes these days. This is the July 4th weekend and I think it’s important to spend a moment talking about two things I am very passionate about: our country and the First Amendment.

One of my favorite films is “Meet John Doe”, perhaps because a central theme is the power of the press. A businessman with some lofty goals has purchased a large metropolitan newspaper. Nearly all of the staff are being called in and laid off, including a columnist. She is told that she must complete her last column, so she concocts a story about receiving a letter from a man who calls himself John Doe. Doe is disenchanted with the state of the country and decides to protest by jumping off the roof of City Hall on Christmas Eve. The story captures the public’s attention only it’s a complete fabrication. So, the paper calls on “John Doe” to come in to talk about his plans. Every deadbeat in town shows up claiming to be John Doe. The columnist picks a down-on-his-luck former baseball player and the paper, under the direction of its publisher D.B. Norton, use the power of the media to build an entire movement around John Doe. Norton’s ultimate goal however is political power for which he will use the John Doe Movement.

One of my favorite scenes unfolds in a bar as the newspaper editor, Mr. Connell, tells John the truth about Norton and his plans for John Doe. Connell is one of those old newspaper stereotypes that smokes too much, drinks too much, and views nearly everything with an ounce of suspicion. In the scene, Connell is sitting in a bar, drinking to forget his troubles, when John walks in. The following conversation takes place:

“You're a nice guy, John. I like you. You're gentle. I like gentle people. Me? I'm hard—hard and tough. I got no use for hard people. Gotta be gentle to suit me. Like you, for instance. Yep, I'm hard. But you want to know something? I've got a weakness. You'd never guess that, would you? Well, I have. Want to know what it is? The Star Spangled Banner. Screwy, huh? Well, maybe it is. But play the "Star Spangled Banner"—and I'm a sucker for it. It always gets me right here— (Thumps his chest) You know what I mean? Yessir. I'm a sucker for this country. I'm a sucker for the Star Spangled Banner—and I'm a sucker for this country. I like what we got here! I like it! A guy can say what he wants—and do what he wants—without having a bayonet shoved through his belly. And we don't want anybody coming around changing it, do we? No, sir. And when they do I get mad! I get b-boiling mad. And right now, John, I'm sizzling! I get mad for a lot of other guys besides myself—I get mad for a guy named Washington! And a guy named Jefferson—and Lincoln. Lighthouses, John! Lighthouses in a foggy world!”

“Lighthouses in a foggy world”.

What a great analogy.

You know, of all the characters in the movie “Meet John Doe” I find that I most connect with Mr. Connell. I’ve been doing reporting the news so long that I have built up a thick skin, yet I find most offensive those who would use the public right to know to their own advantage. I learned the “greed model” long ago – to always look at things with a bit of suspicion, asking “what’s in it for them?”

My phone rang last Friday just after our six o’clock news. A guy wanted to “Dish it” to me about the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death. I could tell be his tone that he had a complaint.

“I hope you don’t take this wrong,” he said prefacing his remarks. “I’m not a racist or anything, but I think y’all have gone overboard on this Michael Jackson stuff.”

“Yes, sir?” I answered, acknowledging I understood his comment.

“It’s just been non-stop coverage and I just think that and Farrah Fawcett is just too much,” he said. Then, he got to the meat of his complaint.

“Young Americans are fighting and dying everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan and you don’t even mention that. I just think someone should. Don’t you?”

So, this is my answer to that question: Michael Jackson was a celebrity and, for whatever reason, we love “celebrity” in this country. Some might even argue that we worship it. I think as journalists we have an obligation to cover the story and if the story is that Michael Jackson is bigger in death than he was in life, then we report that. But, remembering the greed model, we must be mindful of our own role in that happening.

Last night, after the 10 o’clock news was over and everyone had left the station, I sat down in front of a monitor in the newsroom and watched every story that had been fed the past week on Iraq and Afghanistan. That phone caller was right. Young Americans ARE fighting and dying everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan and we didn’t even mention that.

I think someone should.

“What’s in it for them – and us?”

Lighthouses in a foggy world.