In a World with Freedom Fries

We got Him!

This was the message I read on Time, Newsweek, and an old newspaper I found in the break room. Although I know that fact (thanks to a 7:30am wake up call from my non-military, possible left-swinging father), I did not know any of the specifics. I had already been currently reading two and three month old news magazines (mostly the people sections) only because the doctor's office I work at quit taking Entertainment Weekly. I realized today, a week later, that I, a Junior in college, a 21 year old boy, a fairly well-educated soul, am vastly underinformed about current news events.

But is that really my fault? Am I to blame when I live in a world of 5 24-hour news channels, the internet, and 7 channels with live, local, late-breaking news?

Of course not. While I do live in the aforementioned world, I also live in the one with MTV, VH1, Cartoon Network, and Fox. I live in a world of The OC, Road Rules, and Sex and the City. I live in a world where Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood get better ratings than World News Tonight and Sunday Morning with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts.
So realistically, I could not be blamed for my own miseducation, when clearly The Weekenders were on Toon Disney. But my malinformed self is not something to be proud of. I know we are at war on two major fronts, but I was much more interested in the Dixie Chicks scandal a few months back. I could sit and debate about my stance on Natalie Maines' comments, but couldn't defend my stance on the situation that led to those very comments.

And to think I almost voted in the last election! To think that I might put myself behind someone by November 2004! But I am interested. I have the want to know. I have the want to have the information that will lead me to an informed opinion. I have the want to be able to defend my views with my Republican mother and my Democratic roommate.
But, when more than half of the United States population boycotts the Dixie Chicks one day, but gives them a sold out tour the next, it doesn't look to get better. And when Freedom Fries and a Michael Jackson scandal make bigger headlines than the African AIDS crisis and the Suicide Bombers, the chances of me paying attention are still low.

Besides, I think new episodes of Everwood and The Real World'Road Rules Challenge come on tonight.

And so goes the life ...