When the Press Gets Ugly

Hurrah for John Crumpacker's article in the SF Chronicle today on the "ugly press" at the Olympics. It's nice to see good people in the press take others in the press to task when they act badly, and tell them to act like journalists - not badmouths.

My family watched the opening ceremonies broadcast last Friday, and we were very annoyed at the rude comments about countries marching in the Olympics by the so-called press commentators. They displayed a willful ignorance about world history. When they had to read some piece of information gathered for them about a particular country, the male commentator would say it with a smirk and a laugh, as if it was a joke. It was just plain annoying.

When the Greek contingent did their inspirational speech, both commentators acted offended that Greeks would speak Greek! No matter that in another age any educated American would have studied Greek and understood. No matter the emotion and prayers for peace. No matter the kind words reaching through history. And, finally, no matter there was a translation for those too ill-educated to understand. That wasn't enough.

Most Americans do not act as if the entire world should revolve around them like a spoiled selfish child. Yet it seems the only ones who get the attention of the cameras are the smirky jerky minority. Is it any wonder we are resented? Is it so hard to select people who simply act politely and courteously? As you noticed, boorishness (a Dutch word, hmmm) is the order of the day for Americans in public - it's almost an affectation or habit. I'm amazed they don't all carry clubs and hunt dinosaurs to complete the image. :-)

It used to be "America First". Now it's "America's Jerks". And the rest of us pay the penalty for their bad behavior. It is time they were brought to book.

But of course, a jerk never sees anything wrong with his behavior - it's always somebody else's fault.