The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

What is the truth? Is it what you read in the newspapers? Could it be what you watch on TV news? Perhaps it's what you read in the tabloids while waiting at the grocery checkout?

I don't know about you, but I can't believe anything I read in the newspapers or see on the TV news any more. I won't even give the rags (tabloids) a glance, no matter how bored I might be in the checkout line. I read several newspapers daily (while on the treadmill) so I have an interesting perspective on the subject. Two of the publications are considered to have a Liberal bias by many and the other has more of a Conservative slant. I remember back when news was news and opinions were saved for the Op-Ed pages. Now, so many news items are slanted to reflect the bias of the publication or to appease the advertisers who are supporting the publications or newscasts with their advertising dollars. Opinion and rumor become hard news which becomes imprinted in the impressionable minds of the public.

How many of your opinions are shaped by what you read in the newspaper or hear or see on the news? Have you ever had a thought or opinion about something and not know where it's coming from? You might be able to trace it back to a "news" story you read.

Case in point - I heard some local radio jocks today talking about Tom Cruise and they were all over his case about couch-jumping and his well-publicized Today show interview with Matt Lauer. They were all over him until one of the jocks stopped and said he didn't even know why he was attacking Tom. He actually said he didn't think the media has treated Tom fairly. After giving it some thought, he changed the subject. Here's a good example of somebody examining the facts and seeing that his opinion was totally swayed by the media's ganging up on Tom.
My studies in Scientology have taught me how to evaluate information to determine the reliability of the data. Many people regard the written word as gospel, no matter the source. Take a close look - you'll find newspaper articles filled with hearsay, rumor and speculation. Do you accept that as fact? Maybe you should take a closer look.