Press Secretaries -- In the Bull's Eye

In this chapter, Helen Thomas regals us with her experience with the dozens of press secretaries that have garnished the press briefing room of the white house. She talks a lot about a few specific press secretaries, highlighting their qualities and faults. One quote that particularly struck me was "'The one quality that sets journalists apart from almost everyone is their intense belief in the value of journalism.'" When I read it, I chuckled. However, this is the only time I was really amused at all while reading the chapter.

After reading the first four chapters and looking at the remainder of the book, I'm inclined to believe that Christina is a sadist who makes us read this book for no other reason that delight in our pain. The reasons being that Helen rambles on and on about with meaningless nuiance. Even after years of critial thinking class, I still cannot disertain the point that she's trying to make. Is the a memoir? Is it a debunking document?

Dear Mrs. Thomas forgot the last rule of opinion writing, and I'm snoozing through my cereal.

Presidents and Reporters -- Never the Twain Shall Meet

I read the third chapter. I enjoyed it more than the previous chapters. I especially liked the part of her maudlin reverie that mentioned who newsrooms used to be. I find that I like that sort of commotion, that sense of purpose that pervades an entire group of people. Mostly, I saw what she meant when she said that computers isolate people. A few days ago, after the official class got out and people were still working, it was eerily silent. I felt awkwardly separated from everyone else in the room.

Helen, and I believe by now we are on a first name basis with her, also canonized the White House News beat. I felt that she spent a bit too much time describing parties she'd gone to rather than what it means to be a White House reporter, although she's quite old and probably doesn't realize that she's doing it. However, she does brings up a point that I wholeheartedly agree with: We need typewriters. Or, at least one, so that it would look aesthetic and practical. A black one from 1890 loaded with fresh ink and a piece of yellowed paper.

I wonder if, in any time in the future, people will glorify the appearances of our time the way we glorify the appearance of old. What I mean is, people now have a odd fixation on fashions and styles of the early Twentieth century. The 20's, the 40's, even the turn of the century. Wil there be a portion of the population who think that old Windows 95 laptops are cool, or the new Volkswagen bugs? At what point will Jay-Z be considered Classical Music?

Erruptions of Corruption

Is this the Return to Oz?

Vigil

Today, there was a vigil in Esther Short Park to mourn the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. I wouldn't have though it, but Clark College was pretty involved throughout the whole thing. Bob Knight, the president of the College attended, as well as Political Science and History teacher, Heather Gagnon. A choir student of Clark College performed Amazing Grace at the end of the Event.

It was very emotional. There we're dozens of people in Virginia Tech jackets openly weeping, there were wide-eyed and eerily silent children clutching their parents, and there were survivors of Columbine, as this was also the eighth anniversary of that as well. From a journalist standpoint, I was kicking myself for not dragging Ashley or Andi, or for just bringing a camera myself. From a citizen standpoint, I was a little insulted by all the cameramen and photographers soaking in the grief.

I felt out of place. I did feel grief, but it was the distant sympathy of bystanders. For most everyone there, the grief was hot and immediate. I spoke with the Mayor, who was jovial and friendly; I spoke with the Coordinator, a Columbine survivor and alumni; I spoke with Heather, a professor at Clark. Everyone I spoke with shared similar sentiments, those of grief and sympathy.

Well, I guess I have a head start for my paper, which I should have done on Monday. Yay Me.

Journalism -- A Most Honorable Profession

I found the introductory chapter to Helen Thomas' novel, 'Watchdogs of Democracy?' to be a trite summary of all the times when journalists have acted without integrity. In her first paragraph, she asserts that journalist is a noble profession. I found this argument, though poetically compelling, to be weakened by a subsequent list of recent times where journalism has been a joke.

However, I understand the need for such things to be said and I suppose that, baring any major events to be reveled later in the book, it's valid.