Proud To Be An American

Switching gears ever so slightly from the Immigration topic, I thought I would mention something that very few newspapers (and other media outlets) have reported on.

Namely: Stephen Colbert.

Now, I love comedy. Comedy of all types. Comedy comes in flavors, and each flavor gives a different experience. But I think of all flavors of comedy, the one I most appreciate is that of satire. Great satire is hard to be. And lately, thankfully, it seems that people in general have been embracing it. South Park and the Colbert Report are two examples of the general American public's tastes for satire. Both programs are in the top ratings gatherers for Comedy Central. South Park has been running strong for now ten seasons and the Colbert Report has continued to do strong since it's inception late last fall.

But this isn't an editorial on comedy. Not precisely anyway. It's on Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert did something amazing two Saturday's ago (April 29th. 2006). He satired the press and the President. He criticized them using his most powerful weapon: his gift of satire. And he did it well. And he did it in a timely fashion.

I have always argued that the freedom of press, and the Press in general, are our unofficial fourth 'check and balance' in America. They are the ears of the public. They let us know what is going on in government.

Or at least they should.

Times have changed since the days of Edward R. Murrow. It feels more and more like the press has forgotten it's primary duty: to report the news, to question and investigate. This isn't to say all of those out in the news-gathering business has fallen from duty. But many have.

I'm not saying that the press should become the paparazzi. They shouldn't. But they should be the ones that bring those who are in power and act corruptly to task. They need to ask the questions that we, the lay-people, cannot.

But they haven't. (With the notable exception of Helen Thomas, at least.)

And then, on April 29, someone reminded them of what it was like to stand up and actually have conviction. And when he did that, hardly ANYONE reported on it.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, check out Google Video and type in "Stephen Colbert". Find the video on the Washington Correspondent's Association Dinner. Watch it.

That man made me proud to be an American. Because that's what an American is supposed to do. Question. Stand up and make a statement when your rights are possibly being intruded upon. Whether or not this truly is a government "for the people, by the people", at least he's trying to live by that credo.

He took his ONE opportunity in front of the President, and instead of pandering to him, he laid into him.

So where was the press? Well, they were standing on the sidelines looking uncomfortably shocked. So shocked, in fact, that they didn't even report on Colbert's antics. Only one news outlet did: Editor and Publisher. Only days later did any major news outlet report on it.

So yes, I'm proud to be an American... but that pride teeters delicately.