I'm not really surprised at the amount of coverage that is apparently being given John Paul II's death and funeral; it lets the media get away with not discussing the more important things going on, like the ongoing disaster in Mess-o-potamia, the rapidly declining "value" of the dollar (and the concurrent skyrocketing of gasoline prices here in the US, which may bring our economy to a crashing halt.)
That's what I thought immediately after the Papal Deathwatch began. I have heard VERY little about the "value" of the dollar declining from the "media." In fact, when I've heard anything about the economy, it's usually something to the effect of how many jobs have been created, and how wonderful this is (yet they fail to mention just what types of jobs these are.....) Usually the gas prices take up a bit more time on the news, but not any more. This, as well as the trial of fellow Stooge fan Michael Jackson has caused the masses to stop thinking of things that are more important.
Another thing of interest: I've heard nothing but praise of JPII (which is fine), but very little on the negative aspects of his reign (?!). The antiquated notion of having children whenever you were unlucky enough to miscount; views on homosexuality, etc. don't have to agree with the will of most people, but these notions should be placed in a new light.
His death has (at least on the shows that I flipped through while looking for the cartoons) caused the media to claim that we're all becoming more spiritual. If anything, all this coverage and the growth of spirituality has made me more cynical. We're supposed to believe in God (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), yet after a certain age, a child that believes in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or Easter Bunny is thought to be a little "off." We can't have it both ways, people! Either Santa Claus is here beside me (along with God), or they're not.
(I'm sure there's a nice spot just waiting for me in the depths of Hell. And when you see the devil, just tell him I'm a'comin.
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