Scriptorium Daily
A once great paper printed “all the news fit to print.” We seem determined to print all the news whether it is fit to print or not.
Of course, the ready rejoinder is, “Who will decided what is fit to print?”
For a free society, I believe this should be left up to the individual, but (to paraphrase Aristotle and quote Spiderman I) with “great power comes great responsibility.” On the Internet, we now can all print or say what we see fit, but that places all the greater burden on us not to act to debase our culture.
The fact that I can say a thing does not mean it would be good for everyone to hear it. The fact that some tantalizing piece of gossip would attract large numbers of people (because they too have low and fallen desires) does not mean I should speak it.
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We are in a global War on Terror, at the start of a presidential race, and facing economic troubles. I understand the public interest, but at some point merely catering to public interest is failing a public trust.
Putting something into print, even here on the Internet, is a position of power. Of course, some of us have more power than others (having more readers) and so have a duty to those readers not to appeal to what is base in them, but to what is noble.
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Are brave soldiers really dying around the world for your freedom of speech so that you can use that precious liberty to tell potty jokes?
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Finally it is uncharitable to express glee in the fall of men. If Bin Laden himself were to die tomorrow, then a Christian would be glad for an end to his evil actions, but sorry for the almost certain damnation of his soul.
What is served in taking public pleasure out of wicked deeds?
Why must we take joy in the sorrowful fall of any man? What purpose is served in our (apparent) relish over the details after the initial point has been made? (more)
