Well, it’s Election Day in the U.S.A. Out of all the calendar days, one of the most important for Americans.

I believe there have been about 55 election days and each has in its own way been very significant, but considering the condition of this country, morally, financially, politically, militarily — in nearly every aspect — this election and the following few years have the possibility of perilous and dire times as never before.

It seems that America is split in two not just concerning politics, but also in other important areas and issues. The two entities of this split are referred to as “conservatives” and “liberals.” In reality, this situation isn’t new; it has been prevalent for quite a few years. I believe that a prime reason for this division, particularly in the political realm, is the influence of deceptive and biased television news. The ole “ idiot box” is altering and infecting this country to the very core!

Thomas Jefferson once sent a letter to Thomas Paine in 1796, in which he wrote: “Go on doing with your pen what in other times was done with the sword.” In Hamlet, 1600, Shakespeare gave Rosencrantz the line “... many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.”

Somewhat later this concept began to be stated as “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and was used quite frequently in many writings and speeches. It’s meaning, of course, is that the written word has more power to change the course of humanity and the human condition than the brute force of weapons and armies.

I used to believe this old adage, and still believe that, for many centuries, in the course of human events, it was correct. But now, as with many changes in attitudes engendered by modern technology, it is no longer valid. I now believe that televised news media has the greatest influence on the people of this country.

Americans… probably the majority of people worldwide, no longer read as they once did. In most “developed” countries, folks depend on the television, not only for entertainment, but also, for nearly all of their news information. Many, myself included, also utilize the Internet for news input, but only the television has real, live people reasoning, sounding off, expounding, ranting, raving and persuading, and this aspect is magnetic, alluring and appealing to almost everyone in America — much more so than reading the words on a dry, silent page!

For better or for worse, television is the most influential entity in this country. I believe that, unfortunately, it is for the worse! Since the advent of household televisions in the early 50s, I have seen television programming evolve into a media that, to a large degree, reflects and depicts the more wicked and depraved aspects of human nature. We’ve seen the depravity and “anything goes” garbage so much that we now accept it with little or no qualms or indignation. We have been indoctrinated!

Of all the major television news channels, it seems there is only one that has presented the political parties and their presidential candidates with any impartiality. The others have been blatantly militant and brutal in their attacks against the candidates they do not support.

I have always loved books and the written word. In a world where almost nothing seems permanent and valid anymore, there’s something so solid and real about thoughts plucked from the human mind and placed where we can look at them, touch them, carry them around in our hands, place them on our shelves for future reference, knowing they will not have changed.

Well it’s off to the polls. The words and statements on the ballots presenting our choices will be quite simple, but it’s the possible consequences of those vital choices that are terrifying! May God have mercy on America.

T&D Columnist Rush Button can be reached by e-mail at buttonrl@aol.com or by phone at 803-534-3724. His column appears every Tuesday.

You must be logged in to comment.