Top 10 Overplayed and/or Poorly Covered Stories of 2009

10 - Avatar

Just because it's top of mind and exhaustive media exposure of another medium across all media is annoying.

9. Balloon Boy

As freaky as the chase coverage was, the parents deserve jail time and the story deserves a rest.

8. Octomom

Ah, child exploitation for fame. Also, see #9 and #3.

7. Tiger Woods

So a tiger can be a pig. Worshipped all his life, told he's better than others for the unique skill of smacking a tiny dimpled ball around in the grass with accuracy, the country was shocked. He'll be back quicker than Michael Vick.

6. Unveiled Prejudice

The country united to elect our first African-American president, only to be divided within months by the same old-same old not-so-hidden true feelings festering in so many, masked as partisanship. I don't call it racism because I feel humans are one race. So until Klingons or Vs show up to try and kick our collective yet divided asses, I'll stick with the label "prejudice."

5. Sarah Palin

She is a reality show you betcha. I haven't seen an example of such false idol worship of anyone so unqualified for such a high position in leadership since... I actually haven't seen such a thing in my lifetime. You might want to check her scalp for a tattoo - she'll probably say it's 999.

4. Michael Jackson's Death

The bazillion RIPs on twitter required an asterisk: *Rest In actual Peace in 2011, when the coverage might finally stop. His passing was sad. The continued mining for related stories is pathetic. The Jackson family is no more royalty than the Osmonds or the Osbournes.

3. Jon & Kate

Because a public divorce is so much fun. Television coverage of people who really need to get out of a spotlight that's burned them so many times. It's like a new reality series of staged encounters covering an old reality series of staged events. Hey, there's only one narcissist I want to see with all that coverage: Me.

2. The Economy

No one is better at selective memory than my fellow Americans. Forgetting how we actually got here, after oil-based inflation and a ridiculous run of collective real estate greed, it was America's scapegoat for everything, and another bonus handed to the unethical to continue in their financial gluttony. People also expected President Obama to "fix it!" within his first 100 days. It is tied with America, the scapegoat for everything bad in the world.

1. Health Care Reform

Talk about a selective memory! It's like we didn't learn a single, freaking lesson from the near-collapse of our frail economic structure by blatant exhibitions of pure greed and a horrible misallocation of wealth and power. Ensuring the possibility of all humans, including children, of having access to affordable health care, the one extended service plan we all need, has become a partisan debate of misinformation and flabbergasting support of the broken profit-based health care industry, as well as support for employers who used to cover 100% of employee insurance and offer retirement pensions, who laid off millions this year. It is our national example of Stockholm Syndrome. But it's the actual coverage of the debaters and misinformation rather than the core issues which should be most embarrassing.

I'm just one guy with 10 opinions. What do you think?

Eracism

Yeah, I know it sounds cute, even contrived. I’ve heard the term before so I won’t take credit coining it, but I like it. Erase racism. I have many opinions on the subject, most of which boil down to: I have no tolerance for racism. There is nothing anyone can say that will justify their feelings of separation, segregation, elitism or full blown prejudice to me. Not when it’s based on hate of other people, or simply because of who they are.

In my opinion, we are all one race: human. (Until we boldly go where no one has gone before – I’m a sci-fi geek. It could happen!)

I’ve never met a black, white, red or yellow person in my life. I’ve met lots of brown, tan, mocha, pink, almond, cream blends, but never straight primary colors. Crayola does a better job of providing skin tones. Come on, who didn’t use peach, atomic tangerine or burnt sienna crayons when they were coloring people when they were kids? Actually, I used blue violet, silver and forest green just as often. Yes, I always colored within the lines. Anyway, I’ve got a lot more brown in my skin than I do white. The older I get, a variety of new colors seem to be appearing in my skin (something to look forward to kids). My long-winded point: we are all of color.

According to the US Census, I am a Roman Catholic Caucasian male of the following nationalities: Italian, Greek, English, French, German, Irish, Welsh, Scottish. I am trying to learn about all eight of my countries, and the family that came from each. Yes, they’re all European. Because of the kinship I feel with so many people, I’d also like to think there is some Native American, Latino, African, Island, Asian and Baltic heritage, but I haven’t traced my full family tree yet (AKA really found out who slept with who over all these years). I can guarantee this list will grow.

I think it’s important to celebrate our differences without excluding others. It’s important to know your roots, your ancestry, your history, your family, your faith, where you’ve come from, and your traditions to be part of something bigger than yourself. It’s also important to share all of those things with as many people as you can. And there’s the key. Embrace what makes you different, and share it.

I have learned so much about “other” people by sharing meals, talking to their grandparents, attending milestone events and religious ceremonies, celebrating holidays, and simply talking about things. My roommates and I used to celebrate Christian and Jewish holidays together. I was honored to attend the Passover seder (meal) with the family of my best friend (Victor) shortly before his grandfather's passing - also my first (and last) experience with horseradish. I've attended weddings and funerals from so many different faiths and cultures, including my own, and I've learned something every time.

I've also been fortunate enough through family and work to leave American soil and experience lands, languages and cultures in different countries. At first I was nervous, going off into the unknown, but now I can't get enough. Travel is something I now cherish when given the opportunity.

I'm rambling now. If we step out of our comfort zones once in a while, share our differences, and celebrate them together, maybe we won’t feel the need to separate, or fear, or even hate.

Just my thoughts. Sorry if it’s too bleeding heart. No I’m not. Kumbaya.