And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that there were two more proofs in the dailies recently that large print media no longer are content to cover the news, but rather would make the news.

One daily ran a story about a march favoring socialized medicine which took place in Cedar Rapids. Under a “top stories” headline. The paper devoted about 25 inches of copy, one large four-column picture and a three column picture to the story.

The story?

A dozen, 12, people participated. A dozen. Out of what, a quarter of a million “corridor” citizens?

There was rain. The fair weather protesters probably didn’t want to risk getting wet.

Conversely, a story about a nationwide rally of Trump supporters was relegated to an inside farther back page, with no “top story” head.

The other daily ran the insert from USA Today reporting the walkout of graduates at Notre Dame, protesting the graduation speaker, the vice-president of the United States.

Four column 60-pt. headline with 24 pt. subhead; three column color picture and probably 21 inches of copy.

Mass walkout?

One hundred (100) students out of a graduating class of nearly 3,200!

The speaker’s topic? Freedom of speech at universities!

Wasn’t the real story that 3,100 graduates showed the maturity of graduates of a university and didn’t join the 100 spoiled brats who left?

Speaking of free speech at colleges, I noticed the headline over Rekha Basu’s front of the opinion page story in Sunday’s Register.

“Everyone suffers when college is off limits to some” it read.

Finally, I wondered, was she going to recognize that conservative and Republican speakers are not being allowed to speak on campuses, and similarly inclined students are ridiculed by their left-wing professors?

No such luck. She wants free college education for everyone.

I was reminded once again of a quote attributed to French King Louis XIV. That was centuries ago. “What is satanic about socialism is that it trades on the noblest vein in Christianity. It works on guilt. Especially of those raised on such sentiments as welcoming the poorest and strangers and visitors.”

Plus ca change, plus le meme chose. The more things change, the more they stay the same.