Panem Et Circenses

In the course of his disturbed rant, Patrick ‘Patches’ Kennedy did make a good point about the screwed-up priorities of the MSM.  They’ve been covering Eric ‘The Snorkel’ Massa practically 24/7 while ignoring the latest news from the War Against Islam.  But, then again, they’ve been studiously ignoring it since their Messiah took the oath.

Of course, it must be noted that, as Allahpundit points out, Kennedy was being a hypocrite [tip of the fedora to Stacy McCain]:

…Funny, but I don’t remember many Democratic complaints about the sustained media swarm over Mark Foley in fall 2006 while Iraq was falling apart. I’m sure there’s an explanation for the difference somewhere.

I’ve noticed a very disturbing trend in the media over the last number of years: a serious lack of seriousness about the news they report.  Here’s a typical example of what I mean…

The other evening I watched the six o’clock news broadcast on one of my local stations.  This channel has the reputation of being the most serious of the locals in terms of reporting the news and investigative reporting.  The first story concerned an accident involving a teenager who was hit by a car and then a bus the day before and that day had his leg amputated.  The second story concerned another like matter.  The third story was a feel-good sports story.  The fourth was a weather preview.  And on and on.  There was not a single mention of the War.  No quick update on how operations were going in the METO.  No word on captured enemy status.  Nothing.

This is standard.

Sports is more important that what our brave soldiers are doing.  Anything frivolous and ultimately of no meaning is.

While this trend has become more pervasive since Julius Obamacus Caesar took the throne, it was happening to a lesser, but no small extent, before the Year Zero.

We’re amusing and entertaining ourselves to death.  The circus is open 24/7/365.

… Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.

—Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81