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Negativity is the backbone of the media. Negativity makes money. And sensational negativity sells papers, magazines, articles, and brings readers to online websites. Our youth are taught in their Journalism classes the art of writing sensationalism, teaching the art of grabbing the reader's attention with powerful headlines. And there is nothing wrong with this, except for the fact today our media is "ink-struck" on negative sensationalism which competes against one another, selling sex, lies, murder, fires, kidnapping, rape, child abuse, vehicle wrecks, or anything which brings harm to someone, groups, or even other nations. This list goes on and one---the worse the better---regardless whether it is true or not. Unfortunately, the uglier it gets so does the thinking of our society.  Over time, we have become numb to it all until the worse and more vicious the tragedy is, the less we care in our hearts. Based on the headlines of the day we watch television shows, buy magazines, purchase newspapers, or click on the top online articles of the Internet---giving them power to write more negative sensational headlines.

More is not always better, especially when it destroys the core of decency in our country. Yes, we want to know that our bank and financial leaders are cheating us financially. Yes, we want to know we are going to war and the majority is opposed to it. Yes. Yes. Yes. But where is the good in the world? It is as if media feels anything good is a weakened matter which cannot sell, and that is not their main goal. Money, power and control are three things which can be gained through the use of negativity. Unfortunately, it has become propaganda based, something which we detested in Russia during the communistic rule. What we cannot see is what we are doing within our own country. Media tells us how bad the country of China is, yet will borrow billions of dollars from them to support our country. It may be me, but is there something wrong here?

The headlines of the media are the most single important aspect of the story, making one wish to read it. At one time bad stories were considered bad things. At one time, lies were considered bad things. Today, well…we know what today has brought us.  I remember earlier in my life my mother telling me about a National Women's Organization when they were first starting out. They had made a statement which said during the Cotton, Rose, or Orange Bowl football games, women's abuse was at its highest with men not wanting to be bothered. Later on, it was found to be absolutely false as most men pay absolutely no attention to the women during this time, wishing they would simply go "shopping" or something else. When confronted, the head of the organization simply shrugged her shoulders, saying that once it was out---regardless where it was true or not--- the sensationalism headlines were what would stick in people's minds. Over these many years I remember my mother being so upset about this as she came from a generation where truth was important, not lies.

I have personally decided to choose what I read. It is a simple thing to do---the more negative and repulsive it is I simply refuse to read it or click on it. By refusing to do so, I am not empowering negativity nor becoming negative myself. And if I do read something, I check it out to see if it is actually true through research. Not all information are lies but what my mom used to call "half-truths"…just enough to make a sale and grab your attention. By the simple act alone of being selective what you read, a certain percentage of people around us will do the same, and so forth. Eventually the media will get the message that we are sick of negative garbage.

President Obama worked very hard to get into office by refusing to "buy into" the political aspects of negative garbage. Unfortunately, he is in the garbage landfill at the present time within the White House, which makes remaining positive extremely difficult. As a citizen of the United States, I refuse to read anything negative. I can read truthful articles for or against him, but to think it has to be negative to get a point across is not only stupid but ridiculous. Unfortunately, our country is stuck in this way of thinking and it will be extremely difficult to get out of it. It can only start with one person. You.