TV and REALITY

With 24 hour news channels, news radio, and the internet, we all are swamped by the amout of news we are urged to absorb. Between domestic affairs and international events, we are hard-pressed to keep everything straight.

Not helping at all are two popular TV dramas, both featuring accomplished actors in the role of U.S. president. The new program, Commander-in-Chief stars Geena Davis as the first woman president. In the long running series, West Wing, Martin Sheen has been serving us well as our president.

The problem is that these programs strive to be current in the problems facing the government. So we have Geena Davis confronted with the killing of our DEA officers in South America. As president, she dispatches warplanes to send a very strong message.
West Wing gives even more issues and crises. In a new presidential race, one candidate gets into the issue of attempts to put the concept of intelligent design into science classes. Meanwhile, the president is confronted with the dangerous situation arising from assassination of a Palestinian leader.

Then, all during these and other West Wing plots and sub-plots, there is an ongoing investigation of a security leak at the White House. Aides and other officials, including the chief of staff, are being subpoenaed; some are testifying. With all this, it is no wonder that we don't know who may be indicted, C.J Cregg or Karl Rove.

Many of us criticized President Ronald Reagan for confusing movies with real events.
Now we are much more sympathetic.