Dear runner,

A newspoll recently asked -

Is it really possible for journalists
to be truly objective, neutral, detached,
and leaving every skerrick of his or her
personal baggage behind. Does the ABC, or
the Murdoch, or Fairfax Press, or any
other Australian News Media outlet have
a discernible political or philosophical bias?

The answers were mixed -

they depended on one's own views and values.
Because - bias it seems - is in the eyes of the beholder.

'evening to you ONTHEBEACH...

I've just read the two links you kindly provided all of us. I don't think a decent bloke like Cpl. ROBERT-SMITH VC, could care less about those two tedious 'news hacks' with their inane and stereotyped remarks, particularly those which were uttered by that boring 'over the hill' mini-scribbler, Geo. Negus. Apparently a 'little man' trying hard to be considered one of the big boys !

The lady Ms Yumi STYNES I've never heard of, so I can't possibly comment on her, other than the ridiculous remarks she made in this case ? If she were to accompany poor ol' George N. around long enough, she'd end up being as totally redundant as he ! So she should choose carefully the company she keeps ?

A personal observation if I may ? I've seen a bit of combat in my military service ? But for one to acquit oneself, in such challenging circumstances, when time literally 'pauses', to perform such a feat of such monumentally valour; that attracts the award of the fabled Victoria Cross, is totally beyond me ? How any individual could denigrate a recipient of such an award, is truly astonishing ?

'Because - bias it seems - is in the eyes of the beholder.'

Yeah Foxy one man puts his life on the line for others and is mocked by grubs. A footballer earning millions (thanks to our soldiers) get called a monkey and from a silly young girl and his offended. Strangely it is idiotic evolutionary doctrine that says we evolved from apes. The greatest supporters of this fantasy are quickest to jump to this overpaid footballers defense. Yeah bias is in the eye of the beholder - you certainly prove that.

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Dear Runner,

.

You wrote :

« I suspect we have not heard of the name of most heroes. One of my heroes is a man who served the aboriginals for 50 years as a missionary receiving very little payment. He sacrificed much with getting next to zilch in return. Certainly a rare breed today. »

Good for you, Runner. I can understand that and fully agree with you.

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Dear runner,

The eye sees only what the mind is prepared
to comprehend.

Presuming you are referring to one-eyed empathetic political correctness of the totalitarian leftists.

They need THEIR heroes for their cultural war, which has been fought and already all but won in Australia. The leftists' 'heroes' are always political and need clever, manipulative rhetoric to justify them and that is the difference. Such faux, media-spun heroes talk up and profit from their sought celebrity too.

As for the tabloid media, it is anything to entice a bigger audience of easily-led, dumbed-down consumers for their advertisers.

The millions of ordinary, respectable, well-intentioned and always generous working folk just don't have the motivation to organise themselves and fund political lobbyists and manipulate the media. They are not swinging from the guvvy (taxpayers) teat. They have to work for a living and raise their families.

Since Whitlam there are so many professional lobbyists - individual professionals, quangos and NGOs, even Divisions of government departments, that are swinging from the government (taxpayers') teat that the media is constantly filled with their press releases Propaganda paid for by the long-suffering taxpayers who are the targets of it and would prefer hospitals, aged care and bridges instead.

The exasperated public are saying 'enough' more frequently in elections.