Richard Dreyfuss speaks, and makes sense

Richard Dreyfuss - yes, that Richard Dreyfuss - in an interview with Reuters takes out after the mainstream news media (MSM) and, wonder of wonders, says nothing in the published interview with which we can disagree.

"There is no room to pause, no room to think," Dreyfuss, who starred in films ranging from "Jaws" to "Mr Holland's Opus" told Reuters in a recent telephone interview.

"We don't build into our system of thoughts the need to explain, the media doesn't build that into its transmission of knowledge and information."

That creates what Dreyfuss calls "shaped news" -- a version of events according to how the mainstream media want audiences to see what happened, and a violation of journalism's core value of objectivity.

Citizen journalism is playing a vital part in broadening news coverage, as well as scrutinizing professional journalism, Dreyfuss said.

"Information from more than one source is good. I'm totally in favor of it, even if people send propaganda. In the aggregate you can find more truth than in one opinion."

But despite an explosion in blogs, people's views of the news is still shaped by what powerful media corporations print, broadcast and put on their Web sites, Dreyfuss, 58, said.

"Do the mainstream media ever tell their readers 'Don't believe everything we tell you?' No, they don't."

So far, so good. Dreyfuss goes on to discuss the images of the Twin Towers falling that, because they were seen everywhere instantly, provoked mass reaction instantly. That's a fair enough comment. He does not say that the reaction was wrong. He also echoes one of our pet peeves with George W. Bush on the use of the "war on terror."

"The 'war on terror' -- objection to using this term is dead. It's become part of our vocabulary, but what does it really mean? You should know more specifically what you are fighting."

Ditto, we say, the "war on" hunger, poverty, racism, etc. These terms are too broad and allow for over-reaching. Let's be more specific, like the "war on radical Islamists ... where 'ere they may found."

Dreyfuss is often allied on the liberal, even the moonbat liberal, side of things, but from his words it appears that his logic isn't so much unsound as it is employed for the benefit of people who are undeserving of it. Perhaps his newfound interest in civics is changing his perspective. Who knows? Someday a conservative Dreyfuss?

We are discomfitted enough just knowing that we find ourselves in basic agreement with this latest interview. Should he become a conservative, that will be the day to head out to stockpile beans, flour and MREs, and look for a portable generator. The last days will evidently be upon us.