by Ken Thibado
News is entertainment. Perhaps; News as entertainment is better. There are still very serious events, about which “The News” seeks to inform us.
Therefore, “The News” still serves as an important connecting thread through which we all can have, at least, passing knowledge of anything we choose to inform ourselves about. “The News” serves a purpose higher than mere entertainment.
We have come to feel that “The News” is nutritious. Maybe even a necessary nutrient.
Reality TV therefore would be like a bag of chips. A football game would be like a batch of chicken wings (a case for nutrition could be made). Half-hour comedies in syndication are frozen burritos, while new half-hour comedies are like frozen meals! The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones are like dining out. Late night talk shows are like popcorn. And The News is like vegetables.
As a kid, the news looked like kale to me; uninteresting. But these days, now that I have to eat kale, I can safely say kale is okay with me. I leave the radio turned to NPR for my cats mostly, but I’m not even sure if they like kale.
However, by doing so, I catch a fair amount of kale myself and, as a result, I’m somewhat familiar with the events of most days.
Eating kale can be challenging. You may need to spray it with oil, sprinkle some seasoning on it, and oven roast it just to choke it down.
Or, you could be fine with raw kale straight from the bag (the bag advertising how nutritious kale is). Some may need to blend it up in a fruit concoction, so the kale can be drunk instead of chewed upon. However one takes in their kale is up to them.
Cable News kale, to me, seems like it’s been worked over too much.
It’s likely been genetically modified, there might be preservatives, and certainly a lot of sodium has been added to Cable News Kale, but technically, it’s still kale. Kinda like the time Ronald Reagan declared ketchup a vegetable.
But before the conversation becomes blighted by what constitutes a tomato, instead focus on how you like your kale.
FOX kale might be spicy, or even ranch flavored.
MSNBC kale might be organically grown… which means a lot of it will appear wilted, or banged up (there may be a rotten leaf or two).
CNN kale is attractively packaged and available at all hours.
And so on… They’re all serving kale, but in a variety of ways.
However, the more you tinker with vegetables the less nutritious they become.
Let’s switch to a potato for a second. Raw potatoes have some benefits. Steam or roast one and various nutrients still shine through. Maybe, even when deep fried, a benefit like fiber hangs on.
But, by the time a potato has been processed into chips and served in foil bag; there’s nothing nutritious left… except deliciously salty potato chips!
If potatoes can be turned into something very tasty, but lacking in nutrients, the same can be done to kale. Which is to say, you can process away all the nutrients, still call it kale, and then sell it. Tasty, tasty kale. Sesame Kale. Lemon Pepper Kale. Candied Kale!
BUT ATTENTION MUST BE PAID to the notion that although it is labeled kale, that does not mean it’s the type of kale that carries nutrients!
So… if “News equals kale,” but “kale does not always equal nutritious” and “kale may at times be like potato chips,” then it might be true that “The News might be potato chips,” which is the same as Reality TV. It’s like vegetable math, formed into an equation which implies: Not all “news” is nutritious.
Now… why have I put us all through this? Because, I was asked to comment on Donald Trump.
I am entertained by The Trump. I love his bullying demeanor. He’s a spectacle at the very least, and a Presidential Candidate at the most. He has rising potential, charisma, confidence… and he’s wicked awesome kale! He’s kale that writes itself! He might even boast his kale is the most nutritious of all.
And all the kale vendors are buying the kale he’s selling! His kale is everywhere. Even if The Donald’s kale is found to be essentially a bag of chips, it’s tasty and many people are interested in hearing his kale. Donald Trump knows how to make kale.
Making kale is a true skill, and an essential skill if you would like to be President. Does it mean you’ll be a good President? Of course not! There’s never been a good president… just ask around!
The clearest way I can put it is: Donald Trump is really good at making kale. At worst, his kale may be chicken wings, although some people assume it’s a bag of chips. Perhaps he’s a frozen entree, but he can sell his kale.
Now, if I were asked if I endorse The Trump; I’d have to take a page out of Michael Jordan’s book and tell you that “Republicans buy sneakers too.” And you really don’t want to get me started on footwear…