by Jan Grape
The comedy part is the whole plagiarism by one of our country's high profile politicians. Don't know if any of you are a Rand Paul fan but this man obviously does NOT understand plagiarism. If I had written all the words in Wickipedia or the web sites or his books, I would have been upset.
Some news media have suggested that perhaps the author was thrilled that someone in national office would use their words in everything he writes and speaks. Maybe so, and we all know that politicians don't write their own speeches, but still. The funny thing is that the man got mad at everyone who pointed out this plagiarism. Instead of saying, "I've got to check into this, someone in my office needs to go back to school." That probably would have been the end of it. He tries to act as if nothing is his fault. He's ready to fight a duel if dueling was still legal. He talks about references and footnotes and how he can't do that in a speech. What was wrong was saying, "This reminds me of a scene in a movie and I quote?" The more he's vented his rage, the more all his previous work has been checked and more and more plagiarism has been found.
The strange is how CBS's Sixty Minutes was duped by a guy claiming to have been present in Benghazi when our Ambassador was killed. He said he was there watching it all, and how the enemies didn't see him because he hid in the dark. He gave strong details. I haven't read his book but looks like it might be a complete work of fiction. Seems it didn't take much to disprove his story and yet the powers that be at Sixty Minutes didn't do their due diligence. I've heard the reporter and CBS has apologized and I'm waiting for the airing tonight to see if they retract the story on their time on air. I'm also wondering if anyone from that program will be fired.
The weird to me seems that lying has become the normal for politicians and the media. What the heck? We're the ones who tell lies for fun and profit, aren't we? How dare they try to take our jobs away from us. Look, folks it's hard enough to sell our fiction nowadays without everyone and his dog claiming their story is important. And they get national attention for it. I know, I know, politicians and news reporters have been lying for years but suddenly it's become rampant. Well, I for one am sick of these Johnny-come-latelys horning in on our turf. I think we should organize a sit-in demonstration. Any takers? Just spread the news, set the time and place and I'll be there with my sign of protest. I'll bring my goggles in case the fuzz tries to pepper-spray us.
That's all I can write tonight. I have a few things I need to plagiarize for a media outlet or a politician, I can't remember which.
Jan, great column. When I was a child, I was told repeatedly, "You can't believe everything just because it's in print." That advice has stood me well through the years except that now it's hard to believe anything in any media.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a nice morning chuckle, Jan.
ReplyDelete--Dixon
Fran, I learned "Believe only 1/2 of what you read and zero what hou hear."
ReplyDeleteDixon, glad I could give you a chuckle. One of my jobs is to make people smile or laugh.
And not to make anyone cry...I'm so grateful for all our veterans, here and all our fallen. Members of my family have served with honor. And my late husband was in the Navy, but not during wartime. I have one cousin, Jim Beene, who already has been in the Navy for many years and one great nephew, Trav Harris who spent time in Iraq, but thankfully is home now. Thank you to each and everyone of you.
ReplyDeleteFran, I learned "Believe only 1/2 of what you read and zero what hou hear."
ReplyDeleteDixon, glad I could give you a chuckle. One of my jobs is to make people smile or laugh.
I remember after Watergate somebody marketed "Lie, Cheat and Steal, the Game Of Political Power."
ReplyDeleteMy but modern politicians are tetchy, aren't they? I remember the good old days of Molly Ivins, who reported that she could say anything about those crazy Texas legislators and about all they'd say is, "Sweetheart! You put me in your paper!" These guys really need to lighten up.
ReplyDelete