The Carthage Press gave a fitting sendoff to religious columnist George Plagenz last Sunday, running Plagenz' last column, side-by-side with his wire service obituary.I hope some syndicate realizes the value of having a religious columnist. Plagenz was one of the few. It amazes me that newspapers can find space for columns about gardening, bridge, poker, celebrity gossip, fashion, etc., but few run columns that explain religious issues. Plagenz' columns, as I mentioned in my earlier tribute to him, were always insightful and shed light on areas of religion that are seldom explained in the media. I was always proud to run George Plagenz' columns on the Press editorial page and I was pleased that Ron Graber continued that tradition. As far as I know, The Press has been the only newspaper in this area which has provided editorial space to thought-provoking columnists like Mr. Plagenz, Charlie Reese, and Nat Hentoff. I have had about as much of Bill O'Reilly and Argus Hamilton as I can stomach.
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Speaking of religion, check out Joplin Globe blogger Father Steve's most recent post, a thoughtful study of the recent headlines over the so-called Gospel of Judas.
The ability to make religious news and opinion relevant to young readers will be the keystone to stemming the hasty retreat of newspaper subscribers. Young Americans are spiritual, but not the goose-stepping naive lot that proceeded them through the pews. Young Americans experiment with religion like their parents did with acid. They understand that The Bible is about as factual as a James Frey novel; meaning that things chronicled within its pages happened, but the recounting was done with a jaded pen. Anyone with four years of parochial school theology classes can write a somewhat knowledgeable piece about religion, but making it useful and helpful is what is paramount. There is a failure of that nationally. Newspapers have a responsibility to their readers to develop a broad spiritual center and base their reporting on faith-based matters around that philosophy.
ReplyDeleteNat Hentoff is a hack who preys on the weak-minded and easily manipulated. He is everything that is wrong with syndicated columnists.