Walter Cronkite

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Word comes that Walter Cronkite is gravely ill. Wow. Such a rarity, and from a time in our lives that will never be replicated.

As television evolved, as did the country- from the highs of the victory of WW II through the sobering doubts about Korea, to the outright disagreements over Viet Nam, Walter Cronkite was one of those we trusted completely.

And Sander Vanocur. Chet Huntley. David Brinkley.

Edward R. Murrow was the one who really bridged the gap between radio and TV, but these others were really simply TV folks, and set the bar for all those that would follow them on TV.

We'll never return to those times. Cable TV is a force, a 24-hour news cycle is here to stay, Leave It To Beaver, Ed Sullivan, and Bonanza are no longer on Prime Time, and we have gone from a "Chicken in Every Pot" to a "TV or IPhone in Every Room" mentality. We also have the Internet.

Snopes' best efforts aside, it's just this latter technology that has doomed the truth forever. People lie, twist, fabricate, and spread to the masses what so many believe is the truth. In a matter of minutes via e-mail, the avalanche has commenced, and there is no stopping it- ever.

Unexpectedly, my quote yesterday from George Carlin would fit better here.

Good luck, Walter- you're one of the best ever to walk in First Amendment shoes...

SRT