You know, when you don’t have television service … when you can’t access that Tivo whenever you want, it can be frustrating.
I have effectively been living sans television for more than a month. I’ve been able to pilfer a show or three here and there, but it’s been a hard-fought struggle to do so. That’s okay though; it’s let me appreciate the boob tube that much more.
It really hasn’t been that bad an experience by any stretch of the imagination. In reality, you realize what a slave you’ve become to the couch. And sometimes there’s got to be compromise. For me, that compromise came in the form of just letting go. (For a while, anyway.) Really: What choice did I have? To drive myself insane trying to get to Survivor and The Event on the very nights they aired? Well, sure … I could have done that. But where would it have gotten me? Agitated and anxious, that’s where. And that just wasn’t worth it to me.
So, I let go. I knew it was only a temporary thing and television would come ’round once more.
And it has.
I woke up Sunday morning with a spring in my step, happy and in anticipation of the fact I was going to sit back and relax with a cup of coffee while watching one of my favorite programs: CBS Sunday Morning. And, in the course of its hour and a half, it took on a whole different flavor for me.
The Power Of Television made itself known all over again.
A theme emerged on the show … and an interesting one. It wasn’t evident until after the final segment was shown, but — as I thought about it — it was as clear as a bell:
The theme was Faith.
Segments included interviews with Julian Lennon and his thoughts about his half-brother Sean. A piece on Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. An opinion about teachers and tenure. All containing something having to do with faith.
And one piece that showcased the crystal-clear evidence of The Power Of Television; in this case, a lack of faith.
Philip Roth — renowned writer and The Chronicler Of Newark, New Jersey — was being interviewed by CBS’ Rita Braver:
Braver: “Do you consider yourself a religious person?”
Roth: “No, I don’t have a religious bone in my body.”
Braver: “You don’t?”
Roth: “No.”
Braver: “So, do you feel like there’s a God out there?”
Roth: “I’m afraid there isn’t, no.”
Braver: “You know that telling the whole world that you don’t believe in God is going to, you know, have people say, ‘Oh my goodness, you know, that’s a terrible thing for him to say….'”
Replied Roth: “When the whole world doesn’t believe in God, it’ll be a great place.”
Now … I don’t care who you are or where your beliefs are at … if you were in front of your television screen and heard Roth say that, your jaw dropped.
It was a perfect example of The Power Of Television.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Oct 04, 2010 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
How true, and how sad. This would be a harsh, harsh world without the hope for something better in the hereafter.
I don’t personally see anything sad without hope for something in the hereafter. To me all it means is that you need to do what it takes to make this a better world for all of us, because this is all we have. Waiting for some unknown reward in the hereafter seems harsh and sad to me, because it takes away the motivation to make your life better NOW.
Linda, I have to agree with you. Isn’t it amazing, though, that to “come out” as an atheist in such a televised interview is such an event? And seems to require a bit of courage?
I missed it. I was probably getting ready for Mass. :)
I kind of get his point. How many wars throughout time have been waged in the name of someone’s god? Certain groups of people in America and around the world today are being oppressed, and sometimes executed, in the name of some god because of their lifestyles. I don’t necessarily believe you can’t have faith in something beyond this life, but when organized religions use that faith as a weapon against others, it does not make the world a better place.
God Gave man the truth, the devil came along and said “Lets organize it, we’ll call it Religion” Deepak Chopra
Nice :-)