A nation of cats

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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Three stories in the last week or so highlight a certain cynicism rampant in the media (and among most modern Americans).

The first story is one you’ve heard of. Speaking of celibate homosexual priests, Pope Francis said: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” This was not newsworthy, inasmuch as it didn’t reflect a change in doctrine. It was interesting, though, if only because it was all-too-rare example of a Christian leader speaking in an eloquent and compassionate manner — about a controversial issue.

Based on early media reports, however, a lot of reporters and commentators clearly believed this would be a huge story — that Francis was “evolving” on this issue — that there would be a schism to cover. Controversy, after all, sells.

Compare the coverage of Francis’ comments with the coverage of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who delivered what many are calling a “miracle baby” — the first child known to be born with a rare fetal condition called Potter’s Syndrome. Her daughter was born prematurely, with no working kidneys, and weighed less than three pounds.

This wonderful story did receive some coverage, but probably not as much as it deserved. And it was covered mostly like a human interest story. It certainly didn’t spark the kind of national conversation it should have.

Which brings me to the third story. About a boy named Noah Goswick. He was born 3½ months premature with a condition called hydrocephalus. But as the Amarillo Globe-News reported this week:

“Noah will start pre-kindergarten in the fall, which has both parents feeling excited.

‘They told us June 4, 2010, and I’ll never forget — they wanted us to do a DNR, do not resuscitate, at the hospital because they said he’d have no quality of life, that he’d be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life, but I think he’s proved them wrong.’”

You probably didn’t hear about that story. And this speaks to what we deem “newsworthy.” But it’s also about how we value life. Our culture says “don’t be bothered” or “it’ll never work” — so doctors say terminate the pregnancy…. which is mentioned in the last paragraph…. when the kid is now going to preschool…

It goes without saying that a lot of people in these situations would have opted for an abortion, having been told the situation was hopeless. Had Rep. Herrera Beutleraken this advice, we wouldn’t even know a child could survive birth with Potter’s Syndrome.

* * *

These stories should have all been viewed as positive. And two of the three should have garnered much more attention. This speaks to our tendency to focus on the negative and controversial — and to dismiss the compassionate and the sublime.

This week, Peggy Noonan recounted a humorous, but apt, observation about the difference between cats and dogs. A dog, Noonan writes, thinks: “She comes, finds my food and pours it for me — she must be a god.” But a cat thinks: “She comes, finds my food and pours it out for me – I must be a god.”

Noonan was writing about politicians, but I think this applies to so many in the media — in medicine — in America. We are so blessed, but we don’t want to be bothered. Just give us our controversies — our catnip — our cat videosand we’re happy.

Matt K. Lewis