News We Can’t Trust

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

A juicy piece of news

Travels like a forest fire

And social media platforms

Are here for the hire.

 

“This is the gospel”

“I know it for sure”

“This is from a reliable source”

But there are more.

 

 

“You must believe me”

“From the horse’s mouth”

News from the east to west

From north to south.

 

News about politicians

And about pastors too,

News about the church-goers

From pulpit to pew.

 

Hearsay and slander

Libel and gossip,

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Had an old pastor

That condemned gossip,

You could not take news to him

Yes, he fixed it.

 

One thing he required

And this before listening

Was for that one to be present

Meaning the victim.

 

If this couldn’t be done

It was simply, “case dismissed”

For he had better things to do,

In fact, a long list.

 

Re news we can’t trust,

We must be very careful

For we often end up hurting

Innocent people.

 

And it is embarrassing

When it is not true

Though from reliable sources

Like me and you.

 

If it is positive news

Then there is no problem

But if they bring the negative

We must reject them.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

It is at every level:

High, medium and low

And if it is generally expected,

You’d hear, “I felt so.”

 

Let’s be more positive

Encourage the unfortunate,

Glorying in one’s misfortune

Is a pathetic mistake.

 

 

And be careful too

With this “in confidence”,

It is often said to titillate

A captive audience.

 

One thing we can try

Is a “don’t need to know”

And be that considerate person

To interrupt the flow.

 

The flow of such news

That we cannot trust

And for that unfortunate one

Causes much fuss.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Stewart Russell © June 18, 2024

 

 

A Rumour Is Just That

 

I heard something

From a reliable source,

That meant it was true

Based on the source of course.

We seem to think

That when such we can claim

Our piece of information 

Will veracity attain.

For as long as I can tell

There have been allegations

And you know what?

They lacked substantiation.

Such that the quick to speak

And the eager to spread

Started to broadcast

What that reliable source said.

It ended up in court

And the dependent lacking proof

Had to pay the price

For spreading an untruth.

It might have been true

The source may have been right

But your source also heard

So you lost the fight.

The only news that’s certain

Is what has been proven

And you should be an eyewitness

To what actually happened.

Hearsay information 

Turns into a lawsuit

And your reliable source

Becomes a deaf mute.

When you’re in the dock

He is nowhere to be found

An you end up

Looking like a clown.

You’re also out of pocket

By a considerable amount

And may have to incur a loan

To settle the account.

Even with the media

One has to express great care

For even they can get it wrong,

Of lawsuits they’ve had their share.

They’ve lost some too

And they’ve paid a hefty sum

For concerning the evidence

They had little or none.

So be careful with your news

A rumour is just that

And unless you can prove it

The courts will not find it a fact.

As this election campaign is fought

They’ll be quite a lot of rumour

But before you spread the news

Of its veracity be sure.

At its inevitable end

You may face the courts alone

With no reliable source

To help you chew on that bone.

Stewart Russell © May 2018