Issue date: 9/22/04 Section: Opinion

The youth of America is in serious trouble. Especially when it gets political information from television shows such as "Saturday Night Live," "The Daily Show" and "Real Time with Bill Maher." In recent article by Andrea Gabbidon-Levene on cnn.com several Emerson students were asked wHere they get their political information. Many of the students responded that they get their "political news and analysis" form such shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show."

I'll be the first to admit "Saturday Night Live" is occasionally funny. Will Ferrell did a good George Bush. The political sketches were funny. However, there is a difference from finding a sketch funny, and actually deriving a political opinion from it.

If as a culture, today's youth get their political news from an aging sketch comedy show, then we are in serious trouble.

I will also state that I watch "The Daily Show" almost everyday. I think Jon Stewart is a very funny guy. Although I slant to the right and "The Daily Show" slants to the left I still enjoy it. I think the barbs thrown at Bush and Kerry are great and very humorous. As anyone can see, it's a mock news show that makes fun of the news more then it reports it.

If someone cannot see past that, and takes the show seriously, they probably shouldn't be in college, however this is Emerson were talking about. To actually draw serious political news form Jon Stewart's humorous rants is something that cannot and should not be done.

Lastly, let's turn our attention to Bill Maher. Bill Maher is not someone who should be watched for political opinions. I personally believe he is right on some things and dead wrong on others. However his style of "debate" is to quickly make a snappy joke and cut to commercial whenever he is outmatched by someone who is smarter then he is. That sure makes for some great political discussion.

Newspapers, various Internet sites, TV News - those are all better resources for political news and analysis then "The Daily Show." I admit these sources can also be suspect.

On one side Peter Jennings and Dan Rather was practically crying on air when Gore lost in 2000, on the other side the Fox News Channel can quickly turn into a 24 hour, 7 days a week Republican National Convention.

Everybody has their biases and try as they might, they do seep into various new articles and reportings. This just cannot be avoided. Despite the fact these are all better sources to obtain news and information then "Saturday Night Live" or "The Daily Show."

What today's youth really should do is think for themselves. They need to take all the resources available to them, filter through them carefully and form their own opinion. "Saturday Night Live," "The Daily Show" and Bill Maher are not resources for anything but some light humor. So next time you see an Emerson kid, smack him across the back of the head and tell them to pick up a newspaper.

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