Tragedy in Tuscon brings world to a stop.

There is no question that today's shooting in Tuscon of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the wounding and deaths of several bystanders is a hideous tragedy. It is certainly a newsworthy event. But once again the lazy news media have turned it into meaningless non-stop coverage. While it should be reported, analyzed and returned to with any new information, that is not the case. It is reported to the exclusion of any other news on several networks. It is a cause for speculation, anecdotes, theories, and endless repetitions of the obvious.( Naturally since Giffords was one of the persons targeted in Palin's infamous crosshair map, Sarah was asked for a comment. True to form, this vengeful hypocrite expressed shock, sadness and—most shameful of all—innocence.) This sad event is to the news media what snow days are to school children, a chance to avoid having to do their jobs and being able to skip homework for at least another day because, of course, nothing else happened in the world. Each repeater of every iterated item must wear the mournful look of someone who was closely related to the victims. Each must act as if the meaningless bit of trivia being offered up is somehow significant. I repeat, this incident is terrible. And our hearts go out to the families of those who were killed. But we are living in a complex and varied world. We need serious news sources, not media, notably broadcast media, that collapse at the first sign of a big story and abandon all other world news.

Note: Especially offensive today was the CBS Evening News, which interviewed— in the studio— a member of Gifford's medical team still wearing his white lab coat to add a touch of show business to this tragedy.

Note: It is now three days later and this story still takes up most of the broadcast news coverage. Did nothing else happen in the world? Did the tragedy in Australia miraculously disappear? Is there no longer malaria in Haiti?

Note: We might also ask ourselves if we're do disturbed by tragedies like this or plane crashes or tornados, then why do so many of us eagerly watch the endless coverage to learn even more horrendous details?