PRO:

By Graham C Wheat

Reporter

Gen. Petraeus and his indiscretions are the most recent to grip our nation’s basest instincts.

His tryst with the biographer of his book has made national headlines and has been widely publicized not only by news agencies, but gossip magazines as well.

There is a polarization among people reading these things, and likewise the coverage itself.

You either want as many juicy details as possible from any source, or you chastise the organizations that have been reporting this affair.

We have every right to know the true nature of the scandal, no matter how insignificant. People might say “ he didn’t do anything that bad,” at least in comparison to recent political scandals. The significance of the affair has no bearing on whether we should be putting this incident under the microscope.

Frankly, if the director of the CIA can’t keep a mundane affair secret among his peers, my vote of confidence for the CIA is called into question.

This man is in the public eye, making secret decisions as a former CIA director and  a well-publicized military general, and our obsessions with public figures are natural. This is not only natural, but also necessary.

If we swept this incident under the rug, it would only bolster the incognito nature of Washington politics. Our government is supposed to promote transparency in all of their doings; as such, if minute indiscretions like this were set aside, the proverbial Pandora’s box that is Washington secrecy would be opened (or closed).

I think we have all had a time where our actions have not been made with the soundest decision-making.

Postulate that you were in that camera eye or news article, your experience would most certainly guarantee that decision would not be made again.

Here is the crux of the problem, what indiscretions do we deem meaningless enough to make covert? The answer is none of them, no matter the severity.

If we didn’t follow our inquisitive nature to know every detail of a scandal, no matter how small, we would be allowing them to transpire with or without our consent.

Next time we chastise the media for blowing things out of proportion, let us try and remember that it is our human character that feeds such coverage, and without it we would be doing many disservices to ourselves.

CON:

By Metiqua Eng

Reporter

At one point in time Dave Petraeus’ gold-plated nametag, which he spent years of hardwork and dedication to place on his perfectly crisp General uniform, was once held as a mark of admiration and a demand for respect.  But now in the midst of resigning from the gossip, shame, and dishonor that now thickly clouds the life of Petraeus, his uniform can only look forward to a life of collecting dust instead of admiration.

Paula Broadwell, famous bookwriter, graduate of a U.S military academy, woman of the Army reserves, and now national mistress and home-wrecker should’ve never tempted herself to write a book on the ever so tempting Dave Petraeus.  Broadwell, who having sparked such a media frenzy and cornered into public humiliation with the underlying new age Monica Lewinsky reference, stands to face a country full of judgment and questions.

Why would such an accomplished woman, mother of two, with such an established career throw away her life and public reputation on an affair?  But most importantly why is this scandal so patronizing and important that it deserves national coverage?

Not even shortly after Obama wins a second term can he even celebrate or bask in the glory of holding his title of President of the United States with this turmoil and ridiculous spew of love triangles to follow his reign in presidency. The nation should be discussing a motive to move forward, a plan for change, an idea of reflecting on past mistakes and making an effort to move this country forward.

But although history has been made with a black president holding down his highly coveted position, it’s all pushed into the billowy shadows of old news and dominated by the coverage of sex, scandal, and dysfunction that exists amongst the ones who we salute and value as long-living-patriotic souls.

I bet other countries read our news coverage with laughter and are baffled at what kind of importance we hold as high regard in the United States.  We’re supposed to embellish this image of freedom, new beginnings, and not to mention the idea of equality and justice for all, all the while deep down this country loves a ruthless scandal.

This may be the reason why as a country we’ve lost a value for ethics, a claim to the understanding of what our constitution really upholds, and possibly the cause for why the economy is dwindling so quickly. People cheat everyday, get caught up in scandals, leave their husband, and leave their wives, some never caught and some without public embarrassment.  So why does this country give a damn about people they might never meet, and people whose personal lives have no contribution to the country outside of their job title? Open your eyes America, and leave this scandal to rot away in the newspapers as a story of yesterday, not the only story we have today.