It’s also fun, as an intellectual (albeit a clumsy one born to it but not fit for it) it’s fun to spot “poor thinking in high places,” as well as to learn from good thinking anywhere at all. NPR has a tendency to make you interact rationally with the news, rather than just be a consumer of it.

I enjoyed NPR then for all the reasons that have been cited (despite the heavy liberal bias).

And, that’s all I have to say about that.

The truth is that there are several talk guys who dedicate a substantial (if not prevalent) amount of their time bringing in legitimate advocates of opposing views. If you don’t agree, just give Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, or Hugh Hewitt a listen.

Prager is particularly good because his show is aims to be about “all of life,” including music, family, cultural issues, happiness, values, secular/religious thought, and politics. His trademark phrase is “I prefer clarity to agreement.” so that listeners can understand positions first before making up their minds.

As with everyone I listen to, I am acutely aware that Conservative does not equal Christian. However, men like Prager and Medved (both Jewish) have sharpened my mind with their wisdom for engaging opposing views. Many who claim to be “taking America back for Christ” could learn a lot from these men.

I listen less frequently to NPR and find value in some of the programming and topics. However, on multiple occasions I’ve noticed that the selection of human interest stories has been thoroughly agenda driven. They might spend a lengthy segment on the personal anguish that a federal marriage amendment causes an individual homosexual, rather than looking at the importance of marriage for an entire society in raising children, preventing poverty, and allowing men and women to complete each other although they are very different creations.

When it comes to politics and public affairs, often the managers of NPR are out of touch and seem to take their cues solely from the New York Times.

NPR is quiet and thoughtful by comparison. It’s true that one has to suffer an condescending, liberal POV, but their news shows sometimes invite intelligent conservative commentators that I don’t typically hear on talk radio, like Rich Lowry, David Frum, or David Brooks.

Last, “This American Life” is a PRI show, not NPR. :-) Same basic idea, though.

Just a thought, but it might be lamo.

How fascinating. I also listen to NPR regularly, especially at night. Last night I was listening to their program “Speaking of Faith,” where Donald Johnston was speaking about faith-based diplomacy. It was really interesting to hear him talk about how his organization was using faith-based relations in Sudan. That’s just one example of how listening to NPR exposes me to things that I would not otherwise hear. Now…yes, I do have to be a discerning listener, and often talk back to the radio about some guests LOL…but I have to be discerning about “Christian” teaching, so no difference there…;)

Since I have been listening to NPR, I have found myself much more engaged with parts of the world and world situations than I ever have in my life — places and circumstances in which I will likely never personally find myself. I find it quite edifying.

Thanks for the good and balanced post.