freeSpeech: Bob Schieffer

CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent Speaks About What's Important

(CBS)  There's been a lot of bad news this week but if you were in Detroit like I was, you wouldn’t know it.

The only thing I found in Monday’s papers there was that the Detroit Tigers were heading to the World Series. From the front page to the business section I found 23 — count 'em, 23 - stories about that.

That’s the great thing about sports. No matter how bad the news, when our team wins, the day gets a lot better.

In the long course of human events who wins a ball game really makes no difference, but it made me wonder. If we can choose things that don’t matter — like winning a pennant - to make us happy, how many times do we choose things of no consequence to make us sad or mad?

Like a car that cuts in front of us in traffic. That hardly matters, but its ruined the day of many a rush hour driver. Or that 15 seconds with a rude waiter or sales clerk that leaves us in a bad humor for 24 hours. Or sweating bullets over which college our kids get into when what matters is what they get out of it, not where they got in.

Too often we allow our emotions to be ruled by the inconsequential, which causes us to miss the things that do matter.

But for now, let's not bother Detroit's good people with any of that. After auto industry problems and layoffs, this is the first good news they’ve had in a while. They’re enjoying it while they can.

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Bob Schieffer is broadcast journalism's most experienced Washington reporter. He is CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent and also serves as anchor and moderator of Face The Nation, CBS News' Sunday public affairs broadcast.

Schieffer served as interim anchor of The CBS Evening News from March 10, 2005 until Aug. 31, 2006. He will be a regular contributor to The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

[crhodes1978]

What about the waiters and sales clerks who get the 100 15 seconds of rude customers per day? I'm starting to love CBS Evening News but I wish you would acknowlege your younger audience or even just your working class audience.

[onebigcoach]

Bob,

You have opened an area that should be worked on much more. We tend to let events control our behavior rather than decide how to react! Please keep on this topic!!! Our children are getting the WRONG info from the adults and you can assist with changing it!

John Wilkie
Penfield NY

[i-michael]

A-Men Mr. Schieffer. I must say that I also agree with crhodes1978's comment. I worked in the restaurant business in my youth, and bad days happen on both sides of the counter. for every joke about a waiter/waitress, I can tell you a true story about a coustomer that "borders on the interesting." Nun the less this transplanted Detroit yankee thanks you for your comment and your observations.

Now if we can spice up the morning oatmeal for the Detroit Lyons, that too would be a good day.

All the best I.

[swallace13-2009]

To crhodes and I-Michael, The good news is that as you grow up, IF you grow up, you will learn not to let your environment in the form of people and their stupidity influence your life and your mood. As one who gets all her exercise pushing 60, I have found that I don't let traffic or rude people ruffle me. I just crank up the music and forget about them.

Bob, you're terrific. Let's hear from you on a more important issue. You're certainly qualified.

[kenhamlett]

Sir you are a gentleman of perspective and the ability to relate your thoughts. Thanks for your observations.