It’s been almost a year and a half since Morris Communications decided to launched its website called roar.us that was supposedly designed to help create a “Renaissance of American Responsibility.”
The website began with such ambitious goals.
Michael Ryan, the editorial page editor for The Augusta Chronicle, was named ROAR’s executive director and Morris Communications claimed it established the website to “preserve and renew the endangered system of American self-governance by helping create more informed and involved citizens — new generations of Americans who understand and appreciate our precious and rare birthright of freedom.”
Initially, the website had a very slow start, posting only a few short editorials or blogs written mainly by Ryan.
But by the fall of last year, Morris Communications wanted to show the citizens of Augusta and the nation that the company was serious about saving this country, so it hosted a “patriotic rally” at the Legends Club in west Augusta.
Before a crowd of more than 400 people, William S. Morris III stood behind a podium flanked by two large American flags and declared that the United States was a gift from God that was currently under siege.
“Thank you for sharing with us a deep-seeded sense of patriotism for our country. And for sharing with us serious concerns about our nation,” said Morris, the chairman and chief executive officer of Morris Communications Co., the parent company of The Augusta Chronicle. “We at the newspaper are greatly concerned about these matters and we discuss them frequently and we write about them a lot. And that’s why we have established ROAR, a national website that will help bring us a sense of responsibility.”
Morris insisted the website was not about politics, but civics and self-governance.
“The ROAR website, as you have seen a little bit of, contains the central fundamental and foundational information for ultimate freedom and liberty,” Morris told the audience. “It is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in America’s founding principles.”
Through ROAR, Morris pledged to bring the public, not only updated news and commentary on national topics, but also introduce folks to the best books, videos and speeches to inspire this country to behave better.
But since Morris’ little rally last October, the public hasn’t heard much out of ROAR. Not even a squeak.
The most recent video posted on the website dates back to Dec. 12 of last year and Ryan’s most recent editorial was written on April 28 about the rioting in Baltimore.
So, basically ROAR has become a “one-stop shop” for outdated news.
“Anger, angst, frustration and protest,” Ryan wrote back in April. “It’s all understandable after yet another black man, this time in Baltimore, dies at the hands of police without apparent justification. But the insane rioting that has followed in Charm City is irrational, inexplicable and indefensible, particularly when it should be plainly obvious they’ve got a black mayor, black police chief, black president and black attorney general predisposed to be sympathetic to their concerns.”
Definitely sounds like an Augusta Chronicle editorial, all right.
Ryan encouraged the public to realize there has been a “complete breakdown in personal responsibility” in many cities such as Baltimore.
“Parents have lost control of their children,” Ryan wrote. “Young people — no longer moored by church and family — have lost control of their urges. And, faced with hordes of out-of-control youths, city officials have lost control of their streets.”
Ironically, Ryan also blamed the media for steering this nation in the wrong direction.
“Moreover, the news media need to be more honest and forthcoming about what works and what doesn’t,” Ryan wrote. “Government policies that encourage sloth and discourage work and family must be revealed for the destruction they’re causing. And while celebrating the freedom to do as we wish, it might help if the media put more of a spotlight on the consequences.”
Hate to break it to Ryan, but the media loves highlighting the consequences of people’s actions. That’s why pathetic publications featuring mugshots are so popular these days.
You know what’s not very popular these days? ROAR, that’s what.
If Ryan and Morris Communications are really serious about improving this country and promoting personal responsibility, they may want to write a column more than once every few months.
Want to inspire the youth of America? It’s not easy. Ask any public school teacher in this country.
You have to work for it. Commit to it. Inspire them.
Don’t just sit back and hope that it happens. Because if that’s the plan, it will never happen.
Or is the real reason about why ROAR was established in the first place finally coming to light?
The website has no traffic, no interest and, therefore, it is making no money.
Without any revenue, in the land of Morris, there is no point in continuing to try and “save America.”
