I recently took a military space-a hop to Italy and, after a few days in Rome, boarded an extremely cheap 14-night cruise across the Atlantic to Florida. Checking into my cabin I discovered there were only two news channels, FOX and CNN.

The next day we lost CNN and the only source of news was FOX. I now understand why those who only watch FOX feel the way they do. “Fair and Balanced.” Really?

I sat next to a man from the UK and he offered congratulations that Indonesia had given Boeing a $18 billion order for Dreamliners instead of Airbus (an European consortium) while President Obama was visiting. He asked why FOX criticized the President for this because he supported unions instead of saying “well done.” I just shrugged.

I heard “FOX and Friends” announce that President Obama was going to apologize to Japan for the a-bomb attacks that ended World War II, with lots of panelists and “experts” discussing this outrage.

A day later, in a less-than-a-minute announcement, one of the “FOX and Friends” panel stated that their story was in error and they regretted the mistake. Later I heard them criticize “SpongeBob Squarepants” for brainwashing children with ecology viewpoints.

My point: If you get all of your news and commentary from FOX you are not well-informed. If you get it all from CNN or MSNBC you are also ill-informed. Check our “Morning Joe” (he’s a former U.S. representative from Florida and a staunch conservative) on MSNBC (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.). Watch the PBS newshour (the best of the lot) at 6 p.m.

Just vary your sources of information. I like Bill Hemmer on FOX on occasion. I love BBC news when I awake before dawn. Honest, it will not convert you to being a flaming liberal. It’ll just give you a more accurate view of the world — then you decide.

Tom Bush

Bainbridge