July 01, 2005
The Great Divide
There is a major divide in our country today. First assumption is that it lies between the Republicans and Democrats. Well, I won't deny that is true, but there is a much more grave divide than that. The divide in which I speak could very well undermine the very war on terrorism around the world. Which divide do I speak of? The one between our troops and the American media.Now I know you have read the first paragraph and thought, oh no, not another war mongerer out to call the media left wing crazies and blame the Democratic Party! I hope not to do so, but at the same time, if it smells like a rose, looks like a rose, well then.... All this being said, just give me a few moments to make my case.
I recently had the extreme pleasure of having a beer with a former 82nd Airborne soldier. Although we didn't sit down originally to discuss war, the conversation usually always finds a way there. And what he said directly to me is the same thing that I have heard from numerous sources including conservative talk hosts. The media in this country will not report what is accurately happening in not only Iraq but Afghanistan. They get the deaths, they report the bombs, they report about the trouble, but the miss about 85% of the other actions in war.
What about the schools, the hospitals, the women's rights, the Iraqis starting their own police and free military, the benefit of a new free government, the first free election in 50 years, and the inclusion of all factions of people in Iraq coming together to govern themselves. Where are the constant reports on this? Why do we not have the right to have this included in the same breath as loss of life?
Let me tell you why, death sells stories. Tragedy keeps you intrigued. I understand this, but at what price do you sell you story? Over 1750 brave men and women have given their lives to fight a noble and just cause. But the media wants you to think that their deaths were in vain. And the fallout? Troops that have served, seving now, will serve in the near future have to hang their heads in shame in their own country. How did we as a country go from World War II when the media covered up FDR's disability to portray a strong leader to a media that can't wait to show Bush as a buffoon. A media that told the great sacrifices of our troops, that were dying at levels per day that we haven't even seen in over two years of war, to a media that now tells only how many soldiers have died. A media that was once proud of our fight and proud to do their part in helping keeping spirits high, to a media that now seems focused on undermining the war effort as well as recruitment.
I blame the media, but I can't squarely place 100% of the blame there. We as a people in this nation are to blame as well. That same soldier that talked to me this past week asked if I ever served. I told him no, why ask. He said, "Because you are more educated in the truth than anyone I have talked to in the 6 months I have been out." My friends, I didn't get my education from CNN, the New York Times, or even Fox. I studied and talked to soldiers themselves. I sifted through newscasts to find the story within the story. The point here is this, of all the people he has come in contact with, I was the most knowledgeable about what is going on and I admit I know only about 10% of what there is to know, and I am probably being generous.
There is only one comparison that can be made to Vietnam for those who want to make it, the divide between the troops and media is quite large. For a county that lamented throughout the 90's about the abuse our troops suffered due to the negativity that flowed throughout our nation, you would think that we could at least try to be more positive. Then again, how many positive stories fly off the magazine shelves?
¶ 11:11 AM
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I think you make a great point here. The media is very much a source of the problem today.
For instance, and sorta like you mention, the media is so factioned that one can almost find anything that they are looking for. If one wants to focus only on the negative there are plenty of outlets from which to find such material. If one wants to focus on the positive then there are numerous outlets from which to find such material. Although I'm not sure that the media has an overall goal of portraying the negative, but I will agree that tragedy does sell. It's our culture nowadays, and it's deeper than just wars and politics, it's OJ, Michael Jackson, missing white girls, murdered white pregnant ladies. I think it's all screwed up.
In my own defense, however, from reading my posts it's easy to tell that I do not lament on the troops. My dissent is squarely with Bush. The troops have performed superbly and they have done everything they have been asked to do and then some. I think the troops have outperformed the politicians in this war by far, including Bush, Cheney, Durbin (and you know I have to be careful with that one), Rumsfeld, etc....
I think the media is half the reason why Iraq is in the shape it is, the other half is because of Bush.
Not all dissent in this war is against the war itself. I'm against the carelessness in which Bush has called for the sacrifice, and as I sit in my comfy armchair, I owe it all to those soldiers just to be able to write my grievances.
Very good post.
For instance, and sorta like you mention, the media is so factioned that one can almost find anything that they are looking for. If one wants to focus only on the negative there are plenty of outlets from which to find such material. If one wants to focus on the positive then there are numerous outlets from which to find such material. Although I'm not sure that the media has an overall goal of portraying the negative, but I will agree that tragedy does sell. It's our culture nowadays, and it's deeper than just wars and politics, it's OJ, Michael Jackson, missing white girls, murdered white pregnant ladies. I think it's all screwed up.
In my own defense, however, from reading my posts it's easy to tell that I do not lament on the troops. My dissent is squarely with Bush. The troops have performed superbly and they have done everything they have been asked to do and then some. I think the troops have outperformed the politicians in this war by far, including Bush, Cheney, Durbin (and you know I have to be careful with that one), Rumsfeld, etc....
I think the media is half the reason why Iraq is in the shape it is, the other half is because of Bush.
Not all dissent in this war is against the war itself. I'm against the carelessness in which Bush has called for the sacrifice, and as I sit in my comfy armchair, I owe it all to those soldiers just to be able to write my grievances.
Very good post.
I think you make a great point here. The media is very much a source of the problem today.
For instance, and sorta like you mention, the media is so factioned that one can almost find anything that they are looking for. If one wants to focus only on the negative there are plenty of outlets from which to find such material. If one wants to focus on the positive then there are numerous outlets from which to find such material. Although I'm not sure that the media has an overall goal of portraying the negative, but I will agree that tragedy does sell. It's our culture nowadays, and it's deeper than just wars and politics, it's OJ, Michael Jackson, missing white girls, murdered white pregnant ladies. I think it's all screwed up.
In my own defense, however, from reading my posts it's easy to tell that I do not lament on the troops. My dissent is squarely with Bush. The troops have performed superbly and they have done everything they have been asked to do and then some. I think the troops have outperformed the politicians in this war by far, including Bush, Cheney, Durbin (and you know I have to be careful with that one), Rumsfeld, etc....
I think the media is half the reason why Iraq is in the shape it is, the other half is because of Bush.
Not all dissent in this war is against the war itself. I'm against the carelessness in which Bush has called for the sacrifice, and as I sit in my comfy armchair, I owe it all to those soldiers just to be able to write my grievances.
Very good post.
For instance, and sorta like you mention, the media is so factioned that one can almost find anything that they are looking for. If one wants to focus only on the negative there are plenty of outlets from which to find such material. If one wants to focus on the positive then there are numerous outlets from which to find such material. Although I'm not sure that the media has an overall goal of portraying the negative, but I will agree that tragedy does sell. It's our culture nowadays, and it's deeper than just wars and politics, it's OJ, Michael Jackson, missing white girls, murdered white pregnant ladies. I think it's all screwed up.
In my own defense, however, from reading my posts it's easy to tell that I do not lament on the troops. My dissent is squarely with Bush. The troops have performed superbly and they have done everything they have been asked to do and then some. I think the troops have outperformed the politicians in this war by far, including Bush, Cheney, Durbin (and you know I have to be careful with that one), Rumsfeld, etc....
I think the media is half the reason why Iraq is in the shape it is, the other half is because of Bush.
Not all dissent in this war is against the war itself. I'm against the carelessness in which Bush has called for the sacrifice, and as I sit in my comfy armchair, I owe it all to those soldiers just to be able to write my grievances.
Very good post.
Thanks for the comments brother. You're problably the only one that reads this stuff anymore, haha.
I will tell you that after talking to the before mentioned soldier, that like it or not Bush is part of the military. I do believe that he is open to critisism and held to a standard, but where does a line get crossed?
To me, the line is crossed all the time. I think it is perfectly fine to question, but after ranting on and on day after day, it may be more effective ti discern how you would do it differently.
Excellent points about how the media not only focuses on the negative in Iraq, but also through pop culture and the like. Michael Jackson, the Peterson trial, even the Runaway Bride are all newsworthy events, it's just that the celebrity of the event goes way too far.
P.S., it double posts because it thought you comment was so good!
I will tell you that after talking to the before mentioned soldier, that like it or not Bush is part of the military. I do believe that he is open to critisism and held to a standard, but where does a line get crossed?
To me, the line is crossed all the time. I think it is perfectly fine to question, but after ranting on and on day after day, it may be more effective ti discern how you would do it differently.
Excellent points about how the media not only focuses on the negative in Iraq, but also through pop culture and the like. Michael Jackson, the Peterson trial, even the Runaway Bride are all newsworthy events, it's just that the celebrity of the event goes way too far.
P.S., it double posts because it thought you comment was so good!
I'm an internationally published investigative journalist, author, and novelist. I spent two years traveling the United States with former vice-presidential candidate George McMahon, who is one of only seven patients who receive legal medical marijuana from the U.S. Government's secretive investigational new drug program. We traveled across the nation, walking into state capitols, carrying a pound of government-grown herb. While the mainstream television media zoomed in on Janet Jackson's nipple for a two-month close-up shot, they ignored news of the federal marijuana program altogether.
More recently, the national media covered up a major story concerning five Tennessee sheriff's deputies who plead guilty to torture in federal court. These cops-turned criminals attached a man's testicles to a battery, because he refused to sign a consent to search his home.
Check it out: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n215/a02.html?87422
The majority of corporate reporters in the U.S. are undereducated party-line prostitutes, cowards who have about as much integrity as a lard turd up a whale's ass.
Chris Largen
Author of Prescription Pot and JUNK
http://www.waronjunk.com
More recently, the national media covered up a major story concerning five Tennessee sheriff's deputies who plead guilty to torture in federal court. These cops-turned criminals attached a man's testicles to a battery, because he refused to sign a consent to search his home.
Check it out: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n215/a02.html?87422
The majority of corporate reporters in the U.S. are undereducated party-line prostitutes, cowards who have about as much integrity as a lard turd up a whale's ass.
Chris Largen
Author of Prescription Pot and JUNK
http://www.waronjunk.com
# posted by 
: 03 July, 2005 14:20
: 03 July, 2005 14:20
Totally agree about the negative bias but it's certainly no surprise.
Tragedies have always sold better than anything else -- starting back in the days of the ancient Greeks, through Shakespere and up to the N.Y. Times (all the bad news fit to print).
Human nature is a real trip!
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Tragedies have always sold better than anything else -- starting back in the days of the ancient Greeks, through Shakespere and up to the N.Y. Times (all the bad news fit to print).
Human nature is a real trip!
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