The conservative media are wetting their pants because Obama, Hollande, and most other world leaders and responsible people are not calling them Islamic terrorists. Then when there is a Charlie Hebdo event, they sanctimoniously hide behind the Second Amendment and rail against Islam. It all adds up to the conservative media, particularly FOX, fanning Islamic animosity and escalating the cycle of sectarian violence. But then terrorist events makes for excellent T.V. and media, provides low cost content, pays the wages of an army of reporters and anchors, and generates huge profits. .Would it really hurt us not to satirize and denigrate the religion of 1.6 billion people. Would it weaken us; would we be losing some element of human dignity or quality of life? Some of the idiots are even calling for the major Western countries to simultaneously show the offending anti-Muslim material, thus guaranteeing more violence and death. .World peace is going to take civilized people and nations dialing back the rhetoric and promoting tolerance, even if it means some loss of so-called freedom of expression. The present uncivilized attitudes and reactions are not working, and it is pretty obvious why they are not.
The toon is commenting on the fact that U.S. “news” organizations have gotten rid of all the journalists, true in print and electronic media. Real journalists would seek out and report facts, not regurgitate what the corporate masters put on the teleprompter.
Which yesterday watched CNN, ABC,NBC, CBS, and Aljazeera on the “Paris story”. Commentary instead of actual reporting was worst on CBS, actually, but hands down, the best actual news channel that doesn’t just get locked into one story, ignoring all else in actual news, and reported by actual journalists, not “good hair”, was Al Jazeera. NBC tried some, but still didn’t compare. Can’t get Faux now because of their fight with Dish, but had more than enough evidence over the last two years to know there’d be no actual or accurate, “news” there.
David Brooks btw did raise some valid issues on just how insulting commentary, like at "Charlie"can get before it goes beyond mere bad taste, and goes to inciting riot, and he did point out it was NOT just Islamists with, actually, a right to be offended when “satire” crossed the lines.
Which, on media, intersting how a couple nuts are supposed to represent all of Islam (1.6 billion world-wide), and “brutality”, but killing thousands of innocents in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon,and bombing Iraq, Syria and other countries “preemptively” by hotheads under yarmulke (16-20 milion world-wide), is okay with U.S. media.
Being against the real terrorists, who operate on massive scale, with shock and awe, or constant threats of drone attacks, gets any media outlet in the U.S. in trouble rather quickly.
Nowhwere does the term “ALL lives matter” fall to the wayside faster than with the vast majority of those in “bible” religions. Sorry, but I don’t let Deuteronomy or Leviticus be my guide, as I DO believe human life has value for all humans, not just those who submit to rabbi, priest, pastor, or mullah, with blind (stupid) “faith”. The “news” gets in trouble and reporters get fired, any time they bring out the truth that makes ’western" religious beliefs exposed to criticism.(Charlie was condemend for that as well, until the tragic shooting.)
Firstly, Chris, yours is a good take on the current rage and about the state of affairs in journalism today. The newspapers of major cities, magazines have been bought by conglomerates and corporations, who put down the word that any reporter who challenged the owners interests be silenced, or fired. Independent journalism is rare these days. Myself, I place little trust in “internet” news, and suspect much of what I hear on cable news. (Am I getting paranoid?) Again, my “Movie” analogy. If one has not watched the 1976 film “NETWORK” do so. Very relevant..The cartoon printed by Charlie Hebdo was certainly not defamatory, nor obscene, I have recently seen others from the past which truly seem to infer malice, and insult. This is where JUDGEMENT comes in; in the past, this was the job of the Editor. As has been pointed out so much this past week, Justice Holmes wrote “Falsely shouting FIRE in a crowded theater is not condoned as freedom of speech”. Sometimes, prudence, some afterthought, might better serve the situation, than rashly printing out your first opinions. All of us have heard the wise admonishment that when you are really angry at someone, write out the letter, put in in the envelope, seal it, then put it in your desk drawer for a few days. (Lincoln did this more than once!) Lastly: When I was a kid, and another neighborhood kid began calling me an insulting name, my parents advised me to ignore it. Reacting to it only invites more abuse.Perhaps some zealots out there might consider this choice.
Don’t worry, the internet is here to bring you Gawker sponsored by Buzzfeed’s Top Ten most outraged reactions to the terrorist attack as seen on youtube lists.
Gypsy8 over 9 years ago
The conservative media are wetting their pants because Obama, Hollande, and most other world leaders and responsible people are not calling them Islamic terrorists. Then when there is a Charlie Hebdo event, they sanctimoniously hide behind the Second Amendment and rail against Islam. It all adds up to the conservative media, particularly FOX, fanning Islamic animosity and escalating the cycle of sectarian violence. But then terrorist events makes for excellent T.V. and media, provides low cost content, pays the wages of an army of reporters and anchors, and generates huge profits. .Would it really hurt us not to satirize and denigrate the religion of 1.6 billion people. Would it weaken us; would we be losing some element of human dignity or quality of life? Some of the idiots are even calling for the major Western countries to simultaneously show the offending anti-Muslim material, thus guaranteeing more violence and death. .World peace is going to take civilized people and nations dialing back the rhetoric and promoting tolerance, even if it means some loss of so-called freedom of expression. The present uncivilized attitudes and reactions are not working, and it is pretty obvious why they are not.
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
The toon is commenting on the fact that U.S. “news” organizations have gotten rid of all the journalists, true in print and electronic media. Real journalists would seek out and report facts, not regurgitate what the corporate masters put on the teleprompter.
Which yesterday watched CNN, ABC,NBC, CBS, and Aljazeera on the “Paris story”. Commentary instead of actual reporting was worst on CBS, actually, but hands down, the best actual news channel that doesn’t just get locked into one story, ignoring all else in actual news, and reported by actual journalists, not “good hair”, was Al Jazeera. NBC tried some, but still didn’t compare. Can’t get Faux now because of their fight with Dish, but had more than enough evidence over the last two years to know there’d be no actual or accurate, “news” there.
David Brooks btw did raise some valid issues on just how insulting commentary, like at "Charlie"can get before it goes beyond mere bad taste, and goes to inciting riot, and he did point out it was NOT just Islamists with, actually, a right to be offended when “satire” crossed the lines.
Which, on media, intersting how a couple nuts are supposed to represent all of Islam (1.6 billion world-wide), and “brutality”, but killing thousands of innocents in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon,and bombing Iraq, Syria and other countries “preemptively” by hotheads under yarmulke (16-20 milion world-wide), is okay with U.S. media.
Being against the real terrorists, who operate on massive scale, with shock and awe, or constant threats of drone attacks, gets any media outlet in the U.S. in trouble rather quickly.
Nowhwere does the term “ALL lives matter” fall to the wayside faster than with the vast majority of those in “bible” religions. Sorry, but I don’t let Deuteronomy or Leviticus be my guide, as I DO believe human life has value for all humans, not just those who submit to rabbi, priest, pastor, or mullah, with blind (stupid) “faith”. The “news” gets in trouble and reporters get fired, any time they bring out the truth that makes ’western" religious beliefs exposed to criticism.(Charlie was condemend for that as well, until the tragic shooting.)
lonecat over 9 years ago
It’s much easier to condemn millions of people for the actions of a few. Less wear and tear on the brain cells.
moosemin over 9 years ago
Firstly, Chris, yours is a good take on the current rage and about the state of affairs in journalism today. The newspapers of major cities, magazines have been bought by conglomerates and corporations, who put down the word that any reporter who challenged the owners interests be silenced, or fired. Independent journalism is rare these days. Myself, I place little trust in “internet” news, and suspect much of what I hear on cable news. (Am I getting paranoid?) Again, my “Movie” analogy. If one has not watched the 1976 film “NETWORK” do so. Very relevant..The cartoon printed by Charlie Hebdo was certainly not defamatory, nor obscene, I have recently seen others from the past which truly seem to infer malice, and insult. This is where JUDGEMENT comes in; in the past, this was the job of the Editor. As has been pointed out so much this past week, Justice Holmes wrote “Falsely shouting FIRE in a crowded theater is not condoned as freedom of speech”. Sometimes, prudence, some afterthought, might better serve the situation, than rashly printing out your first opinions. All of us have heard the wise admonishment that when you are really angry at someone, write out the letter, put in in the envelope, seal it, then put it in your desk drawer for a few days. (Lincoln did this more than once!) Lastly: When I was a kid, and another neighborhood kid began calling me an insulting name, my parents advised me to ignore it. Reacting to it only invites more abuse.Perhaps some zealots out there might consider this choice.
Wacky Jacky over 9 years ago
Don’t worry, the internet is here to bring you Gawker sponsored by Buzzfeed’s Top Ten most outraged reactions to the terrorist attack as seen on youtube lists.