Words said by our leaders make a difference. Two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, internment camps were set up across the country to house more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans, most of these were second and third generation Americans. They were only allowed to keep what personal property they could carry to the camps, the rest was confiscated. The families were held in camps for almost three years while 20,000 of their sons served in the military.
The rhetoric in the media today is more to get ratings than to inform. The passion and drama usually reserved for daytime soaps, has crossed over to the “news”, but that’s justified as opinion or a panel discussion of like-minded debaters. Now with an election coming, the politicians and their supporters are lining up, pandering to the base, each getting more “serious”. Is it a war on terrorism, Islamic terrorists or a religious war? Careful, by the end of the day it will be the most dangerous of the options, the “news” needs to take us to the edge of the cliff, for ratings… that’s the currency they deal in, for viewers, for advertisers.
After WWII, the Fairness Doctrine was made policy, introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission’s view, honest, equitable and balanced.
Just like Glass Steigal was made law after the Great Depression to protect us from ourselves, as we learned after repealing it and suffering the mortgage crisis. The Fairness Doctrine was put in place by those who saw the detrimental effects of one-sided editorializing. I’m not saying bring back the Fairness Doctrine, that ship has sailed, but at least recognize the dangers that opinions, unchecked by an informed public can have.
My first “girlfriend” at age six, was born in a concentration camp; in Idaho!
The fact that Obama, unlike anyone in the Bush family (well, other than Mom’s dog), is literate does make a difference.
The fact that Obama is killing ISIL members, and reducing the collateral damage, yes even in Pakistan, to WAY less than “w” did with shock and awe, and indeed getting others to now take the fight to them, is ignored, derided, and stupidly ignored by “the right”- who are wrong, again.
Gorrell is either a complete moron or a deliberate liar. Since, if he were dumb enough to believe what he draws, he wouldn’t be smart enough to know which end of the pen the ink comes out of, I’m going with B. This bigoted, idiotic garbage is an insult to any reader with an IQ in triple digits.
In case it wasn’t obvious, the US, including the President would be stupid to insult Islam since all of the neighboring countries with armies fighting ISIL are Muslim, countries that are our allies.
For example, the 4th largest military spending in the world from Saudi Arabia. Why the heck would we spend money we don’t have to combat a foe half-way around the world when there’s deep pockets right next door who could take the fight to them?
echoraven about 9 years ago
Wow. Great commentary. Not all that crazy about the point made, but gotta say it was made well.
feverjr Premium Member about 9 years ago
Words said by our leaders make a difference. Two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, internment camps were set up across the country to house more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans, most of these were second and third generation Americans. They were only allowed to keep what personal property they could carry to the camps, the rest was confiscated. The families were held in camps for almost three years while 20,000 of their sons served in the military.
The rhetoric in the media today is more to get ratings than to inform. The passion and drama usually reserved for daytime soaps, has crossed over to the “news”, but that’s justified as opinion or a panel discussion of like-minded debaters. Now with an election coming, the politicians and their supporters are lining up, pandering to the base, each getting more “serious”. Is it a war on terrorism, Islamic terrorists or a religious war? Careful, by the end of the day it will be the most dangerous of the options, the “news” needs to take us to the edge of the cliff, for ratings… that’s the currency they deal in, for viewers, for advertisers.
After WWII, the Fairness Doctrine was made policy, introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission’s view, honest, equitable and balanced.
Just like Glass Steigal was made law after the Great Depression to protect us from ourselves, as we learned after repealing it and suffering the mortgage crisis. The Fairness Doctrine was put in place by those who saw the detrimental effects of one-sided editorializing. I’m not saying bring back the Fairness Doctrine, that ship has sailed, but at least recognize the dangers that opinions, unchecked by an informed public can have.
Dtroutma about 9 years ago
My first “girlfriend” at age six, was born in a concentration camp; in Idaho!
The fact that Obama, unlike anyone in the Bush family (well, other than Mom’s dog), is literate does make a difference.
The fact that Obama is killing ISIL members, and reducing the collateral damage, yes even in Pakistan, to WAY less than “w” did with shock and awe, and indeed getting others to now take the fight to them, is ignored, derided, and stupidly ignored by “the right”- who are wrong, again.
Michael Peterson Premium Member about 9 years ago
Gorrell is either a complete moron or a deliberate liar. Since, if he were dumb enough to believe what he draws, he wouldn’t be smart enough to know which end of the pen the ink comes out of, I’m going with B. This bigoted, idiotic garbage is an insult to any reader with an IQ in triple digits.
michael Premium Member about 9 years ago
In case it wasn’t obvious, the US, including the President would be stupid to insult Islam since all of the neighboring countries with armies fighting ISIL are Muslim, countries that are our allies.
For example, the 4th largest military spending in the world from Saudi Arabia. Why the heck would we spend money we don’t have to combat a foe half-way around the world when there’s deep pockets right next door who could take the fight to them?