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Edited on Sat Mar-22-08 07:33 PM by Peace Patriot
the deliberate propaganda, and attempted brainwashing and divisiveness, of the war profiteering corporate news monopolies and the five billionaire fascist CEOs who control all news and opinion in the country?
I really think we MUST try to make this distinction--what their agenda is (demoralizing the progressive majority), and the unreal fascist fantasy America that they portray (and want to convince us is us), versus, what most Americans really think. For instance, polls indicate a whopping, unprecedented 60+ to 70% majority of Americans opposed to the Iraq war and wanting it ended--up from a significant 56% majority opposed to the war at the beginning (Feb 03--NYT poll; other polls 54-55%). Do you see this huge antiwar majority reflected in the corporate news media? Did you see that significant antiwar majority reflected in the news in Feb 03, just before the war?
The "news" is highly manipulated, and tightly controlled, by fascist bad guys. A good example of how this works is the CBS execs who failed to back Dan Rather on Bush's AWOL in the Texas National Guard--even though the story was true--not because one of the documents was of questionable venue, but because, as Dan Rather revealed in his lawsuit against them, they said that Bush getting elected was "in our interest" (meaning financial interest). These fascist pigs were manipulating the "news" to make it seem as if saluting George Bush's codpiece was "patriotic" and voting for Kerry to clean up that disaster, end the war and bring our troops home was the "weak" position of man who didn't earn his medals in his military service. But that is not the end of their lies and disinformation. What they were doing was creating a plausible narrative for a stolen election!
So, when you rail against the "arrogance of the American people," or our "laziness" (complicity in murder and slaughter), I think you are, 1) not correctly identifying the problem, and 2) possibly adding to the problem by heaping abuse on demoralized, disenfranchised people, who are, indeed, angry at their government--and have been for some time--and go out and vote, and nothing changes--a bewildered people who need information--and heartening--not abuse.
I think the Rev. Wright makes an error, too--in his cries of anguish, such as "God damn America." He doesn't wish harm on his country or its people. He is crying out at injustice. Albert Camus put it more eloquently--but it is the same sentiment:
"I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice. I don't want just any greatness for it, particularly a greatness born of blood and falsehood. I want to keep it alive by keeping justice alive." --Albert Camus ("Resistance, Rebellion and Death")
But, because Rev. Wright speaks a rawer Old Testament language, he requires some interpretation, which, of course, the war profiteering corporate news monopolies fail to supply. He is like an Old Testament prophet, crying the wilderness against the sins of the people of Israel. (As I've suggested before, Barack Obama should simply say this: "Rev. Wright is Old Testament. I'm New Testament. Get it?")
Instead, the fascist news monopolies play up statements like these, of Rev. Wright's, as incendiary, to instill more fear in all of us, to "divide and conquer" the great progressive American majority, and in particular the Democratic Party. A Democrat in the White House would not be "in their interest." Such a president might try to balance our interests--the interests of we, the people--against those of the global corporate predators and the uber-rich. They want it all. They don't want any balance. So they play up every divisive issue, they try to widen every fissure in our society, and--I greatly fear--they are again writing a narrative for another stolen election. They will use anything--whatever comes to hand--for this purpose.
We need to understand that it isn't real--what they obsess on, and try to convince us of, about our fellow/sister Americans, is not a true description of our people or our country. It is extremely manipulative. What real journalism would do is put the Rev. Wright's remarks in context, and try to foster understanding and communication, and they would furthermore take a strong Constitutional stance that religious tests for political candidates are verboten. They are a violation of the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. Religion is a private matter. Catholic politicians go to a church that treats women like second class citizens. Should they be blamed for what priests and preachers say? But where do we hear this voice of reason and objectivity and this valuing of the First Amendment in the corporate media? They are not journalists. They are shills for corporate profiteering and thievery and warmongering and powermongering.
The American people need to be informed, heartened and awakened, not condemned for what they don't know, or can't do, under fascist coup conditions. Please keep this in mind, and try to make this distinction between the impression of things that you get from these fascist brainwashers, and what is really true about our people and our country.
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