Don't you think the television reporting also is way off base most of the time? In reading or watching any of the reporting I think you have to sort through it and find some perspective on what you're being fed. I know a lot of people would say that we do this based on our political leanings but I don't think that's the case for most of us. It's easy to color someone based on a few statements they make and a lot of the time when we put someone in a catagory it's based on our image of the most extreme in that catagory. Comments suddenly make you a pacifist, a communist, a Nazi, and all you've done is simply try to make some sort of point.
In this battle over the media there are no winners. We all lose no matter what side we're on because the media is a goddamn whorehouse and does not serve us. Billy O' who I slam so much is just a sign of the times. He sells nonsense candy coated as good ol' Americana common sense. His opinions are lowest common denominator trash. I don't care that he leans to the right.
Case in point, in Boston which has always been thought of as a liberal stronghold, our number one rated radio talkshow is hosted by a conservative. He's light years ahead of ol' Billy boy though. He wears his political leanings on his sleeve but does a far better job of defining and debating them and most importantly he makes you think. On the same station there is a liberal talkshow. It is god aweful and quite honestly unlistenable. Billy just spews crap to make people sit there and say "YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, go get 'em Bill! You tell 'em Bill!" it's friggin' ridiculous. From a psychological standpoint though, in a time of war, I think that sort of "YEAH! YEAH!" stuff is comforting to a lot of people.
When you really begin to absorb the true nature of what's taking place it's extremely disturbing. This is why this stuff separates us so much. Those who are on each side are trying to cope with their feelings and become violently offended by what the other side says or does. Everyone wants to unite but there can be no agreement on where or how. We all support the troops. Agreed. We all think the media is more about selling than presenting facts. Agreed. We all know why we're in Iraq. Don't think we can agree on that one. We all believe we should be there. That one won't fly either. We all would like to see an end to the death and destruction. Absolutely. Saddam is a bad man. Agreed. Saddam should go. Agreed. We should liberate Iraq no matter what the cost. Hmmmm. Our government always tells us the truth. Well, I ah...can you rephrase that...I can't recall. Our government always acts with the best interests of it's citizens in mind. I think I missed my bus. Our government has the might so that must equal that it's always right. I have a meeting I need to get to. America is God's country. Huh? America is the best damn nation on the planet. I'm...ahh...late for a plane. If you don't believe that America's the best you ought to just get out. Didn't George Washington say that?
Isn't funny that the left paints Bush as a Nazi and the right paints Saddam as Hitler. Those crazy kids!
Not Left, Not Right, Not Sure,
Reg
