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A Plan and a Plea
It’s Time to Unite Against the Mainstream Media
Editor - TvNewsLIES.org - 24-June-2004
THE PROBLEM:
Public discussion about media bias has escalated somewhat ever since the successful domination of the broadcast media by right wing outlets such as FOX News and Clearchannel. Despite the fact that bias has no place in journalism, it clearly has engulfed the mainstream American news industry with dexterity reminiscent of the “Blob” in the classic horror film. More frightening than this, however, is an even greater problem: the practice of outright deception by our news organizations. It is my sincere opinion that this problem is not only widespread, but potentially catastrophic.
By reporting incomplete facts, providing selective historical background, completely omitting vital and relevant news and by distracting us with trivial and /or sensational news, the mainstream media has lulled the American public into supporting what is perhaps the most dishonest administration in American history.
THE URGENCY:
In ordinary times, differences regarding social and economic issues are basically political. But in ordinary times, adversarial positions don’t involve massive death and destruction; nor would they endanger future generations. In ordinary times, whatever political position prevails is balanced by the cycle of our democratic election process that leads to change, correction, and progress. In ordinary times…
However, these are not ordinary times. Under the current administration, the vital issues facing this nation may well have irreversible catastrophic global ramifications. This is not about something as easy to predict as the Bush deficit that our great grandchildren will be paying off. Rather, this is about issues with far more long lasting consequences. I am raising a critical alarm about the precarious future of every facet of quality life in this country, and on this planet.
The urgency I speak of is not a dramatic ploy. I really fear the irreparable damage of the relentless policies of this administration that have received virtually no oversight by the mainstream media. The areas of my greatest concern include the following:
International policy - By using military might as primary tool for addressing international problems, the Unites States stands virtually isolated in the world today. Even in the few countries allied with the US today, the populations oppose us. The Bush Doctrine of preventive strikes against suspected enemies is the most dangerous foreign policy every initiated by an American government. In its war against an idea, rather than a state, the Bush administration has fostered widespread and perilous hatred and resentment towards this country that will only increase. The Bush administration has shown utter disregard for human life and limb in its war of choice in Iraq, and in its stated goals of regime change in other countries. This government has closed its eyes and ears to the advice of those with greater experience and knowledge than its own policy makers, and is blindly leading us into unparalleled disaster. Environmental Policy - The Bush administration has become the most dangerous eco-terrorists in the history of the planet. Its corporate-driven policies have virtually eliminated 50 years of environmental regulation. Day by day, the death of our planet is being encouraged by an administration that has favored ideology over established science, much to the dismay of a host of reputable, award winning scientists whose efforts to alarm the public have been ignored. Social Policy – The Bush administration has turned the clock back on an alarming array of very precious Constitutional guarantees. The intrusion of religious doctrine into administration policy has seriously limited our aid grants to people around the globe. This undue religious influence on domestic policies also has made the upcoming Supreme Court appointments the most significant in history. The personal freedoms that women, gays, and other minorities have fought to protect, and which we all have cherished for so long, are now in grave danger of extinction, as this administration seeks to expand the powers of the presidency to dictatorial dimensions. And the secret detention of people, without charges or access to legal counsel, has eroded our sense of justice to shameful levels. Nuclear Policy - The Bush administration has quietly reignited an international nuclear arms race. With his outrageous claim to the right of preemptive and preventive attacks on other nations, this President has provided incentive for other nations to obtain and/or develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to US aggression. With its arrogant determination to decide which nations may or may not possess nuclear weapons, this administration has once again placed the entire planet in competition for the most destructive weapons on earth.
These policies combine to paint a frightening picture, largely unknown to much of the American public. So often, people do not know what they have not been told. They don’t know what they don’t read in the papers or see on television. Moreover, they do believe what they are told and what they do see, as the media offers its fare of daily deception with impunity. The media report the stories of the day by omitting, by minimizing, and by ignoring the dangers that have amassed, one atop the other – until they have reached a critical mass.
The mainstream news media, in an unforgivable dereliction of duty, have encouraged support for this administration by allowing the President and his advisors to appear benignly concerned with the nation and the world. In a unified and consistent manner, they have refused to report or investigate any news that might in any way detract from such support. As a result, the corporate media has been utterly complicit in endangering the nation and ultimately the world. So much damage has already been done. It is hard to imagine what harm is yet to be done with George Bush in the White House for another 4 years. If we do not address this problem now, we will all find out first hand just how bad it can get.
THE REALITY:
As a direct result of the deception, rather than simply the bias of the mainstream news media, much of the American public is oblivious to these, and many other vital issues. The efforts of highly respected people and groups to increase public awareness have been ignored. Regardless of the magnitude of any warnings, the media have opted to echo and support the propaganda supplied by the White House and in effect to promote its policies. They will not question, they will not challenge, and they will not scrutinize.
The inevitable conclusion has to be that much support for the Bush administration can be traced to media deception. Tens of millions of people of this country rely on the media as their primary sources of truthful and accurate information. They expect to be given a fair and complete picture of what their government is doing. Tragically, they have been sorely betrayed and misled about the character, the actions and the ramifications of their President and his policies. In short, they have been terribly deceived.
THE PLAN:
Marching and protesting in front of an empty White House to protest an imminent war may have been therapeutic, but the results were obviously futile. The media barely covered most of the antiwar demonstrations, and underplayed their numbers and their message. We must have a better way to get the message across.
My plan is to mobilize those same marchers who tried so hard to prevent the invasion of Iraq, but this time we must take our protest right to the doorsteps of the media. This time the marches must lead directly to the live broadcast locations of the guilty media outlets. We must unify our message. No senseless slogans, but clear precise messages. No long boring speeches, but short, simple and to the point messages. This time we have to demand answers from the media.
We must directly hold the media accountable for 3 1/2 years of relentless investigations into the Scott Peterson case while completely ignoring the Cheney lawsuits. They owe us explanations for completely ignoring the felons appointed to high positions by this President. They owe us explanations for completely ignoring the history of PNAC and its ulterior motives for invading Iraq. They owe us explanations for completely ignoring the close ties between the Bush administration and the war profiteers. They owe us explanations for refusing to expose the lies and the crimes of this administration. They owe us. I think you get the point.
THE PLEA:
I have basically put my life on hold to create and run TvNewsLIES.org. I have not had an income for over a year. I felt that it was more important to address this urgent problem than it was to secure my personal finances and go on with life as usual. Time is running out for the nation. We can not wait until after George Bush is reelected before we try to pressure the media into holding our government accountable. The media refused to challenge the Constitutional crisis that was the Florida election or even question the purging of the state’s voter rolls. Why would anyone even hope that the media would show any concern if another such coup were to take place in November?
I have spent much of the past year reaching out to some of the large peace and political organizations in an effort to focus their energy on the real problem: the media. If we solve the deception problem to any degree at all, these organizations can focus on getting their message out to a public that has more truth at its fingertips and more information with which to make informed decisions in November. I really believe that pressure on the media can get results. I just know that if we were to get a semblance of honest journalism from the media, I don’t believe that George Bush could not garner enough votes to win a high school class presidential election. If the people knew the truth, they would be outraged. They really would.
A full year of calls and e-mails to the major organizations has gone relatively unanswered. Several smaller organizations have responded and several have coordinated their efforts with me. I have organized several cooperative projects but the larger organizations have been impossible to contact. My plea to the many wonderful supporters of TvNewsLIES.org, is to help me to get this message to the right people. If you believe in this “plan” and you want to help, you can help me by making efforts to attract the attention of the larger and more powerful organizations.
Below you will find a list of organizations that I feel can help me to achieve my goal of making the media outlets the focus of our protest. If you are a member of any of these organizations (or a similar one not listed) please pass a link to this page to as many members or decision makers of that group as you can. If you are not a member you can help by spreading the word. Networking is all.
Send a link to this page to the groups below. Call in to radio shows and mention my plan. Post this link in forums and news groups. Contact your local news papers and alert them about this effort. Just get the word out!
Please help me in my quest to bring the truth to the people!
Thank you for your support,
Jesse - Editor - TvNewsLIES.org
Participate: participate@tvnewslies.org
Moveon.org - The best at mobilizing people. Very hard to contact. TrueMajority - Ben Cohen’s group. He gets a decent media attention. Diplomats & Military Commanders for Change - An unprecedented bipartisan coalition of 27 career chiefs of mission and retired four-star military leaders who launched a nationwide campaign to press for the need for change in U.S. foreign and defense policy because they are deeply concerned by the damage the Bush Administration has caused to our national and international interests. FAIR - A national media watch group
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