Lest we forget, CBS is the fourth largest media conglomerate mega-corporation in the U.S. To think they do not have a political agenda would be an extreme case of naiveté. For example, Viacom uses the services of Wiki-PR, a public relations firm specialized in editing of Wikipedia that is accused of subverting Wikipedia content for business interest.
In other words, we should not be surprised that a semi-secret government organization gets prime time on CBS to broadcast their very own fluff piece to paint an innocent face on their activities.
I do not wish to diminish in any way the impact of the shootings in New Orleans or the bombing in Boston. I do wish to point out that it would have been worthwhile to include in the article that there were no fatalities reported in the New Orleans parade event and there were fatalities in the Boston bombing.
Given that our media zero in on sensationalism, the lack of fatalities could partially explain why the New Orleans story received comparatively little coverage. I do think this article is a fair indictment of the media's priorities, but I think it is a reach to proclaim racism based on the allotment of coverage for these two events.
The oath of office taken by every member of Congress states"
"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
When I read that statement, I am reminded of Walt Kelly's most famous line in his Pogo comic strip - "I have met the enemy and he is us."
And then I wonder why charges of violating the oath of office are not brought against those who put their own interests ahead of the well-being of our country.
It is difficult to parse a U. S. foreign policy that is based on fear and hostility toward the Muslim world in general in response to clerics and hard-liners who characterize the U. S. as The Great Satan. And at the same time the U. S. is criticized for taking a passive stance toward the atrocities against the citizens of Syria by their own government. This is a can't-win situation. The West will make no friends by helping depose the Assad regime, even if it is the right thing to do, and there is no political will for another war front in the Middle East where we have been mired in unproductive military action for a decade.
As usual Jon Stewart articulates the political hypocrisy of our elected officials with his satirical lampooning more effectively than does any outlet generally considered to be part of the main stream media.
What worries me about drone warfare technology is that it is easily replicated. The weapons systems may not be as easy to come by. However, it is just a matter of time before some sort of air-to-surface bomb or missile can be attached the a drone belonging to an enemy of the U. S.
Which leads to the question, how will we feel about having drones high above our own cities with the ability to inflict death and destruction analogous to drone strikes abroad? Other countries are not influenced by our Constitution or by U. N. resolutions.
“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”
Thomas Jefferson
Given the number of people who believe they are well-informed because they tune in to Fox News, it is no wonder we have lost control of our government. You cannot defend yourself against the oligarchic government on the one hand when you need both hands to fight ignorance.
In all previous wars, sacrifices were made by civilians as well as combatants for war efforts. In today's wars overseas, the only ones sacrificing are the soldiers and their families, which is the most unjust thing about these wars. We say "Support Our Troops" with parades, flags, and bumper stickers, but then, to our great shame, we turn our backs.
Lest we forget, CBS is the fourth largest media conglomerate mega-corporation in the U.S. To think they do not have a political agenda would be an extreme case of naiveté. For example, Viacom uses the services of Wiki-PR, a public relations firm specialized in editing of Wikipedia that is accused of subverting Wikipedia content for business interest.
In other words, we should not be surprised that a semi-secret government organization gets prime time on CBS to broadcast their very own fluff piece to paint an innocent face on their activities.
I do not wish to diminish in any way the impact of the shootings in New Orleans or the bombing in Boston. I do wish to point out that it would have been worthwhile to include in the article that there were no fatalities reported in the New Orleans parade event and there were fatalities in the Boston bombing.
Given that our media zero in on sensationalism, the lack of fatalities could partially explain why the New Orleans story received comparatively little coverage. I do think this article is a fair indictment of the media's priorities, but I think it is a reach to proclaim racism based on the allotment of coverage for these two events.
The oath of office taken by every member of Congress states"
"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
When I read that statement, I am reminded of Walt Kelly's most famous line in his Pogo comic strip - "I have met the enemy and he is us."
And then I wonder why charges of violating the oath of office are not brought against those who put their own interests ahead of the well-being of our country.
It is difficult to parse a U. S. foreign policy that is based on fear and hostility toward the Muslim world in general in response to clerics and hard-liners who characterize the U. S. as The Great Satan. And at the same time the U. S. is criticized for taking a passive stance toward the atrocities against the citizens of Syria by their own government. This is a can't-win situation. The West will make no friends by helping depose the Assad regime, even if it is the right thing to do, and there is no political will for another war front in the Middle East where we have been mired in unproductive military action for a decade.
As usual Jon Stewart articulates the political hypocrisy of our elected officials with his satirical lampooning more effectively than does any outlet generally considered to be part of the main stream media.
What worries me about drone warfare technology is that it is easily replicated. The weapons systems may not be as easy to come by. However, it is just a matter of time before some sort of air-to-surface bomb or missile can be attached the a drone belonging to an enemy of the U. S.
Which leads to the question, how will we feel about having drones high above our own cities with the ability to inflict death and destruction analogous to drone strikes abroad? Other countries are not influenced by our Constitution or by U. N. resolutions.
“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”
Thomas Jefferson
Given the number of people who believe they are well-informed because they tune in to Fox News, it is no wonder we have lost control of our government. You cannot defend yourself against the oligarchic government on the one hand when you need both hands to fight ignorance.
In all previous wars, sacrifices were made by civilians as well as combatants for war efforts. In today's wars overseas, the only ones sacrificing are the soldiers and their families, which is the most unjust thing about these wars. We say "Support Our Troops" with parades, flags, and bumper stickers, but then, to our great shame, we turn our backs.