Letters to the Editor
Riversofexile
Published Letters: 76
-
It is what it is, let's face it
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am so relieved to see someone at Salon address the Obama hit piece on WaPo. I'd expect Joan Walsh, who recently went on about "slime in the mainstream media" or some such to also take it up; at least we can rely on Glenn's steadfastness.
That front pager there about rumors, of a candidate being - God forbid - a Muslim (a Muslim Plant even) - turned my stomach several times over. Just like the campaign of fear-cum-innuendo that washed over this country after 9/11, leading up to the invasion of Iraq nearly gave me a damn ulcer.
Fear mongering of the worst kind, all around the faith of millions around the world, on one of the most read front pages of the planet. It's revolting, unacceptable - there aren't enough words for the outrage I feel about it.
And then Ché pasa says:
So what do you do? Of course, point out the errors and fabrications and fictions and lies of the major mass media. But then, what is the point of expecting them to go against their nature and become what the are not and have never been?
No point, no point at all. In the case of the horrible WaPo Scary.Muslim.Plant rumor mongering piece, I have to trust Obama's ground organization, and in the hands of fair Americans willing to give him a chance. My God, I sometimes feel the way things work here is far more insidious/pernicious than actual dictatorship, where at least the censorship and single-source propaganda are self-evident, and just as destructive.
Here, we have the tools of democracy, on paper anyway. So we think, by faithfully applying them to the letter, we can change things for the better. That keeps us busy, and hopeful, while in fact, things continue to remain the same, if not deteriorate right under our noses.
PS - Let's not forget too that we have a serious contender for the presidency feeling comfortable telling us that no, Muslims won't be welcome in his cabinet. Didn't make any waves with that either. Ok then, don't bother applying, Muslims.
-
Paul Dirks
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Michelle Malkin and Pamela whats-her-name come to mind right away but its also the stock in trade for Lou Dobbs.
Would you conclude that now the WaPo has in fact descended to that tawdry level? I sure have.
As for Dobbs - he is repulsive, yet so successful at what he does, so popular. It's quite a mountain to climb trying to counter that kind of venomous power.
-
Good dialogue, Ché pasa & DCLaw1
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And one that needs to happen nationally. At some point, progressives in this country do need to stop a second, take stock, and consider whether approaches adopted so far are likely to succeed in any significant way, or not. We'd also need to decide, collectively, as a nation, what the goal of any activism ought to be: ie what kind of society do we want to be, governed by what principles? Does our Constitution even need to be examined?
Continuing to operate (ie think, analyze, write) within the current framework DOES seem (to me) self-defeating indeed, for the reasons Ché outlines. I have to ask: what more is needed for opinion leaders and respected thinkers of the left to come together and truly assess the constitutional state of the nation , and identify feasible, realistic options to address the most acute issues without delay.
My own anxiety about the overall mindset and attitude of the US left stems from the notion that most Americans - and our intelligentsia - simply have not experienced dictatorship other than through remote observation of other societies, and are therefore not equipped to deal with its insidious encroachments, or accurately anticipate its long-term, irreversible ramifications.
How else do we explain that the current Administration has not suffered any real price at all for its many documented violations of basic rights, and abuses of power? Why is impeachment such a hard concept for the Democratic Party in light of everything that has been going on? Why is talk of war crimes and crimes against humanity not on the national table?
Truth is, there has been no relief in 7 years, and none is in sight. We won't be able to address anything usefully until we come to terms to what has actually happened to this country. That's being realist, constructive, in my view, not defeatist.
-
sorry about the typo
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"come to terms with" - bah