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American Imperialism and the Problem with
by OneWordSolution 3/25/03being a PC Punk in a Misinformed Public 
"Stop the Imperialistic tendencies of our fascist government. Don't support our Troops! Don't support Bush's war!" These are harsh words when you accept the reality of today. But many in this country are ill-informed about what is really happening, what the real agenda of Ashcroft, Bush, Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice and the rest of the capitol hill gang is. In a time where media coverage plays precedent over a large part of our source of information, we have to understand that most of what you see on CNN and other cable or non-cable news networks cannot be accepted as absolute truths. The portrayal of american intervention by these facets of media lack the cardinal law of being a journalistic reporter and that is to provide coverage as unbiased as possible. This is not happening in our mainstream media. We have cheerleaders on the sidelines who in terms of this war, this particular element, have been granted access not only that of first hand knowledge of militaristic planning, but that of traveling with the troops in order to "provide more in-depth coverage of what american troops might face". The media is acting as an outlet for the pentagon to spread its propaganda onto a public that has no idea what is happening and is out there looking for the best form of reality TV- WAR! Not to be outdone by the Superbowl ratings of two antagonistic teams trying to pummel each other for all the glory. Budwieser, Pepsi, and Nike will be contributing funds of support to Bush's war. Don't be surprised if you see 30 sec time spots on TV between reporters being sold to these corporations, featuring slogans such as "Pepsi- it's the choice of a new coalition." "This war is brought to you by Budweiser, the King beers." or "Nike. Just shoot them." What has happened to our society when the horrors of war, of civilians dying, and american/iraqi troops are captured, tortured, paraded around on TV then killed for ratings during sweeps week, have replaced humanitarianism? The media has told us nothing about the use of Depleted Uranium weapons against Iraqi civilians and troops, or the effect of nuclear fall out on coalition troops and reporters for that matter. Instead you have a largely right-winged media portraying the war as a nothing more than a football game, where numbers and points take control of the airwaves. There is nothing patriotic about supporting a media that plays up an aggressive invasion on a weaker enemy and misinforms the public intentionally to dissuade unrest amongst the populace. Support the war and you don't face criminal prosecution by the Police State. Detest the inhumanity and brainwashed cops will bash your head in. To quote Anti-Flag, "What's so anti-establishment about wanting peace?" Even Miss America Contestants want world peace. Didn't you see the Miss USA pageant on March 24th? Meanwhile the public is being distracted by Simon Cowell, Survivor, and CNN's breaking coverage of an illegal war. Where are the peace talks and debates with our supposed elected officials? Aren't they supposed to represent the voice of the people? If the voice is mass dissent, why are they ignoring the public that gave them their job? Public officials work for us and the media works for them. So that means that the media works for the public. So why have they turned their back on us by providing us with falsified information? The CIA doctors documents all the time to get the Government to do things one way or another, and yet they will never face criminal charges of tampering with evidence. So why should the media be any different? Turn off your television. Do not give the proprietors of mass murder the ratings they need to keep the sponsors that pay for advertising products that you buy to support their cause. Find other sources of news. Turn on the radio. Tune into KPFK (90.7 fm) Pacifica radio network for more accurate news, or NPR (89.9 fm) national public radio for a broader spectrum of the events that are going on in Iraq. Did you know about the second invasion of Afghanistan? Mainstream media might mention it but they won't tell you why the US is there. Nor will they stay on the topic for very long. Back in suburbia, where the flock of sheep who control the means of production are stockpiling duct tape and plastic wrap, fear runs rampant. The public fears that Muslims will retaliate for the untried war crimes coalition troops are committing. Wouldn't you want revenge if someone dropped a bomb on your family, then occupied you country, stripped you of your fundamental human rights, and got away with it Scot-free? Talking with coworkers about the war, I started to see that sympathy, and prayer was there for the safe return of US troops, but not for the Iraqi people who are the victims. "What if that happened here? What would you say then?" Well it isn't and what they're facing isn't worse than what Saddam Hussein puts them through, it's how they reply. What most people lack is a sense of empathy for our fellow man. With the advance of realistic animated war games available for $39.95 at every major electronic retailer, it's easier to have a desensitized youth fight their wars with no regard for just actions. This war is just like Ghost Recon and Operation: Desert Storm. Both are available for Sony Playstation 2 and the X-BOX for around $40. And the object is to kill Middle Eastern forces that advance on your troops. Is there any empathy for killing an animated character? No. So why should civilians and soldiers alike have any empathy at all? I was waiting for the 11pm Simpsons to come on Fox TV when I saw Christine Divine segue to a visual of three marines on the ground in Iraq with a shoulder mounted rocket launcher aimed at a civilian structure. The missile was fired and about 2 seconds later the building exploded. The marines then threw up their arms and cheered, "Yeehaw! We got them. Yeah! We got the suckers!" like they were trying to kill a roaches nest. Scenes of that nature, video games of that kind, and basic human life right now is disgusting. As the wall outside the CIA says in a raised serif font, "The Truth Shall Set You Free." If Truth equals Freedom, And Lies equal Oppression, why is our government, whom we elected and gave jobs to, lying to us, if their intention is not the oppression of the world, but the liberation of an oppressed people? Resist the temptation to turn on the TV to see the latest breaking news from the frontlines. Take a stand against oppression, and see the media as a facet of that oppression. And to the people who have friends and family over seas, I apologize- they have no need to be there fighting the unjust wars of power hungry tyrants worse than Saddam Hussein. Don't fight their wars. Don't be a tool, or a victim. Be a voice in the chorus of dissent. |