911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Deda
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 07:09 PM

PS I really don't mean to add to the excessive BS out there about this event. In general I agree with Marie-aine. I just really liked this particular piece.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 07:15 PM

Hey Greg....Yeah, you're right....But don't you wish there were something new?

Spaw

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 11:33 PM

(quote) "Sheeshe, T., cancha find yerself a kinder, gentler role model?? LOL!!! The world has enough fanatics! "

Noooooo, definitely *not* a Savonorole-model for cryin' out loud. Just throwing out an burlesque modifier to exaggerate the *effect* my hyperbole apparently had.

Perhaps I should go the more playful Marshal McLuhan route . He's more of a genuine role-model from my *understanding media* days at university.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: bob jr
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 12:19 AM

It never ceases to amaze me. The "terrorists" were from Saudi arabia...there benafactors were mostly saudis..and America wants to invade Iraq? If it makes sense to Americans then the media has worked its magic and brainwashed you pretty well.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 12:48 AM

In talking with someone who lost a loved one to violence (not that of Sept. 11), I find that perhaps we need to think about the families etc. who are left behind. Maybe they do need all of the stories, coverage, etc. to be shown on what must be a very important and sad anniversary for them. Grief can last a long time, even when people are moving on, trying to pick up the pieces.

Some may find validation in listening to the survivors talking about their feelings. So, even if I don't care for it, and even if I do feel cynical about it and the Self-serving shrub, perhaps there are people who need it and all I have to do is turn it off.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Peg
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 01:24 AM

I teach a media theory class, today was our first day. I barely mentioned it. Maybe I will have reason to mention it on Thursday. I watched Sunday Morning on CBS and they did a very good show on the events of last September, and I was moved and saddened all over again. I just can't sit through it again. I also think being bombarded with all this makes me LESS likely to remember in the way that counts. Not sure, tho. I know I was glued to Peter Jennings' glass face for a week until the commercials started again. And that was enough.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Venthony
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 01:28 AM

Two things:

First I voted for Ronald Regan twice and George Bush (the first) twice. Given those politics, I certainly support the current President Bush and believe that we're in a real war with a real ememy.

Simply put, Saddam, bin Laden and their cronies must be hunted down and killed like the animals they are, regardless of the price in diplomatic PR and even in innocent lives. War is a very ugly business, and there's no getting around it.

That's why the U.S. would like some help cleaning up a bloody mess not of our making. But if it's not forthcoming we'll do it ourselves.

The current Mr. Bush is a man of integrity and faith, principles which, unpleasant as the reality may be, radical Islam scorns. Theirs is a church that worships only at the altar of cowardice and hate. And they are a threat not only to peace but to the God-given rights of man. (I, like Orwell, eschew genderspeak.)

The Western, democratic ideal, which we -- the overwhelming majority of Americans -- belive in, and in which Muslim fundamentalists do not, must absolutely be the foundation upon which any future worth surviving to see is built. There is no other paradigm short of "a new heaven and a new earth."

Now then, as for all this silly stuff on TV:

I'm no stranger to mass media; for nearly 20 years I worked as a fairly succesful newspaperman before giving up the profession in disgust.

And here's the deal. Newspapers -- most of them anyway -- have become mere house organs for big media corporations whose sole aim is to exploit people.

Working for them as a writer, or in any other capacity, is just about a half-step above prostitution.

Given the low ethical standard of newspapering in general, I can only tell you that editors and reporters in the print world commonly refer to TV folks as "screen scum."

In my experience, this is an apt and accurate term.

Furthermore, almost all of the network/cable reporters and editors framing these exploitative sob stories you folks justifiably villify are liberals.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Tony

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Escamillo
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 02:52 AM

Tonight in Buenos Aires an interesting phenomenon happened once again: literally millions of people went to the streets and peacefully, seriously, banged all kinds of metal devices, blowed horns and claxons for 10 minutes to protest AGAINST VIOLENCE in any form, with no political color and no nations'flags. No one was watching the TV at that time. The TV was probably following the groups, behind some expected act of violence which did not happen.

This was mainly because of the terrible situation of general safety (kidnaps, robbery, murder, police brutality), but extended to all forms of violence in the world.

That's what I would propose: a journey of worldwide TURNOFF for all the media, and solidarity with the victims. Religious or non religious meetings in the memory of those who died and in solidarity with those who miss them. And a wide-world NO to the presence of politicians in any meeting. Sorry, I know that they are human beings too, but they try very hard to demonstrate the contrary. Let's get them out of our mourning, perhaps thus they learn something.

Un abrazo, Andrés

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 06:07 AM

Well, that's one way of putting it Tony. Or as someone else might have said: "The infidel capitalists and their cronies must be hunted down and killed like the animals they are, regardless of the price in diplomatic PR and even in innocent lives. War is a very ugly business, and there's no getting around it."

What relevance does domestic politics such as which person you voted for have to do with it? The division between your parties isn't the same as the division over this proposed war - it is clear there are Republicans who are against it, and Democrats who are for it.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Peg
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 10:45 AM

I think it is inappropriate for people who have no grasp of the history of journalism to offer a negative OR positive opinion of it. In fact, the cultural illiteracy this country is experiencing in epidemic proportions, although largely due to a turning away from the written word in favor of visually-oriented media, is also upheld by the shameless (or is it shameful) habit many people have of shooting their mouths off about things they know NOTHING about...

And a lot of them do it on the Internet.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 11:13 AM

Well, it's handy, Peg...and even in our great country, no-one has ever made the case that ignorance wasn't a perfectly acceptable point of view! :>)

Maybe you could be more specific about those who are ignorant of the history of journalism??

A

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 11:41 AM

Well, I ain't into rantin' today so I'll keep it short...

Tony: I thought we had a deal. You were gonna read Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" and I was gonna read one of your guys. Your guy is a crook and the evidence is there. Problem is that he's keeping the dog under the porch with his supposed War on Terriorism which is quickly becoming a war on anyone he and his diaddy happen not to like. History is not on his side, for in the Book of Mathew it is written that, "there are no secrets kept that won't day be common knowledge". His day will come.

Taliesn: Now please don't jump on the Reverand but, hey, if you'll mix in a little Pacifica Radio (Democracy Now), WPFW. 89.3 FM, you're gonna find that C-Span, while much more objective than the Big Three entertainment news folks, still has a way to go. Now, I will admit to not watching it, but I do listen to it on the radio and over the last month I have listened to one Republican after another. Maybe its just the time of day which is generally around 5 or 6;00 pm but if its not Donald Rumsfield, then it's Trent Lott or Ari Flesher... Just my observation....

Bobert

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 01:29 PM

(quote) "Taliesn: Now please don't jump on the Reverand but, hey, if you'll mix in a little Pacifica Radio (Democracy Now), WPFW. 89.3 FM, you're gonna find that C-Span, while much more objective than the Big Three entertainment news folks, still has a way to go."

Aww shucks, I'm not gonna jump all over ya. I just don't get any decent radio reception in this below round den of a digital studio of mine; my "digital bunker" as I calls it. Even NPR is just plain static snowstorm , but I know of the Pacifica system of which you speak.

I well remember our Pacifica station in New York ; WBAI. I still miss my daily noon doses of the West Virginny native-born son become PhD.nutritionist , preventative medince & health advocate ,takes no lip from Big Pharmaceuticals and AMA lobbyists "give 'em hell" Gary Null. Only WBAI gave him the commercial-free forum necessary to build a more nutrition-minded conciousness raising.

As far as C-Span goes it doesn't have any regular programming per se except the morning call-ins and everything is driven by what's going on that week. Best to check in on their on-line schedule and cherry-pick what interests y'all. For example: Noam Chomsky's hundred minute "9/11" lecture from last year was rebroadcast over the weekend "in its entirety". That's Pacifica's style, right?

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: DougR
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 08:06 PM

Bryan Lamb has replace Walter Cronkite? Sez who? I like Bryan Lamb, but to me, he is no Walter Cronkite. Edward R. Murrow either. I don't know anyone who has replaced either one of them myself. We just have a lot more folks doing what they did.

Burke: glad you clarified that the service at your church would be a memorial not patriotic. Woudn't want to show patriotism in church would we? :>)

Spaw: I have it on pretty good authority (my hometown is only fifteen miles or so from Crawford, Texas) that we are not going to put a parking lot where Bagdad was. A Wal-Mart store is going in there, along with a hughe tower that will serve as a headquarters for Exxon-Mobil. *G*

DougR

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 08:09 PM

Hey, there's no law against being patriotic in church!! The "separation of church and state" is only mandatory on the State! One assumes that arbitrary commandments laid down by the Church dfon't impinge on the State as much as the other way around....

A

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 08:28 PM

Patriotism means loving your country. And it should mean feeling a sense of solidarity with everyone else who loves their country, whichever country that is.

Any time hatred of other countries comes into the licture, it's not patriotism any more, because that kind of thing degrades a country, and no true patriot would want their country degraded.

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 11:11 PM

Srop the presses! Get Ripley on the phone! DouGR and Bobert agree on something...

Yep, I'm with you on Walter Cronkite, Doug.

Bobert

p.s. And they said it would never happen...

Subject: RE: 911 Anniversary: Tearing Off the Scabs?
From: Venthony
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 02:19 PM

Dear Bobert,

The only deal we have is to exchange books and ideas. There are five or six titles I'm still considering, and I'll pick one in a day or two.

Mr. Palast's book is available through the library here, and I've requested it.

By the way -- touche. I thought John Ashcroft gave a perfectly miserable interview the other day on the Today Show.

I've always liked him, and I can't believe he's as stupid and insensitive as his defensive and bureaucratic syntax would indicate.

As a conservative and Republican, I've never thought I need apologize to anyone for my principles. That, after all, is what the whole debate is about.

So you may be right. While I still think Mr. Ashcroft is a man of truth and integrity, his vision -- and, sadly, eduation -- may be too narrow for his current responsibilities.

Tony