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A Great Shining Lie
Oct. 14th, 2002 02:44 amSo somebody bombed a nightclub in Bali. It's a terrible thing, a large loss of life always is. But it's also a fact of life. That aside what I don't understand is the linking of every terrorist act to Al Queda and therefore perpetuating Bush's pro-war agenda via media propaganda! And although I believe it's likely Al Queda is responsible for the attacks on the WTC I really haven't been privy to much irrefutable evidence in support of that hypothesis.
I think it's obvious to any informed and thinking individual that the whole situation however tragic isn't due to "pure evil" from one specific side as is often claimed in our oh-so-objective media. The "War on Terrorism" is like most every war in history motivated primarily by more than just hate but also greed and ignorance. It's also my personal belief that the only way to be innocent is to reject both attacks and retaliation. This could turn into a fantastically huge social rift as quick as you can say "Vietnam". But I'm digressing again.
I guess this is just a reminder to stay media savvy about the whole thing. I'm not suggesting paranoia but rather to keep informed from a variety of sources. The sad fact of the matter is that most of what you see on TV is the same 1% of the story syndicated around the world. Inevitable distorted with each re-iteration.
Am I nuts to have this strange feeling that I'm being manipulated with propaganda when I turn on my TV? That's of course a rhetorical question because all media is propaganda. That's why you gotta think for yourself. Resist the urge to find entertainment in suffering, I think that's a big one lately. I swear I see more eyes light up in excitement when the word "terrorist" is mentioned. How sick is that? Sure people want to discuss things, that's great and totally natural. But the irony of the situation is that the world really hasn't changed. It's just that the zeitgeist and therefore the media has decided to entertain themselves with terrorism like it was a fuckin' X-Files plot. Words like "Zapatista" and "Saro Wiwa" unsuprisingly don't register.
My point today is that genocide, holocost, terrorism and down right war happens all the time and has through out history. Life in the world's first nations is so insulated now that when something terrible happens to us it becomes a cause celebra. Because really in relation to the rest of the world we're a bunch of bored and self-absorbed artistocrats. It's like Fight Club, we need an attachment but most importantly an understanding of the visceral. When we don't have these things we truly become animal.
I think it's obvious to any informed and thinking individual that the whole situation however tragic isn't due to "pure evil" from one specific side as is often claimed in our oh-so-objective media. The "War on Terrorism" is like most every war in history motivated primarily by more than just hate but also greed and ignorance. It's also my personal belief that the only way to be innocent is to reject both attacks and retaliation. This could turn into a fantastically huge social rift as quick as you can say "Vietnam". But I'm digressing again.
I guess this is just a reminder to stay media savvy about the whole thing. I'm not suggesting paranoia but rather to keep informed from a variety of sources. The sad fact of the matter is that most of what you see on TV is the same 1% of the story syndicated around the world. Inevitable distorted with each re-iteration.
Am I nuts to have this strange feeling that I'm being manipulated with propaganda when I turn on my TV? That's of course a rhetorical question because all media is propaganda. That's why you gotta think for yourself. Resist the urge to find entertainment in suffering, I think that's a big one lately. I swear I see more eyes light up in excitement when the word "terrorist" is mentioned. How sick is that? Sure people want to discuss things, that's great and totally natural. But the irony of the situation is that the world really hasn't changed. It's just that the zeitgeist and therefore the media has decided to entertain themselves with terrorism like it was a fuckin' X-Files plot. Words like "Zapatista" and "Saro Wiwa" unsuprisingly don't register.
My point today is that genocide, holocost, terrorism and down right war happens all the time and has through out history. Life in the world's first nations is so insulated now that when something terrible happens to us it becomes a cause celebra. Because really in relation to the rest of the world we're a bunch of bored and self-absorbed artistocrats. It's like Fight Club, we need an attachment but most importantly an understanding of the visceral. When we don't have these things we truly become animal.
