Lies the Press Told Us... That We Still Seem to Believe
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
December 3, 2007 3:12pm CST
1: Over 100 murders in the Superdome during the Hurricane Katrina evactuation.
2: U.S. Marines murdered Iraqi Civilians in Haditha.
3: Sen. Obama is a "closet Muslim".
4: The North Vietnamese Military defeated the U.S. Army during the Tet Offensive.
5: The UN was a signatory of the Ceasefire of 91, ending Operation Desert Storm.
6: WMD was the only justification Prs. Bush gave for returning to hostilities with Hussein.
7: Polar Bears are dying off.
8: The Government of Niger told Joe Wilson that Hussein never tried to by "yellowcake" from them.
9: The Snowy Owl can only thrive in old growth forest.
10: The U.S. Military never recieved orders for ground troops to go into Baghdad and remove the Hussein Regime from power during Desert Storm.
... So, why do we still pay any attention to the press?
4 people like this
3 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
5 Dec 07
In countries with very authoritarian or corrupt government the press can be a powerful balancing force. However, the press can also become to powerful; distorting accurate reporting to their own agenda. Not so much a case of freedom of the press but freedom to oppress.
all the best urban
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
5 Dec 07
More like, Freedom to lie through their teeth and still insist they are doing us some sort of "service".
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
12 Dec 07
Hello ParaTed,
Great topic!
As much as some of us might recognize how irresponsible journalism has replaced responsible reporting, we cannot simply ignore everything that the press presents.
I also have first hand experience being confounded at how certain members of the media twist and contort information to fit their perceived agenda. As startling and eye-openning as it is to experience that first hand, there is still a place in today's reality for the media -- old and new.
The one thing that continues to offer the press even the slightest sense of credibility is that their business is to have people on the scene. We average folks cannot be in all places, at all times. So, their last bastion of credibility is that they still maintain a presence.
Granted, that presence often leans toward unrelentless, and can easily be equated to a beaten horse. Geesh, based on how they hound some stories, ya'd think that there was a genuine shortage of newsworthy events.
At least we can take some comfort in rise of the alternative media. There still seems to be some integrity left there.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Dec 07
Oh, I agree, there is still a place for the press, the one thing they normally get right is the fact that an event did happen, after that though, it's a crap shoot.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be a press, but it's sad when we get about the same accuracy in reporting from bloggers and sites like MyLot.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
8 Dec 07
I guess because they manage to come up with the clever headlines and soundbites. But, don't we also believe things the press doesn't say in so many words? Like Iraq was responsible for 9/11? That lie was believed by over 50% of Americans not all that long ago. So I guess I'll answer your question with another question: why does anyone still pay any attention to what this Administration tells us? That's the really burning issue!
Annie
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
8 Dec 07
Do you twist every thread into an anti Bush rant?
1 person likes this
