Blame the Press

If I were going to blame some one for the current predicament of U.S. politics and policies, I would blame the press.

I saw all the anti war demonstrations before we went into Iraq. I saw them however on French, Canadian and Latin television. The U.S. press - CNN, CBS, NBC and ABC - were all mum. I guess they thought all those people demonstrating against the war weren't newsworthy or they were unpatriotic or something. George W. Bush hasn't changed over the last seven years - neither have Cheney or Rove or any of them - and yet they got re-elected! The U.S. public has finally decided to open their eyes.

While living in Haiti, I've learned over the years (I'm guessing about 22 government changes including countless coups) to stay calm when it comes to governments being repressive or untruthful. People don't believe you if you get emotional. They think you have an agenda. An occasional bit of humor even helps. The fact that Democrats have finally gotten a foothold in Congress has put the brakes on all the activities the Republicans were getting away with, but the true blame lies with the press. They haven't covered the news as news, they simply covered it the way they found it convenient to cover it, in line with their editorial slant. News has become too corporate. Where are all the freelancers I used to know? If it wasn't for the Internet and the new culture of blogs, we'd all be sunk.

I watch journalists getting killed, going into exile, radio stations burned down or shot at in Haiti. You earn freedom of press with your lives. It's not something that's given to you as a gift. Better respect it and cherish it or you'll lose it.