One group that solicits displeasure, hate and/or mistrust all along the political spectrum, is that group we refer to as "the media", also known as "main stream media" or MSM in text or twitter talk. I am not an innocent bystander in this kind of discussion. I've piled on with the best of them. Maybe its the sports page that annoys you, or perhaps its the local coverage of community news. Perhaps its the financial page or a Sunday pundit that you just can't stand. Most commonly though, at least at this point in time, its the political coverage that gets your and my goat.
Having gotten that out of the way, the history and importance of a free press is known and supported by many. The role of the press, unbridled by government control is protected by our constitution and a hallmark of this and other democracies. Repressive governments on the other hand tend to almost always have a very strong state operated or state sponsored media.
So.....what happens when and if social media is state operated or state controlled? Sounds ominous. Sounds a bit propsterous. Sounds like something we in the US would never allow or something we wouldn't put up with. We of course, are above that kind of control or practice. The problem is, that's something we may have believed before the election a few weeks ago of Donald Trump.
Over the past few days, we've watched as Mr. Trump has returned to his practice of tweeting his beliefs and his positions. That of course is his right, at this point, and I say at this point cautiously. He has attacked purported enemies, the media, people who don't agree, etc. He also spreads lies and these lies can be proven with facts. Its not hard to fact check things like who won the popular vote. We've also found out recently that he even edits other people's tweets to prove one of his points about reporters. He does all of this understanding that he has many millions of followers on Twitter. He eggs people on about voter fraud, immigrants and more, much more. If he can't get his positions or stories covered in the media, he knows that he has an alternative by using social media, currently through Twitter, and he knows how to do it effectively. He has even stated that this approach is his alternative to the main stream media. His tweets, in his view, have become his New York Times.
But, and here's where it gets serious, something will change when President-Elect Trump becomes President Trump in late January. As President, he will become the symbol and spokesperson for the US Government. If he continues his use of Twitter to promote his positions, policies and propaganda, his tweets reach a whole different level. First, there are legal consequences. All of his documents become government property and they're open to new consequences and legal challenges. That means his Twitter account and tweets and any other social media items get included as presidential documents. Second, and this is really my main focus here, his tweets potentially become state sponsored media. The first time in our history. They promote what he's doing or proposing in a favorable light. They vilify opponents and use smear campaigns against them. They advocate his ideology. In this scenario Mr. Trump becomes the spokesperson and the reporter. We should be worried, very worried if that happens.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Journalism, The Good, The Bad & Truth Tellers!
Journalism has changed dramatically in the past number of years. The recent election cycle has pointed that out perhaps more then we expected. Imagine, one of the biggest news stories of the day is 'fake news'. That's right, people, sometimes organizations, posting fake or made up news stories. Google and Facebook are trying to figure out how to monitor or cope with this growing phenomena. Good luck.
This is one of the dilemma's we're faced with in this changing world. The reality is that newspapers are shrinking, dying, disappearing. They may continue in one form or another but they'll never be the same. Cable News presents us with the 24/7 problem. Too many hours to fill and not enough time to really check sources if you're going to stay in front of the competition.
So what happens to us, the consumers of the news. As has become more and more apparent, we are the losers, again. We become the manipulated masses, by someone, perhaps someone new everyday - Breitbart, another country, a prankster, a corporate monster, a hacker, the Main Stream Media (less likely at this point). We want to know what's going on, or what the trends are, or who is doing what. It use to be so easy. Plunk down your change, pick up the paper or journal and read. Even as we became more comfortable with the internet, it was fairly easy. Googling it, bookmarks and electronic subscriptions got us the information faster and we still trusted it.
But now in the information world and the news world it's no different than anywhere else - buyer beware.
Oh and before I forget, then there are people like me, bloggers. Yes bloggers take the heat from everyone. They are the form of journalism that everyone can hate. They are a mixed up group -independent writers, some journalists, some opinion writers, some storytellers and some just troublemakers. Honestly blogs are one of the places where former newspaper and TV and Radio newspeople will end up as the media continues to shrink, evolve or whatever it is that it's doing. Some of these people you'll know and some you won't. Trust will need to be built.
None of this bodes well for us as the public with a need and a right to know. What we've seen most recently, is that candidates and their surrogates no matter who they are or what their ideology, can if unchecked, tell whatever lies they want. They can issue stories, fact checks and the like on their own for us to read and consume. They can create news websites, blogs, electronic magazines, reports or digital video shows.
There are still truth tellers, real journalists and opinion writers who get their facts straight and check their sources. But we're losing them fast like we did Gwen Ifill, a true journalist. We still have Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman and others trying to keep things honest everyday. And there are people, good people in hometown weeklies, magazines and the few remaining giants of daily newspapers. These are folks who are trying as hard as they can to fight what's happening to the media and to provide all of us with the correct information. Sadly, in many cases, we beat them up, egged on by the people who would rather control the information their way.
Clearly I am not optimistic about where this is all going. But I do know this. Truth telling is critical. Truth telling is driven by a value for the truth and for a belief in independence from manipulation. More and more we need to find and identify the truth tellers and support them, encourage them, protect them.
This is one of the dilemma's we're faced with in this changing world. The reality is that newspapers are shrinking, dying, disappearing. They may continue in one form or another but they'll never be the same. Cable News presents us with the 24/7 problem. Too many hours to fill and not enough time to really check sources if you're going to stay in front of the competition.
So what happens to us, the consumers of the news. As has become more and more apparent, we are the losers, again. We become the manipulated masses, by someone, perhaps someone new everyday - Breitbart, another country, a prankster, a corporate monster, a hacker, the Main Stream Media (less likely at this point). We want to know what's going on, or what the trends are, or who is doing what. It use to be so easy. Plunk down your change, pick up the paper or journal and read. Even as we became more comfortable with the internet, it was fairly easy. Googling it, bookmarks and electronic subscriptions got us the information faster and we still trusted it.
But now in the information world and the news world it's no different than anywhere else - buyer beware.
Oh and before I forget, then there are people like me, bloggers. Yes bloggers take the heat from everyone. They are the form of journalism that everyone can hate. They are a mixed up group -independent writers, some journalists, some opinion writers, some storytellers and some just troublemakers. Honestly blogs are one of the places where former newspaper and TV and Radio newspeople will end up as the media continues to shrink, evolve or whatever it is that it's doing. Some of these people you'll know and some you won't. Trust will need to be built.
None of this bodes well for us as the public with a need and a right to know. What we've seen most recently, is that candidates and their surrogates no matter who they are or what their ideology, can if unchecked, tell whatever lies they want. They can issue stories, fact checks and the like on their own for us to read and consume. They can create news websites, blogs, electronic magazines, reports or digital video shows.
There are still truth tellers, real journalists and opinion writers who get their facts straight and check their sources. But we're losing them fast like we did Gwen Ifill, a true journalist. We still have Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman and others trying to keep things honest everyday. And there are people, good people in hometown weeklies, magazines and the few remaining giants of daily newspapers. These are folks who are trying as hard as they can to fight what's happening to the media and to provide all of us with the correct information. Sadly, in many cases, we beat them up, egged on by the people who would rather control the information their way.
Clearly I am not optimistic about where this is all going. But I do know this. Truth telling is critical. Truth telling is driven by a value for the truth and for a belief in independence from manipulation. More and more we need to find and identify the truth tellers and support them, encourage them, protect them.
Friday, November 11, 2016
November Surprise - Donald Trump!
Watch his face, read his tweets, follow the news from his own team. It's pretty clear that Donald Trump was and is as surprised as anyone that he won the Presidential election on Nov. 8th. There's been an admission that a real transition plan hasn't been formulated, partly due to his own superstition about jinxing the outcome of the election. So here we are, 70 some days away from his inauguration with a surprised President-Elect, Commander In Chief-Elect. Whoa is me!....Someone reported that there are something like 4000 jobs to be filled. Drain the swamp? Please - give me a break. Lobbyists and elite Republican types are joining the team quicker then a blink. Some who were enemies a few weeks ago are now glad handing the winner, big smiles on their faces, hoping that perhaps this man known for holding a grudge and acting with vengeance, will forget recent history. We'll see, but lets watch Mitch McConnell's and Paul Ryan's faces in a month or two as the reality of Trump's governing becomes evident.
Then there are the Democrats. Who knew that roles would be quickly reversed and they, as a party, would be trying to stamp down their own civil war and performing an autopsy on their body politic. I certainly missed that call, but I know I'm not alone. They were played well by Comey, Assange and it seems like Putin. There are many who will deny this but I think history will bear it out. Hillary and her team have been gracious but they are also blaming everyone but themselves. She was the flawed candidate and many knew it from the get go. The staff who supported her had time, money and numbers of all kinds but they failed to read the information or the mood of the voters. So an autopsy is in order no doubt.
Of course all of this gets worse. How could it you ask? Well here's the worst part of the November surprise. Donald Trump has unleashed a beast that many didn't think existed. We were naive and perhaps stupid. We fell victim to thinking everything had gotten better. That years of legislative, legal and street battles had in fact changed the world. Marches were organized, songs were written, movies made, TV shows produced that lulled us into thinking we lived in a world of love, peace, hope and diversity. But the underbelly of the beast was still there. Every once in awhile, when the beast was roused, we pushed it back into the cave that it slept in and called home. The beast is pure hatred and uncivilized behavior towards people that some among us consider 'the others'. 'The others' are people of color, immigrants, muslims, people with disabilities and members of the LBGTQ community, women making choices about their bodies and their relationships.
Although I don't think Donald Trump is totally responsible for all of this hatred and hateful behavior, he has to take some responsibility. Why? Because we all watched him empower people to hate, to empower people to bully, to empower people to take action. I also want to be clear that not all of the people who voted for or supported Donald Trump encourage or support this hate. In many cases they may have legitimate grievances with a system that has in fact treated them badly. But if they were able to excuse the hatred and bullying that they must have seen, what's wrong with that kind of society? People looking the other way when the evidence is in front of them - language, treatment of women, untruths and making up information. If you're angry does that allow you to close your eyes to the possibility of nuclear war?
I'm confused about a lot of what I've seen but mostly I'm sad for our country. I find it too difficult to process. The divisions are real and seem to be getting worse. Families argue or don't speak. Young people are fearful and disgusted with what they're left with. People honestly feel threatened while others tell them to not worry and don't take it so seriously. They say everything will be alright. Our system will correct itself, etc., etc.
But the beast is big and it's ugly. It won't be okay. People have been given permission to hate and there are hateful acts taking place right now to our neighbors. Don't close your eyes to these acts. I'm going to commit to intervening and protecting people who are threatened or who feel threatened or who I see threatened. Please do the same. Engage in conversations to break up conflict or bullying. Offer comfort, support and protection if it happens and if it's needed. Listen and assist all people who may be vulnerable to hate speech, hate acts and hate crimes. Hug and hold on to people. Yes, as an old friend pointed out, lets act like human beings to each other. Is that so hard in these difficult times? By the way, there's a lot more to do but that's a whole new article.
Then there are the Democrats. Who knew that roles would be quickly reversed and they, as a party, would be trying to stamp down their own civil war and performing an autopsy on their body politic. I certainly missed that call, but I know I'm not alone. They were played well by Comey, Assange and it seems like Putin. There are many who will deny this but I think history will bear it out. Hillary and her team have been gracious but they are also blaming everyone but themselves. She was the flawed candidate and many knew it from the get go. The staff who supported her had time, money and numbers of all kinds but they failed to read the information or the mood of the voters. So an autopsy is in order no doubt.
Of course all of this gets worse. How could it you ask? Well here's the worst part of the November surprise. Donald Trump has unleashed a beast that many didn't think existed. We were naive and perhaps stupid. We fell victim to thinking everything had gotten better. That years of legislative, legal and street battles had in fact changed the world. Marches were organized, songs were written, movies made, TV shows produced that lulled us into thinking we lived in a world of love, peace, hope and diversity. But the underbelly of the beast was still there. Every once in awhile, when the beast was roused, we pushed it back into the cave that it slept in and called home. The beast is pure hatred and uncivilized behavior towards people that some among us consider 'the others'. 'The others' are people of color, immigrants, muslims, people with disabilities and members of the LBGTQ community, women making choices about their bodies and their relationships.
Although I don't think Donald Trump is totally responsible for all of this hatred and hateful behavior, he has to take some responsibility. Why? Because we all watched him empower people to hate, to empower people to bully, to empower people to take action. I also want to be clear that not all of the people who voted for or supported Donald Trump encourage or support this hate. In many cases they may have legitimate grievances with a system that has in fact treated them badly. But if they were able to excuse the hatred and bullying that they must have seen, what's wrong with that kind of society? People looking the other way when the evidence is in front of them - language, treatment of women, untruths and making up information. If you're angry does that allow you to close your eyes to the possibility of nuclear war?
I'm confused about a lot of what I've seen but mostly I'm sad for our country. I find it too difficult to process. The divisions are real and seem to be getting worse. Families argue or don't speak. Young people are fearful and disgusted with what they're left with. People honestly feel threatened while others tell them to not worry and don't take it so seriously. They say everything will be alright. Our system will correct itself, etc., etc.
But the beast is big and it's ugly. It won't be okay. People have been given permission to hate and there are hateful acts taking place right now to our neighbors. Don't close your eyes to these acts. I'm going to commit to intervening and protecting people who are threatened or who feel threatened or who I see threatened. Please do the same. Engage in conversations to break up conflict or bullying. Offer comfort, support and protection if it happens and if it's needed. Listen and assist all people who may be vulnerable to hate speech, hate acts and hate crimes. Hug and hold on to people. Yes, as an old friend pointed out, lets act like human beings to each other. Is that so hard in these difficult times? By the way, there's a lot more to do but that's a whole new article.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
An Old Friend Builds Homes In Vietnam
It's pouring rain here in the Finger Lakes of NYS and that's good. It's needed and welcome. Seneca Lake and surrounding lakes are low due to the drought that we've experienced all summer and into the fall. But the rain brings other things, melancholy thoughts, tiredness, a few new aches and pains along with the old ones that have been hanging around more often and for longer periods.
Focus.... focus on the positive. An old friend of mine, Paul Mann, is getting set to return to Vietnam for the second time as part of the international Habitat for Humanity program where a diverse group of people will help build houses for Vietnamese citizens. I've talked about Paul before. He and I were at the Catholic Worker together in the mid 60's both refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, choosing the works of mercy versus the works of war, feeding the poor, clothing the naked, singing and trying to work for peace. We lived together, sang together, loved together, made jokes and walked the streets together. At one point we moved north of the city to Tivoli, NY and tried our hand at the communal life with a small group of friends living in an old chicken coop minus the chickens - quite comfortable actually.
Dan Kelly another draft resister from the Catholic Worker is joining Paul on this trip. Dan is a well respected pediatrician in San Francisco these days and it is great to see him joining Paul and the team that is going to Vietnam.
Paul called me a while back and invited me to go along on this trip, something I really wanted to do for lots of reasons. Alas, it's not in the cards. Health issues keep me pretty close to home these days. I'm certainly not in dire straits by any means but I've got enough issues that keep me from going too far.
What Paul and Dan are doing though is truly important. Yes the homes for families are important but so is the healing, personally, communally and for all of the individuals going on the trip. Paul tells the story of working with and bonding with a veteran of the war on the last trip, crying together as the reality of their two experiences during that time frame long ago hit home. Two characters from different worlds, now working together to build a home for a Vietnamese family. The myth of antiwar protesters and veterans waring with each other proven wrong again.
Paul and his veteran compadre are examples of what needs to happen more in this country, especially after this terrible election season. People sitting in silence, looking at each other and realizing that they're in this together nd that there are better ways to get things done.
Paul has a GoFundMe page to help with expenses for his trip. Of course money or lack of it won't stop Paul from going. Never has, never will. But if there are some folks out there reading this who believe in a better way, a more peaceful world, a place where healing can and should take place, think about sending a few dollars to Paul for his voyage. It will be money well spent. You can find his page here Paul Mann Vietnam Trip . In the meantime, thanks Paul and Dan for doing this and safe travels.
Focus.... focus on the positive. An old friend of mine, Paul Mann, is getting set to return to Vietnam for the second time as part of the international Habitat for Humanity program where a diverse group of people will help build houses for Vietnamese citizens. I've talked about Paul before. He and I were at the Catholic Worker together in the mid 60's both refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, choosing the works of mercy versus the works of war, feeding the poor, clothing the naked, singing and trying to work for peace. We lived together, sang together, loved together, made jokes and walked the streets together. At one point we moved north of the city to Tivoli, NY and tried our hand at the communal life with a small group of friends living in an old chicken coop minus the chickens - quite comfortable actually.
Dan Kelly another draft resister from the Catholic Worker is joining Paul on this trip. Dan is a well respected pediatrician in San Francisco these days and it is great to see him joining Paul and the team that is going to Vietnam.
Paul called me a while back and invited me to go along on this trip, something I really wanted to do for lots of reasons. Alas, it's not in the cards. Health issues keep me pretty close to home these days. I'm certainly not in dire straits by any means but I've got enough issues that keep me from going too far.
What Paul and Dan are doing though is truly important. Yes the homes for families are important but so is the healing, personally, communally and for all of the individuals going on the trip. Paul tells the story of working with and bonding with a veteran of the war on the last trip, crying together as the reality of their two experiences during that time frame long ago hit home. Two characters from different worlds, now working together to build a home for a Vietnamese family. The myth of antiwar protesters and veterans waring with each other proven wrong again.
Paul and his veteran compadre are examples of what needs to happen more in this country, especially after this terrible election season. People sitting in silence, looking at each other and realizing that they're in this together nd that there are better ways to get things done.
Paul has a GoFundMe page to help with expenses for his trip. Of course money or lack of it won't stop Paul from going. Never has, never will. But if there are some folks out there reading this who believe in a better way, a more peaceful world, a place where healing can and should take place, think about sending a few dollars to Paul for his voyage. It will be money well spent. You can find his page here Paul Mann Vietnam Trip . In the meantime, thanks Paul and Dan for doing this and safe travels.
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