RANT ARCHIVE 14:
> MANUFACTURING CONSENT--THE MEDIA
> BECOME THE MEDIA
>Sen. Joe McCarthy: Alive and Well and Anchoring on the Fox News Network
>A Response to Dennis Miller's Ignorance
> We Finally Got Our Frankenstein... and He Was In a Spider Hole! -- by Michael Moore
__________________________________________________________
Sen. Joe McCarthy: Alive and Well and Anchoring on the Fox News Network
I, like most of you, am too young to remember the “red scare” that prompted the political witch hunts of the 1950’s. It was only through history books and college lecturers that I came to grasp what took place during that period in America and witness the 1954 congressional hearings that destroyed the lives of hundreds of writers, artists, filmmakers, and their families. Even today, we cannot begin to understand the rippling effect this internal terrorism had to stifle and setback artistic expression in the years to follow; we cannot understand how much we lost. But still, it seems we have learned very little.
Yes, gone is Senator McCarthy and his House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC); it is difficult to believe it had ever existed. Such an entity was so perverse, was so contrary to democratic ideals, it boggles the mind that such an institution could have operated with impunity within the walls of our own capital. The HUAV had called writers and artists before the American media, and questioned their loyalty to America because of their political affiliations and beliefs, and thus undermined our sense of liberty, our very sense of freedom of “thought.” Yes, it is disturbing that the HUAV existed. But even more disturbing, it was allowed to exist by an American government, an American press, and an American people. Are we so changed, so evolved that it could never happen again?
With the impending war on Iraq, the pundit circuit has gone into overdrive and every pseudo-intellectual (yours-truly, included) have weighed-in on the subject. Along with these commentators, many of Hollywood’s elites can be found espousing their less-than-expert opinions on the matter. One particular night not long ago, Mr. George Clooney himself could be found on the Charlie Rose Show arguing passionately against military involvement in the region. Personally, I wouldn’t rush to George Clooney for advice on middle-east foreign affairs, but ‘hey,’ he’s got his opinion and apparently Charlie Rose thinks it’s worth televising. What really bothered me is what I saw on another show, The O’Reilly Factor on the Fox News Network the very next day. The host, Bill O’Reilly, approached the subject of Clooney’s appearance on the Charlie Rose Show. However, O’Reilly, who obviously did not agree with George Clooney, went a bit farther than simply rebutting Clooney’s statements. O’Reilly suggested that Mr. Clooney was “abusing his position as a movie star to promote his un-American ideas.” O’Reilly further suggested that patriotic Americans should stay away from his films and hoped Mr. Clooney’s words would hurt his career. What O’Reilly suggested is that George Clooney should be “black-balled” for openly opposing a war in Iraq, for expressing his own political views. Does this sound familiar?
A couple of weeks later (God only knows why), I found myself watching another broadcast on the Fox News Network: Hannity and Colmes. The first matter debated on this “issue oriented” talk-show was the “un-American” opinions of war protesters and the “treason” of celebrities who openly oppose the war. The later accusation of “treason” came from Ann Coulter (conservative columnist and author). She explained that these celebrities had no right to express opposition to the war because they were “idiots” and “nit-wits,” and that they wrongly used their popularity to give media exposure to their positions (these comments were directed at actor Danny Glover, director Spike Lee, and singer Harry Belafonte).
Has anyone told Ms. Coulter, the author, that print is also a popular media? Coulter, who makes a living selling books filled with nothing but her opinion on politics, seems to think it is “treason” only when the opinions expressed go against her own. She equates “anti-war” with “anti-American,” and sees “anti-American” as a prosecutable offense. She was joined in her argument by co-host, Sean Hannity, who, ironically, is also selling a book filled with his political opinions. It seems the only difference between Coulter, Hannity, and O’Reilly from their targets is that they get paid to spout their opinion and the later is doing it on their own free time. Apparently, it is perfectly fine to promote your personal political agenda as long as there’s a paycheck involved. For them, verbal descent and non-violent protest is a danger to the security of a nation, and they make no excuses for calling these artists “un-American.” Does any of this sound familiar?
If it sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve seen it before. It would be familiar anyone was has lived in a nationalist state, or a totalitarian state, or a theocratic state. It would be familiar to anyone who has lived in Communist China, Soviet Russia, or Secular Iraq. It would also sound familiar to anyone who came under the scrutiny of the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950’s. Yes, it is that serious. It is a shame. It is terrifying. But, and let me make this perfectly clear, I do not have issue with the pro-war lobby (I do, but for different reasons). They have every right to present their case by whatever peaceful means necessary. The problem lies with O’Reilly, Coulter, Hannity, and their ideological kin. It is their attempt to deny work, to silence, or to otherwise prosecute those who would offer dissent or express unpopular political ideas. That is criminal. But even here, I will not ask that they be silenced. Instead, I think they must be seen. Every media outlet, every author, every artist, every filmmaker, every American still in love with the idea of free speech should look at them, listen to them, and understand what they are: a corruption of everything America stands for.
How can we prevent a second nationalist crusade like the red scare from happening on American soil? We can take action when we see it. We can open our mouths, lift up our pens, turn on our cameras, and point it towards the real enemies of democracy. America will hear us. I really believe that.
Now go watch The O’Reilly Factor, The Fox News Network, weeknights, 7 p.m. Go on. It’s O.K. Really…I won’t report you to anyone.
____________________________________________________________
Want more on McCarthyism?: www.webcorp.com/mccarthy/mccarthypage.htm
www.progressive.org/webex/mcwatch.html
______________________________________________________________
"A Little Reality: A Response to Dennis Miller"
First Mr. Miller's view and then a rebuttal
>Subject: Trying to help.... Dennis Miller's view
>Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:36:29 -0800
"TRYING TO HELP" >By Dennis Miller
>All the rhetoric on whether or not we should go to war against Iraq has got my little brain spinning like a top. I enjoy reading opinions from both sides, but I've detected a hint of confusion from some of you. Maybe this can help. As I was reading the paper recently, I was reminded of the best advice anyone ever gave me. He told me about the "KISS" method ("Keep It Simple, Stupid!"). So with this as a theme, I'd like to apply this theory for those who don't quite get it. My hope is that we can simplify things and recognize a few important facts. Here are ten things to consider when voicing an opinion on this important issue:
>(1) Between President Bush and Saddam Hussein ... Hussein is the bad guy.
>(2) If you have faith in the United Nations to do the right things, keep this in mind: the UN has Libya heading the Committee on Human Rights and Iraq heading the Global Disarmament Committee. Do your own math here.
>(3) If you use a Google or Yahoo search and type in "French Military Victories," don't be surprised if your computer panics at its inability to respond to your inquiry.
>(4) If your only anti-war slogan is "No War For Oil," hire a pit bull lawyer and sue your school district for having allowed you to slip through the cracks and robbing you of the minimum education that any non-troglodyte deserves
>(5) You can take this one to the bank: Saddam and bin Laden will NOT seek UN approval before they try to kill us.
>(6) Despite common belief among some, Martin Sheen is NOT the President. He only plays one on TV.
>(7) If you are anti-war and even an outright "America Basher," to bin Laden you are still an "infidel" whom he wants dead.
>(8) Be careful: if you believe in a "vast right-wing conspiracy," but not in the danger that Hussein poses, the only job you may be able to get is as an Ivy League college professor.
>(9) Even multi-culturalists who try to browbeat us into believing that all cultures are equally deserving of respect have trouble explaining the past 500 years of Islam.
>(10) Whether you are for or against military action, our young men and women overseas are fighting to defend our right to speak out on these issues. They deserve our unreserved support. I hope this helps.
"A Little Reality: A Response to Dennis Miller"
by Kurt Nelson
1) No matter how "evil" Sadam may be, it doesn't make Bush any smarter or more "right."
2) Believe it or not, EVERY nation is allowed to participate at the U.N. The reason some oppressive and dictatorial nations have particular posts at the United Nations is because it's a "democratic" institution. The point is to involve nations we disagree with so we can influence their behavior. Besides, the U.N. only gives them committee posts, we install, finance, and support them (Chile, Panama, Guatemala, Iraq, Iran, China, etc.) as long as we benefit financially. You tell me who you trust.
3) French military support? Three words: American Revolutionary War. Pick up a history book you idiot.
4) If your slogan is "Liberate Iraq," I have a drool cup and a bicycle helmet ready for you when they put you on the short bus. Of course, it's not just about oil! It's about oil, strategic military location, pentagon budgets, political collateral, imperialism, religion, American arrogance, historical and geographical ignorance. No, it's not just about oil.
5) For the last time, Osama and Sadam are not related. Sadam has been killing religious fundamentalists for years. They are enemies. Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, were enemies. We've just made them buddies by invading Iraq. Boy, I'm feeling safer already, aren't you?
6) Despite common belief, Dennis Miller is NOT a political analyst. He's a fucking comedian!
7) I realize your slow, so I'll say it again. Blowing up Iraq does not harm Osama bin Laden. If we bombed and invaded Belgium, it would be about as effective at weakening the Al Qaeda network. If your gonna spend $100 billion, you should attack the right enemy, don't you think?
8) The threat Sadam posseses? We're ten days into the war, and the only weapons of mass destruction I've seen have been the Coalition's "bunker buster's" (oh, that's unless you consider a rocket with a 90 mile range a threat... but I think America's farther away than that, isn't it?).
9) The last 500 years of Islam? How about the last 1000 years of Christianity? Such an ignorant and insulting statement doesn't even deserve a response.
10) Yes, support the troops! Bring them home!
P.S. If at all possible, forward to Dennis Miller. He needs to be called on his bullshit.
After reading these I'd like to add a few comments as an outsider to this rebuttal. How typical of Miller's comedic mentality to trivialize this issue by composing a David Letterman-like-top-ten-list. Like some of Letterman's list this one happens to be bad. In fact, it is so nonsensical that the points trying to be made are indeed comedic.
My other beef is with Miller's statement: "They (the troops) deserve our unreserved support. I hope this helps." The troops are victims of the leaders that put them there. Those leaders, if not all leaders, need to be deposed. Support the Troops, Not the Leaders. It would help the world a great deal if we had no leaders and only troops. Power for none, equality for all.
We Finally Got Our Frankenstein... and He Was In a Spider Hole!
December 14, 2003
Thank God Saddam is finally back in American hands! He must have really missed us. Man, he sure looked bad! But, at least he got a free dental exam today. That's something most Americans can't get.
>For a look back to the better times of our relationship with Saddam Hussein, see the following: