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Media and Israel
Here are two questions on the media.
If "the media" had reported on WWII as they do 21st century Israel in the Middle East -- i.e. continual images of suffering Nazi families, bombed Axis cities, Italian and German children dying -- would we have demoralized the west and watched Hitler emerged as the victorious victim and underdog?
Does "the media" represent the war between Israel and Hamas as a war between equals? Or does the media represent Israel as a democratic nation with humane values in a battle against a backward and evil terrorist organization? Or, are there plenty of both? If so, which is closer to the truth in your view? (Let's assume no black and white here. Which is CLOSER to truth).
The CBS video below is an example of the kind of reporting/propoganda that is common on the mainstream US news today. Of course, each viewer will hear it through their own biases. The doctor tells us that Israel bombed an apartment complex on which children were playing on the roof. What do you make of it? 1] Israel targeted children? 2] Israel missed a target? 3] Hamas hid underneath the cover of children? 4] other?
Watch CBS Videos Online
In the spirit of fair play I have now added this interview from the Fox network. It has been my experience that conservatives tend to be more conversant and more exposed to varying points of view than progressives. This may be because of the left leaning slant of so much of the media. So, for those of you who may not be aware of more conservative media, here's an example.
If "the media" had reported on WWII as they do 21st century Israel in the Middle East -- i.e. continual images of suffering Nazi families, bombed Axis cities, Italian and German children dying -- would we have demoralized the west and watched Hitler emerged as the victorious victim and underdog?
Does "the media" represent the war between Israel and Hamas as a war between equals? Or does the media represent Israel as a democratic nation with humane values in a battle against a backward and evil terrorist organization? Or, are there plenty of both? If so, which is closer to the truth in your view? (Let's assume no black and white here. Which is CLOSER to truth).
The CBS video below is an example of the kind of reporting/propoganda that is common on the mainstream US news today. Of course, each viewer will hear it through their own biases. The doctor tells us that Israel bombed an apartment complex on which children were playing on the roof. What do you make of it? 1] Israel targeted children? 2] Israel missed a target? 3] Hamas hid underneath the cover of children? 4] other?
Watch CBS Videos Online
In the spirit of fair play I have now added this interview from the Fox network. It has been my experience that conservatives tend to be more conversant and more exposed to varying points of view than progressives. This may be because of the left leaning slant of so much of the media. So, for those of you who may not be aware of more conservative media, here's an example.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Gnotek on -
#1- I don't think we would have demoralized the West, but the truth of war certainly would have many contemplate the state of the world we live and [unknowingly] participate in. A whole existential philosophical movement rose from such witness. I think the news coverage of the effects of nuclear bombing in Japan has helped keep such power in check since, though Nixon as well as Bush as contemplated "theatre" use. I do think the firebombing in Dresden among other places would have and in fact did cause many to step back and re-evaluate such extreme use of firepower. Imagery such as naked, napalm-burned children running down rural roads helped put an end to an illegal war in Vietnam and again give those willing to pull their head out of their... sand, a reflection of war. War isn't glamourous. And that is what the fed media sometimes make it out to be.
Also, in this day and age, major media sources are corporate owned, conglomerate corporation owned. Often truth clashes against corporate bottom line, if not directly against the news source, then against a part of the corporation that might be building guided defense systems, or some such connection.
Back to the Hitler question, of course he would not have emerged triumphant. (But good question.) When comparing apples to apples, look at the imagery: London bombings, Russian devastation, and of course the death camps. And who was the aggressor?
#2- Media wise, it depends what source? And what commentators. And I don't think there is black and white here? It is a complex issue of which administration upon administration have been impotent to solve. My solution is judicial as I spelled out in another post: Stop the aggression and violence; face to face discussion laying everything out on the table; and wise discernment.
#3- I think that was a very sanitized video compared to others I had seen. However the Norwegian doctor speaking is probably as objective as you can get in such a situation. I've read a news story from him and he is there as a humanitarian with no political bent. Sure he's presenting the Palestinian plight, but I think that goes to show the unevenness of the situation.
As I said before, rather paraphrased scripture, there is a time and a place for everything. Even war. But it all comes down to how one acts and performs. If children are in a targeted building, don't blow up that target then. If human shields are what you are up against, you got to just do it a different way. Shock and awe (a terror phrase if ever there was one) might be acceptable against a military target, but it's despicable against innocent people.
One should not for sake of soul lower oneself to the evil it fights. Torture and indiscriminate bombings included, as well as support—in ANY conflict.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on -
Hi,
I would encourage people to look at this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,475226,00.html
It is the son of a Hamas leader who has come to Christ. Read the article and follow toward the bottom and click the link for the video.
Tim
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Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on -
Earlier I put up a CBS video. Now I've embedded a second video from FOX -- another mainstream US media source -- in the spirit of fair play.
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Permalink Reply by mono on -
The fox guy is a real Ahole. I don't want to be impolite, lol. Does he really mean that? I don't think so tim. Anyway the question about Israel and Palestina is a neverending story, and what side can you trust in this war? What truth lies in the media reporting about this war? I think we get some very neutral media coverage over here in Germany about this war.
Personally I am not sure on which side I am on, Israel is doing all it can to violate the geneva convention (Bombing Ambulances, Civilians, and aid shipments).
Hamaz on which side I am definatly not on, is using its population as shields, or quickly transfer into civilians when Israeli forces arive, which makes it really hard to make out friend of foe.
I am definatly on the side of the palestinian civilian population, the situation is unbearable, unthinkable, unreasonable and has been in the past.
What media sources show this war truthfully? I think all of them show pictures of how war really is - dirty, bloody, human hell.
I would say there is a lot of wrong on both sides and a lot things in the media which are leaning one way or the other. Can on really find truth in the media?
And if one found the real truth to who is right and who is wrong what is it going to change for those who have already lost their leg, their arm, their life?
it just needs to stop!
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on
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Hi,
What fox guy are you referring to? I agree it should stop but how. In an earlier post I mentioned the war in Congo where in the past 3-5 years over 4 MILLION people have been killed. Its really not in the news, to be honest who cares about Africa? I do not believe any news is objective, or person is objective only god because he knows everything. So as humans we are still left with Jesus command, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". This is an absolute tragedy.
Tim
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Permalink Reply by mono on
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Hi Timothy,
I meant the guy conducting the interview of the second video in the main post.
I agree with you in the same amount of sarcasm: Honestly who cares about Africa? :) Look at one of my blog entries here in M. Look at the Bono Interview :). There is some caring!
"I do not believe any news is objective, or person is objective only god because he knows everything."
I must disagree with the issue of objectivity. Of course everyone is subject to their on perception, this does not exclude though that there is an objective truth out there. God has given us a mind to also know right from wrong, distinguish truth from non truth, though I have to admit it is not always clearly visible.
When your bike (car etc.) gets stolen and you suspect someone had stolen it, you may ask that person: Did you steal my bike? You would expect an honest truthful answer like: Sorry, yes I did!; or No I did not!
Of course it does not work like that with humans, but it works like that with truth!
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Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on
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Tim, I totally agree. Congo is the greater issue in terms of numbers. That is an evidence of how much media influences both progressives and conservatives. We talk about what's on the news services. Guilty. Thanks for the perspective.
Also, I think that this issue, though, mush less significant in the loss of life in terms of numbers, carries much weight in the west because of an underlying hatred of Israel and Jews. The weight of media coverage, the manipulation of emotion, the postmodern distrust of power, and an attitude that the "victim is right" all fuel a campaign to eliminate a people and a nation.
This story is as much about us as it is about them.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on
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I have just found this in the Atlantic by Robert Kaplan who I think is an excellent journalist:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200901u/gaza
Tim
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Permalink Reply by John Gnotek on
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Interesting article. And a link from that article also leads to an interesting, objective sounding article about the Muslim rage against the West:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199009/muslim-rage
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Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on
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Mono, why blame the media if we're unclear ourselves?
"Personally I am not sure on which side I am on, Israel is doing all it can to violate the geneva convention (Bombing Ambulances, Civilians, and aid shipments)."
Is this accurate reporting? Is Israel a] "doing all it can"
b] to violate the geneva convention ?
I know you're exaggerating to make a point OR if not, what's your source for this? Is there an Israeli insider who actually said, we're trying everything we can to violate geneva. Why we're even targeting ambulances if we can.
One of the problems of 21st century adults is our inability to weight and present evidence. We present exaggeration in order to manipulate emotion. That road leads right back to exactly where we're at right now, Hell.
I agree with you about the Palestinian civilian population. As a way of moderating our emotions about Palestine, we MUST remember that there are Palestinian Christians suffering along side Palestinian Muslims.
How would we judge Israel's actions if we knew that Christians were in the line of attack. To push this point further, Christ is there among the suffering.
This is not to divide the value of lives based on religion. It is blur the lines that we think are so clear.
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Permalink Reply by mono on
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Fair coverage? check this out!
http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&a...
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