Reporting and Patriotism
Dean
One of the more tiresome canards I hear when I say the press is intentionally destructive in its war reporting is the lie--and it's an outright lie, I won't grace it with the notion that it's a simple misunderstanding anymore--that this means the press is supposed to cover up evidence of misdeeds or failures or casualties. Or that this means the press is not allowed to criticize those in power.
During World War II, casualty lists and losses on the battlefield were everyday reporting for the press. Criticisms of the nation's leadership were also part of the news. But so were victories, tales of valor and courage, of friendships made with native peoples, of stirring successes. The press, you see, was made up of people who considered themselves Americans first.
Now a blanket cynicism about the military and the government permeates. It really does seem to be a sick holdover from the Vietnam era.
One cure for that sickness is Art Chrenkoff's terrific Good News From Iraq series. And you can read the latest installment on Art's weblog.
Pathetic that we have to rely on a Polish-born Australian to do what should be our own press' job, isn't it?
Related Posts (on one page):
- Reporting and Patriotism
- Hacks And Boneheads
- How To Tell If You're An Unpatriotic Butt-Head
(*God, i.e., the Godhead, whether understood as the G-d of Israel, the Holy Trinity of Christianity, or the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Polytheism. I admire all these faiths.)
I salute every one of our brave men and women who are laying their lives on the line for our freedom, or are standing ready to do so. I salute our veterans also. Thank you.
It was from the 1940s - "The War in Maps", by the New York Times. The book was about *gasp* World War II. It had been printed prior to D-Day, but after American had entered the war. The NYT was very factual in the book, describing the war. However, the end struck me. This is basically what it said:
"America has entered the war. What will this mean? Will the Allies triumph over the Axis? Will we win this day?"
I forget if they called the Axis evil, but they very well might have.
If the NYT of that time wrote "The War on Terror in Maps", and had written the same stuff at the end, what would the NYT of today say?
Also made me appreciate how dark the world seemed. Fascism had taken over Europe, Imperialism in its truest sense was dominating the Pacific. We were surrounded. No one knew if America could fight both fronts. No one knew that D-Day was coming. Could we make a beach head? Could we bring our European Allies back from under the Nazi thumb? Would Japan become strong enough to occupy Hawaii?
I can't imagine living during those times. I have to thank the New York Times for that snapshot into history.
Please, please, pretty, please. It could be really good.
Yours,
Wince, aka Tom Hawkson