I decided I needed to record my own thoughts and reactions before I answer to my other obligations today. Note: these are my own thoughts and reactions, I am not promoting them to be right, or however well-informed.
I found out the news about Osama’s death as I was distracting myself on Twitter while writing my Final Paper. I read that top news sources were reporting Osama bin Laden’s death and that the President was going to speak shortly. I then left my books and switched on the television.
As I waited for President Obama to come on the screen, I simultaneously scrolled my Twitter feed and admittedly I was amused by certain folks’ takes on the initial news. My own reaction amidst everything else was this one question:
I flipped between stations looking for any news of substance. All I really saw was newscasters scrambling to provide the most compelling spin on the news they could muster as they stalled for time until the President came to address the nation. I actually wanted to see what Fox News was going to come up with during the media circus, and I was further amused to see that it did not lift a finger to interrupt the night’s episode of “The Simpsons.”
The President made his speech, and I was satisfied. He did not say that the war is over. He briefly described what happened, and specifically called this war a “War on Al-Qaeda,” instead of a “War on Terror.” Yes, I hear all y’all who are saying that his perspective is biased. Of course it is. His job last night was twofold. He was first responsible for delivering information. Then, a message of comfort and appreciation of those who have served our country, and the families who have bore the effects of this war. I can’t say that I am aware enough of all the political circumstances surrounding the President’s address last night, but I don’t think anyone else is aware, either. I hope that 10 years from now, we are able to look back at the facts of this war and fully understand its effects on our global society, on our own identification as an American people, and understand the circumstances that made two of our nation’s Presidents make the decisions they chose to make in the midst of conflict.
After the President’s address, I viewed the ensuing American reactions via Twitter and via the post-address media coverage on television. I likened the celebratory atmosphere depicted in D.C. and at Ground Zero to the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz celebrating the wicked witch’s death. Incredibly and unashamedly lacking curiosity into what the news now means. Is there a “Wicked Witch of the West” to now worry about? Is the Wizard even really that awesome? Why does the Wizard even have to be mysterious? In the “Wicked,” novel by Gregory Maguire, the Wizard is actually guilty of much terrorism, himself.
Maybe I’m selling these current events short by likening the country’s reaction to a children’s tale. Maybe I am completely ignorant and have not dug enough into the facts. Then again, the media is only framing this news as some sort of vindication for families of 9/11 victims. I dismiss this.
I woke up this morning to a world that is not changed. Not really. Yes, the U.S. has accomplished something worth reporting after 10 years at war. But the war is clearly not over, and neither are the plethora of problems that exist within and without our country today. Maybe it’s time for us all to wake up to the fact that global problems can no longer be solved through the culture of war. It’s been 10 years since this war has ensued. There are students in the 5th grade who never knew a political or economical climate different from this.
We must exercise the same curiosity and inquisitive nature that allows us to assess news and facts through a critical lens before we react so radically either in celebration or in protest. We are not teaching children to critically analyze and think for themselves— we are rather teaching them to swallow whatever our political lenses are apt to feed them. That is the tragedy I see of anything happening in our political climate today. So as for this Osama-is-dead buzz, I’m over it.
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By FilipinaChicagoan on May 3, 2011 - 2:30pm
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By krystelle on May 5, 2011 - 8:00am
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By kaywan on May 3, 2011 - 9:28am
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By krystelle on May 3, 2011 - 9:40am
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By kaywan on May 3, 2011 - 9:50am
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Comments
Well said, Krystelle! I really enjoyed reading your post and thanks for sharing this perspective on the entire matter. It's so important these days to digest the news carefully and look at things with a "critical lens" as you had said.
While I am not defending the media by any means, I do have to admit that when news breaks, reporters have little to no time to really provide explanations as to why events may be unfolding. But I do know one thing: You are supposed to be straight-forward. When I used to be a reporter, those breaking news days were a hustle...to get the story, and to get the story right.
No fluff, no fancy writing, just the facts. Readers can see right through all that. And there used to be a saying I learned in the newspaper business...if you don't understand the first sentence (lead) of a story, the reporter is writing for himself or herself.
I have always felt there is a difference from television reporting and newspaper/print reporting. Those anchors need to fill time and I absolutely hate how you can watch a news station for an hour, and it is literally the same information told over and over again. That night, I watched Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw over CNN first, personally. While Anderson Cooper and the like may be compelling sometimes, I think he can get sensational too. Just checking his Twitter when the news unfolded, his language just annoyed me because he described the news as dramatic. The media tends to put labels and paint the picture of a story, therefore influencing all of us, and it really, really bothers me.
I wish there were more people like you who dig deep to find the news and context of an issue, by exposing yourself to several different means of information. It is a good practice to question everything, as pessimistic as that may sound. One last thing that I always think about: Does the media dictate our society and ways of thinking, or do the people? I'd like to think it does not, but sometimes, I can't help but think that they do.
Hey, thanks, Rowie! You're right-- television reporters feel the need to fill time, so they do tend to sensationalize stories. Unfortunately, I do believe that the news and media influence the majority of our society today. I don't believe we are taught to think critically about what we are fed by the media in general. The media fails constantly to portray a diversity of opinions, backgrounds, and cultures that exist in America today. Regarding this news about Osama, the media has been almost exclusively covering the very radical responses by the American people-- namely, folks celebrating in the streets. However, when I look online and at my networks, I find a much more level-headed discourse with valuable and honest curiosity and confusion.
The media needs to stop portraying our country as so decidedly uniform in our opinions. I'm afraid this is the reason why many Americans don't vote. People are portrayed on such opposite ends of the spectrum so much that no one really wants to be labeled Democratic, Republican, or with this news coverage, American.
Because not all of us completely identify with either sides of the political table.
Because not all of us were blatantly rejoicing in the streets on the night of the President's address.
Because I daresay a majority of our country is more confused than the media portrays.
It is my belief that we simply haven't been given enough information to legitimately feel anything but confusion, or legitimately do anything but question.
Yeah I was curious about how fox news would spin things too...guess they haven't thought of a way yet. Anyway at least for me with my middle-eastern heritage, the step-by-step dismantling of Al-Qaeda--including the elimination of their leaders--is part of healing the damage done to the overal racial image. So we might not be secure or know what's really the global effect of this news, but I see a people getting their respect they deserve slowly coming back.
Oh, wow, I hadn't thought about it from that perspective yet. I guess as time goes on, we'll come to understand what this means for everyone globally.
When writing this post, I was frustrated at all the responses depicted from folks on both ends of the spectrum-- from blatantly celebratory to protesting. I'm tired of the 'buzz' and only really want to listen to news with substance. So far, I have found more value in dialog like this than I have from mainstream media outlets.
yeah i keep reading the same stuff over and over on the news. completely inefficient use of my time :/