Faux News Becomes Foe News
Deborah Venable
07/26/10
We
try to stay on top of the most important goings on in political and social
America these days here at Unique Point Of View - after all, we are dedicated to educating the
public through educational facts and opinions.
Too bad that most of the media, both old and new, seem to shun that
approach.
Now
while we are certainly not the only ones dedicated to real news, facts, and
opinions, I will still stand by my assertion that most still are not so dedicated. One, who is doing an excellent job most of the time, (IMHO) is
Glenn Beck. Many of his detractors will
say otherwise, of course, but upon closer examination it is easy to see that
they will fall into that aforementioned category of “most” who are not so
dedicated to the truth. Beck briefly
expounded on a term, “faux news” on his television show of July 21, 2010. Here is a video
clip
containing those remarks. He even
spelled out the word f-a-u-x so there would be no doubt.
Taking
it a step further, let’s consider what is happening in America when we are,
indeed, being bombarded with this faux news on a daily basis. Faux news refuses to cover the important
truth, manufactures news that isn’t truth, and vilifies anyone who tries to set
the record straight. Therefore, it
becomes “foe news.” That’s f-o-e news,
folks.
So,
this enemy media, the “most” that I referred to earlier, is a real foe.
If
anyone still needs convincing of that fact after just the last couple of years
in the news cycle, (and a lot obviously DO) then we are in a real pickle,
aren’t we? In this last week alone we
have seen evidence that many elitist members of the mainstream
news media actually plotted to pull off manufactured, undying support for a
presidential candidate thus catapulting him into the office. They did this by refusing to cover important
truths, manufacturing news that wasn’t true, and vilifying anyone who tried to
set the record straight. Faux news
became foe news, and it is just getting started.
The art and science of journalism has become both a lost art and a slanted and tainted science, with so-called “control” groups hand-picked from among the most gullible – trusting, happy-go-lucky Americans who just want to go along to get along with whatever the powers that be determine is in their best interest. They have been carefully groomed through the government school system for decades now to just be fat, dumb, and happy with whatever comes their way.
Religion
and God overrated, history and culture unimportant, common sense and
individualism downplayed or wiped out, so that progressive, collective
ignorance can take over – that is what the foe has facilitated.
If
we don’t all make a real effort to know and try to understand what the “other
side” is saying, then we will be our own worst foe. You cannot fight what you cannot understand. That is a truth. You must be able to understand why that other side is wrong, and
you cannot expect any news media to tell you that. Not in this day and time of the faux news. Understanding does not require agreeing with
– it merely requires separating fact from fiction, reality from fantasy, and
truth from deceit. Individuals are
capable of doing that. A collective
mindset is, sadly, not.
While
I admire the efforts of the likes of previously mentioned Glenn Beck, and many
other conservative journalists and commentators, I do not rely solely on any of
them for my own understanding of the truth.
As individuals we should all realize that finding someone else we can
agree with completely, all the time is very unlikely. No one else shares our unique background and experiences or our
education for that matter. We are all
supposed to see things a little differently, but we have the responsibility, if
we are to remain free, to be able to seek and identify the truth.
Unbiased
news reporting is the responsibility of a true journalist, but most of them
have forgotten that, if they ever learned it in the first place. Commentators are the conduit between people
seeking truth and the ideological prism that defines various political
representations. Their main
responsibility is to accurately convey the truth as they clearly portray the
effects of various ideological policies on individuals’ lives.
The
most obvious trap that commentators can fall into is if they become mere
salesmen of the truth without realizing that the other side might have better
salesmen and therefore the truth would need dressing up to become a “better
product” – thus losing its unadulterated value in the end. We should never feel the need to sell the
truth, but we can certainly sell our talents at delivery. That is all.
I
find it most interesting that the other side of the political spectrum is now
insisting that Fox News be shut down.
Fox News is the undeniable frontrunner in the business of news and
political commentary dissemination at this time. It has been wildly successful in a relatively short period of
time because it has employed talented delivery and insisted on more truth than
not in its reporting of news. Is it
perfect? No. I find myself disagreeing with many opinions they espouse and the
overabundant and/or non-existent coverage they give some issues and
stories. But I have grown to expect
much more from Fox News than I do any other television broadcast or cable news
media, and they live up to that expectation better than any other.
I
would never call for the government to “shut down” any news media and I am
suspicious of anyone who would.
Rush
Limbaugh, another very famous commentator who I have always admired, has stated
in essence that there is no media any more.
While I understand completely what he is saying, I do not agree
completely. I think the definition of
what we have today in place of yesteryear’s more dependable media is simply an
irresponsible substitute – a faux news/foe news media.
Rush
Limbaugh made his fortune honestly through talented delivery of the truth
through his ideological prism – staunch conservatism. Yes, he has human failings – we all do. But one thing he has never done in all the broadcasts I have
listened to over twenty years, or in his numerous writings, is obfuscate or
intentionally cover up the truth. That
is why I admire him the most. His
occasional arrogance isn’t important when you realize that it is mostly done
for effect – and he is effective. His
humility shines much brighter through his character than any perceived
arrogance anyway because he does not exaggerate his accomplishments, he just states
them with the courage of his convictions.
I probably disagree less with Rush than any other commentator I can
think of at the moment.
There
are others that I admire, but I don’t feel the need to list them all here and I
certainly don’t agree with everything that anyone says. I can say that the more truth they convey –
whatever their delivery – the more I admire them.
As
you go about your day-to-day life, whether or not you happen to be a “news
junkie,” never forget to celebrate your freedom to make your own choices in
which “junk” you choose to partake of.
Always remember to pass the product you select under your own microscope
of truth, and eventually, the faux/foe news business will be put out of
business. As an optimist, I believe it
can happen. Do whatever you can to see
to it!