Hello to all today:
I would like to talk today about the little thing we call media. In today's world we can not only find anything in a blink of the eye via the Internet, we also are seeing things in real time. Think of September 11th. How many of us actually watched the second tower be hit? How many of us saw the people on the street as they were on the street?
Mass media
Now, let us think about the impact of this media. For this topic I would like to look at schools and violence. During a conversation in my class, I realized this is a hot topic and many people have an opinion on it. So here we go...would school violence be as prevalent in our school systems without this instant gratification of media? When a school is under attack by student or just any random person, we as a nation are instantly aware of the situation.
On the negative side of this we are exposing ourselves to the idea that there are some really messed up people out there. We are also exposing this idea to our children. We are learning and teaching fear. We are exposing ourselves to the finality of death.
On the positive side of this we are exposing ourselves to the idea that there are some really messed up people out there. We are also exposing.....ok you get the point?
School shootings are scary. They frighten us because our children should not have to walk through metal detectors on their way to ninth grade English, nor should they have to be confronted with the death process at such a young age. Ask a child or the parent of a child if they feel safer now.
Mass media
Many people blame the media for the war in Iraq...I know follow me here. Some say that the negative spin on the war has caused American's to reject the war altogether.
I applaud the media for finally bringing this footage to the American people. It's really easy to support a war that you don't know anything about. For example, it's easy to support a war when you always think we are winning, and have no idea there is a civil war blazing away where our troops are stationed. It's really easy to support a war when you don't see American soldiers on their third stay in Iraq. It's really easy to support a war when you don't see the heartache and the pain in children who's parents have been gone for over a year. (PLEASE NOTICE I SAID SUPPORT A WAR AND NOT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS)
Mass media
Shall we look at mass media in politics? Do we really need to? Okay-sure not a problem. How simple is it turn off the radio, the TV, or the Internet when you start to hear something you don't agree with? I know at least one person who has not watched the first political debate, news conference, or politician this term and will vote for the republican in her area...because that's what she believes.
Hopefully, through mass media some of us have seen or heard something that made us not only think for ourselves, but question the things we have believed for so long...that may have been a lie -- flat out and simple.
Give me your thoughts.
How do you guys view mass media and its impact on your life and those around you?
Would you like to see changes within the media industry?
Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik
