| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
|
 Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:20 am Post subject: "Well, if you give a screeching baboon a column in the |
 |
|
New York Times, he will be showered with awards and lucrative speaking engagements."
Useful Idiots
by
Nicholas von Hoffman
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061106/howl |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Interested
Joined: 10 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for this RSR. I wouldn't mind having a read of Judt's new work. He's always got a rather interesting perspective on things.
It's also nice to see that someone shares my rather low opinion of the silly Thomas Friedman (quite the apologist for state terror when it suits).
This next bit got my attention, as I remember being absolutely appalled by the cowardly acquiescence of the yankie press in the run up to and initial stages of that bloody war. For those of you still naive enough to believe in the supposed free press of the US, take note:
| Quote: |
| Nor does one have to be a liberal to know the pressure to toe the line. Corey Robin, also writing in the London Review, says, "Journalists afraid for their careers aren't likely to question their government in time of war. And they haven't. ABC's Ted Koppel, reputed to be one of the most aggressive interviewers in the business, admits that 'we were too timid before the war' in Iraq. The PBS anchor Jim Lehrer says: 'It would have been difficult to have had debates [about occupying Iraq]...you'd have had to have gone against the grain.' The few journalists who bucked the trend were swiftly punished. After criticising the media for its coverage of the war, Ashleigh Banfield was 'taken to the woodshed' by her bosses, according to a Newsday report, and her career at NBC was finished. A Wall Street Journal reporter sent a personal e-mail describing the terrible situation in Iraq: her editors pulled her out of the country and off the story." |
Independent American journalists/writers have been very useful however, and there are quite a few out there to admire. Thank heavens for the internet!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Interested
Joined: 10 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
I found myself reading some of Hoffman's other articles, and my grubby little black mind found this one a trifle humourous:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061030/howl |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
That The Nation published an article called "Useful Idiots" is a bit rich, given her proud history of supporting Marxist/Leninist ideas. Not to mention denying the crimes of governments that purported to support an ideology the editorial staff agreed with.
But the article is good. Though I generally like T.L.Friedman and have read his books I find his continued support for the war in Iraq to be indefensible.
The point that I have tried to make time and time again is that the "media" isn't necessarily pro-left or pro-right. The media is pro-government. I think this is why seemingly sane people like T.L.F. or Chris Hitchens will support war. They fundamentally believe in the power of the state to do good, when their job should be to pick apart every action of those who have power. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
