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There are a lot of conspiracy theories out there about the
control on our media. Substantial evidence exists to support
this, yet arguing this point puts each person in the same
gutter. It is not important. Whether the accusations of control
and manipulation are true or not is irrelevant. Populations,
industries or countries can only be manipulated if they allow
it. You can blame this group or that, but the fact is
manipulation occurs because those being manipulated let it. It
happens when people are too frightened, guilty, angry,
self-righteous, ignorant or ill-informed to say "No more" or
“Wait a minute here!”
You can lay
blame or play ignorant, but is that going to help? Blaming
breeds hatred and sets each of us up to be further manipulated
and blackmailed emotionally. It labels innocent people in with
the few guilty. Hatred is a useless emotion that
deflects accountability by transferring it to another and taking
on the role of victim. Do we really want to be seen as a nation
of victims? Rather than blame we should each look at our role
and change what we have control over. Whether it is the
industry of media, politics or disguised as faith, each human
being is born with a brain. How we choose to use our brains is
our decision, not another’s.
Once each
person realizes the complete extent he/she is being manipulated,
anger presents itself. Rather than let the anger rule emotions
and set you up for further emotional blackmail, step back. Hang
on to your power by not letting emotions lead reason. We all
operate under the idea of self-preservation whether it is a
person, country or industry. Use this common ground to your
advantage. As a nation and a people it is our job to stop
manipulation once we recognize it by standing together an not
allowing the bullying, defamation and ridicule to perpetuate
hate and the agendas of others. Consider what is happening from
an analytical perspective:
1)
Accountability VS Blaming
Blaming another country or people for our misinformation or
manipulation makes us the victim. Victimhood may be public policy or the faith teaching for some societies but it IS NOT an American value nor is it part of the faith values, those of the Gospels, founding this nation. Playing the victim falls within the seven deadly sins illustrating portions of several, not to mention it creates a society that uses others, self-absorbed and narcisstic. This is why blaming, playing the victim and remaining in past which cannot be changed serves only to destroy rather than heal. If playing the
victim were an American value, we wouldn't have lasted over 200 years. We'd be too busy coming up with ways to make people feel sorry for us and dwelling on past issues rather than making the world a better place. Nobody likes to spend time with whiners. Eventually they become disgusting.
There is a difference between holding a country and its people accountable and blaming. Blaming says we had no part in it and we are helpless to fix the situation; rarely is this ever the case. It's a cop out. Holding accountable is justice, based upon facts quantifiable and verifiable without demeaning, threats or characterization. It says this is my part in this issue and this is what I will do to fix it. This is your part in this issue and this is what you need to do to fix it.
Blaming doesn't require resolution nor does it lead to diplomacy. Rather it creates resentments and tears nations apart, both that of the blaming nation and the nation being blamed. Justice requires each involved acknowledge their part, reverse any damage and eventually come together. It breeds respect and it builds nations.
Each of us is endowed with
free will. Journalists choose to print or broadcast, even when
we know the whole story isn’t being told. Readers and viewers
choose to believe it. Each American has the responsibility to
verify the information he/she is being fed is accurate;
otherwise as a nation we become a sea of lemmings. Lemmings go
where lemmings are led and they die doing it.
2) Manipulators
are using the tools available to promote their interests.
Manipulation has been around since the time of Adam and
Eve. It’s older than prostitution but has many similarities.
Realize this simple truth and
there is no room for hatred. It is just business. Optimizing
the tools available, though not ethical is responsible on their
part. They are putting their own interests first and
accomplishing what they need to accomplish. They are savvy
enough to use us. And we're dumb enough to keep protecting them and coming back for more. The irony is it is both with our blessings and our money we are being deceived. Many of the activities we are engaged in are directly against everything this country stands for as set out in our Constitution, Bill of Rights and the additional Amendments.
The truth is, we let it happen. We let ourselves be manipulated by not auditing activities and through self-censorship in our own media.
3)
Solution: take the tools
away.
Capitalism is the great equalizer.
By not questioning and holding our own accountable, it is we who
are being irresponsible. By continuing to purchase the
publications and watch the broadcasts, we continue to support
the manipulations. By not protesting those maligned for
reporting the truth, we place the interests of others ahead of
our own. When we play into the hatred and abandon the principles
this country was founded on, we compromise our future. When we
continue to assist and give funds and arms to countries knowing
their practices are directly against what we stand for and
believe, we are equally responsible. The price we pay will be in
blood of our children marching off to fight the war of another’s
agenda and the loss of our own innocence when the rest of the
world forces us to become aware of what we have supported,
financed and protected.
Bottom Line:
Blaming others for our lack of accountability and failure to
research what we are told is a road to hate. This road
serves no one and punishes many innocent people by lumping them
in with the few responsible. Hate has no place in our media and
no place in American culture. This doesn't mean we
shouldn't hold persons, countries or companies accountable when
they are found to be withholding critical information. It means
we don’t let our emotions dictate our reactions.
What isn’t
being reported today on the Middle East, most notably in the US
press is information that will change American opinion. If we
as a population fall for the propaganda and half-truths and
refuse to hold our media, politicians and leaders accountable
for misinformation, we endorse it. If we discover we are being
manipulated through emotional blackmail and cognitive dissonance
and fail to acknowledge and correct it, we play the victim. If
we fail to do our part as citizens and verify through research
what is presented as fact, come war, genocide or deception, we
have only ourselves to blame.
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