As America celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many reflected on the words of this great civil rights leader. In 1964, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work combating racial injustice through acts of nonviolence and civil disobedience. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
Now, 50 years later, Dr. King's words still inspire and animate the spirit of equality for all, no matter one's race, creed, color or place of birth. "I have a dream," Dr. King said at the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington, "that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Yet today we have a president who uses race to divide the country in order to pander to many of his supporters. Today we have an inarticulate president who bullies and blusters anyone who threatens or challenges him. We have a president who does not appeal to our better angels, rather who demonically fans the flames of hatred and fear. Dr. King once warned, "We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear."
Since its founding, America has stood as a beacon of hope and freedom for those who live outside its borders. That beacon has been tarnished by President Donald Trump. Last week, in a private meeting with congressmen about immigration, he asked, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Dr. King once said, "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
President Trump has often made conscientiously stupid comments. "When Mexico sends its people," he said in announcing his candidacy for president, "they're not sending their best...they're sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists, and some, I assume, are good people." As a candidate for president, following a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, he declared, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representative can figure out what in the hell is going on." King once observed, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
More than a dozen women have made sexual misconduct allegations against Trump. Throughout his career he has demeaned women. "If I were running 'The View', I'd fire Rosie O'Donnell," he said in 2006, "I mean look at her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I'd say 'Rosie, you're fired." As the host of The Apprentice he observed, ""All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me--consciously or unconsciously, that's to be expected." And he was recorded on an Access Hollywood tape saying, "I'm automatically attracted to beautiful (women). I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything." Dr. King once said, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
Last August white supremacists, white nationalists, Klansmen, neo-Confederates, and neo-Nazis demonstrated in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting racist and anti-semitic slogans, while carrying semi-automatic weapons, swastikas, anti-Muslim banners and Trump/Pence signs. A man linked to white-supremacists rammed his car into a group of counter-protestors, killing one person and injuring 19. Incredulously, President Trump did not denounce racists. Instead, he blamed everyone, "We condemn in the strongest terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides." King would have observed, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Amid all his controversial statements and inappropriate actions, those who support President Trump, whether they are staff or members of Congress, have defended the president with lies and misleading statements. Although many are shocked by what the president says, they remain silent for partisan reasons. As he insults world leaders, as he undermines the American Democracy, as he exaggerates his IQ and wealth, they play along. "My IQ is one of the highest--and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure; it's not your fault," Trump has said. These loyalists, these sinecures, these family members know that all that is required is their loyalty and silence. To them, Dr. King would say, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
In his 1963 speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable...Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." He added, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity."
Dr. King's inspirational words and deeds, which will endure through the ages, powerfully symbolize how great America can be. "The time is always right to do what is right."
Monday, January 15, 2018
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Journalism Fights for its Life
In his important year-end post for his site PressThink, New York University journalism professor and critic Jay Rosen warned, "the world has changed and journalists are in the fight of their lives." Rosen's point is that the way for journalism to earn trust has changed because users now have more choices and more control. He then provides a thoughtful list of ways is which journalists can win trust through transparency.
But how does one win the trust of everyone in the era of Trump, who now is a bully with the White House pulpit? The president proudly claimed in an interview with the Fox Business Channel last October that he "started this whole fake news thing." Of course, that is not true. In fact, according to the Washington Post, "President Trump has made 1,950 false or misleading claims over 347 days."
That the president frequently lies is not fake news, and it is not new news. A Morning Consult/Political poll last December found that only 36% of those sampled thought the president is honest. In fact, 51% of those polled believe he is dishonest, while 60% think he is reckless. Yet his almost daily attacks against the press, mostly false or misleading, have staggered many members of the press.
The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Freedom House reports that freedom of the press is in decline around the world, including here in the United States. A record number of journalists have been imprisoned worldwide, including twenty-one on "fake news" charges. Senator John McCain issued this warning to President Trump in December on Twitter, "@POTUS must understand his harmful rhetoric only empowers repressive regimes to jail reporters and silence the truth."
Soon after his return to the White House, following a holiday break in Florida, the president launched another fusillade on Twitter against one of his favorite targets, The New York Times. "The failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, "to give the news impartially, without fear of FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved," his first tweet read. It continued on a second, "Get impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all your phony and non-existent "sources," and treat the President FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you won't have to write and apology to your readers for a job poorly done!"
Clearly the president's claims of fake news and his attacks on news organizations are all a tactic. If he was innocent of sin, if his White House was free of scandal, if his agenda was popular with the masses, he wouldn't have to protest too much. But he doth protest an awful lot! He loves to spin his own alternate reality and lash out at the press. His communications' staff, assorted acolytes and members of Congress echo his attacks because it is in their own personal interest, and the mainstream media is an easy target. Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron stoically observed last year, "We are not at war with the administration, we are at work."
But for more news channels, more news sites online, and the growing amount of users who get their news from social media, opinion is now the currency of the realm. An enormous amount of Americans get their information from sources they feel agree with their views, i.e., one's that are consistent with their core beliefs. And some news outlets carefully craft their content to appeal to their likely viewers, and to advance a political agenda. This has left America so politically divided it is hard for people from different regions or ideologies to agree on basic facts, let alone have an rational and calm discussion.
More transparency is important, absolutely, but do Sean Hannity's 3.2 million viewers care if he is transparent? Few of his viewers check around with different sources to get the other side of the argument. And they don't care that Hannity regularly consults with President Trump, who is a big fan of his program. Sure, Hannity is not a journalist, but he is on the Fox News Channel.
The big question is at what point will Americans say enough is enough with the attacks on the press. At what point will Americans be motivated enough to devote time to study all sides of the issues. At what point will Americans take the time to be well informed before making decisions about elected officials, as our Founding Fathers had intended when they wrote the First Amendment. The Fathers wanted to assure that America would not be ruled by a despot, rather that it would always be ruled by the people.
The press is not perfect, but most major news organizations have a process to assure that all of the facts are fully vetted before they are published, and to assure fairness, impartiality, independence and accountability. On the other hand, the administration, the Congress, and government agencies are not always transparent and accountable to the people. That will only happen with a strong and vibrant press.
Journalists may be in a fight for their lives, due to evolving business models and rapid changes in technology, but their survival is essential for the maintenance of this great democracy.
But how does one win the trust of everyone in the era of Trump, who now is a bully with the White House pulpit? The president proudly claimed in an interview with the Fox Business Channel last October that he "started this whole fake news thing." Of course, that is not true. In fact, according to the Washington Post, "President Trump has made 1,950 false or misleading claims over 347 days."
That the president frequently lies is not fake news, and it is not new news. A Morning Consult/Political poll last December found that only 36% of those sampled thought the president is honest. In fact, 51% of those polled believe he is dishonest, while 60% think he is reckless. Yet his almost daily attacks against the press, mostly false or misleading, have staggered many members of the press.
The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Freedom House reports that freedom of the press is in decline around the world, including here in the United States. A record number of journalists have been imprisoned worldwide, including twenty-one on "fake news" charges. Senator John McCain issued this warning to President Trump in December on Twitter, "@POTUS must understand his harmful rhetoric only empowers repressive regimes to jail reporters and silence the truth."
Soon after his return to the White House, following a holiday break in Florida, the president launched another fusillade on Twitter against one of his favorite targets, The New York Times. "The failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, "to give the news impartially, without fear of FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved," his first tweet read. It continued on a second, "Get impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all your phony and non-existent "sources," and treat the President FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you won't have to write and apology to your readers for a job poorly done!"
Clearly the president's claims of fake news and his attacks on news organizations are all a tactic. If he was innocent of sin, if his White House was free of scandal, if his agenda was popular with the masses, he wouldn't have to protest too much. But he doth protest an awful lot! He loves to spin his own alternate reality and lash out at the press. His communications' staff, assorted acolytes and members of Congress echo his attacks because it is in their own personal interest, and the mainstream media is an easy target. Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron stoically observed last year, "We are not at war with the administration, we are at work."
But for more news channels, more news sites online, and the growing amount of users who get their news from social media, opinion is now the currency of the realm. An enormous amount of Americans get their information from sources they feel agree with their views, i.e., one's that are consistent with their core beliefs. And some news outlets carefully craft their content to appeal to their likely viewers, and to advance a political agenda. This has left America so politically divided it is hard for people from different regions or ideologies to agree on basic facts, let alone have an rational and calm discussion.
More transparency is important, absolutely, but do Sean Hannity's 3.2 million viewers care if he is transparent? Few of his viewers check around with different sources to get the other side of the argument. And they don't care that Hannity regularly consults with President Trump, who is a big fan of his program. Sure, Hannity is not a journalist, but he is on the Fox News Channel.
The big question is at what point will Americans say enough is enough with the attacks on the press. At what point will Americans be motivated enough to devote time to study all sides of the issues. At what point will Americans take the time to be well informed before making decisions about elected officials, as our Founding Fathers had intended when they wrote the First Amendment. The Fathers wanted to assure that America would not be ruled by a despot, rather that it would always be ruled by the people.
The press is not perfect, but most major news organizations have a process to assure that all of the facts are fully vetted before they are published, and to assure fairness, impartiality, independence and accountability. On the other hand, the administration, the Congress, and government agencies are not always transparent and accountable to the people. That will only happen with a strong and vibrant press.
Journalists may be in a fight for their lives, due to evolving business models and rapid changes in technology, but their survival is essential for the maintenance of this great democracy.
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