Tapsearch Com EditorFear and Loathing in America
April 20th 2007 06:19
Just a quick blog... I've been on holidays in the US for the past three weeks (explaining my absence of blogs).
Every time I get back to my original homeland I find myself amazed and awed at the media circus running the airwaves. It doesn't help that my parents are addicted devotees to Fox News.
Some points of note:
The Imus Affair
Shock jock of MSNBC radio and tv, the not very attractive individual was raked (and I mean RAKED) over the coals for a comment he made about the Rutger's Uni girl's basketball team, who had made it through to the finals (but lost). He called them a bunch of "nappy headed hoes" (how do you spell hoes? I don't read rap so I'm not sure).
Understandably this made a few people angry. So much so that Don Imus lost his advertisers and his job. The man was thrown out on the pavement. I'm not saying he didn't deserve it. What I question is just the amazing amount of airtime devoted to the whole thing. Live press conferences, endless news story. It was headline news. The man is a shock jock radio host. That's what he (was) paid a huge amount of money to do. Why is it such a big deal? I felt I missed the point. The Rutger's girls basketball team found themselves lapping up the limelight with a large amount of interviews and press conferences. Unfortunately the event overshadowed an amazing basketball team's road to the top.
US Troops' 'tour of duty' extended
Yet at the same time Imus was hogging all the limelight, a small article appeared on page five of the local hometown paper which gets delivered to my parents' house. US Troops in Iraq will now have to face a 15 month tour of duty in Iraq (and Afghanistan I presume) as a result of low recruiting numbers and an increased presence to try and qualm civil unrest and terrorism.
I was amazed how quiet this story ran. It seemed like a big deal to me. Certainly it's a big deal to the troops and their families who are anxious for their safe return home.
There was also a small little story about how recruiting numbers have dropped off for the armed services. SURPRISE! This article ran a few days before the extended tour was announced.
The re-start of the Abortion debate
From today's news: the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to illegalise a form of abortion. A move which is sure to re-ignite the emotional and often violent debate in the US over a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. Although the form of abortion (D&C of a whole fetus which is performed after the 12 week pregnancy mark), it's passing will outrage the supporters of abortion and give momentum to the already outspoken right wing christians. Pres Clinton had vetoed the bill twice during his reign. Bush must have loved signing this one off.
It's scary to to think about what can happen from here!
Every time I get back to my original homeland I find myself amazed and awed at the media circus running the airwaves. It doesn't help that my parents are addicted devotees to Fox News.
Some points of note:
The Imus Affair
Shock jock of MSNBC radio and tv, the not very attractive individual was raked (and I mean RAKED) over the coals for a comment he made about the Rutger's Uni girl's basketball team, who had made it through to the finals (but lost). He called them a bunch of "nappy headed hoes" (how do you spell hoes? I don't read rap so I'm not sure).
Understandably this made a few people angry. So much so that Don Imus lost his advertisers and his job. The man was thrown out on the pavement. I'm not saying he didn't deserve it. What I question is just the amazing amount of airtime devoted to the whole thing. Live press conferences, endless news story. It was headline news. The man is a shock jock radio host. That's what he (was) paid a huge amount of money to do. Why is it such a big deal? I felt I missed the point. The Rutger's girls basketball team found themselves lapping up the limelight with a large amount of interviews and press conferences. Unfortunately the event overshadowed an amazing basketball team's road to the top.
US Troops' 'tour of duty' extended
Yet at the same time Imus was hogging all the limelight, a small article appeared on page five of the local hometown paper which gets delivered to my parents' house. US Troops in Iraq will now have to face a 15 month tour of duty in Iraq (and Afghanistan I presume) as a result of low recruiting numbers and an increased presence to try and qualm civil unrest and terrorism.
I was amazed how quiet this story ran. It seemed like a big deal to me. Certainly it's a big deal to the troops and their families who are anxious for their safe return home.
There was also a small little story about how recruiting numbers have dropped off for the armed services. SURPRISE! This article ran a few days before the extended tour was announced.
The re-start of the Abortion debate
From today's news: the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to illegalise a form of abortion. A move which is sure to re-ignite the emotional and often violent debate in the US over a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. Although the form of abortion (D&C of a whole fetus which is performed after the 12 week pregnancy mark), it's passing will outrage the supporters of abortion and give momentum to the already outspoken right wing christians. Pres Clinton had vetoed the bill twice during his reign. Bush must have loved signing this one off.
It's scary to to think about what can happen from here!
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Hadn't heard about that one. Can't reintroduce conscription because of the public backlash it will receive so they just extend tours of duty. That does seem harsh.
Hadn't heard about the abortion debate either. I mean, it has been well publicised that the debate goes back and forth but I hadn't heard of the latest news on it. I get the feeling that this topic will never be resolved.
Love & stuff
Mrs M