Democracy Now News is a commercial and corporate free show. You will not be bombarded with Lipitor ads or the latest chemically-filled toasty cereal that is "supposedly" good for you. This news is ran by the people, for the people from Pacifica Radio. Amy Goodman is the main head anchor on the show and well, she is one of my heroes. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak in Florida and she is an amazing communicator, as well as a humble, peaceful quiet woman when away from the microphone. Although she is of a small build, her presence is huge and her passion for journalism and truth is eye opening to all. Each morning, I grab my cup of java and join Amy and the gang. The show is simple, a little music introduction and then we are graced with Amy, wearing very little makeup accompanied by her naturally grey hair. She will begin to inform us of what is going on in the world. I adore her simplicity as an anchor. She is not made up as a cute doll and or ridiculously expressive in her reporting. She just is there to tell me the news through educated journalism. This is her truth. She has changed how I look at news, where and who is it coming from, and how the proper telling of information is imperative in our world today.
Lately, Democracy Now has been covering the Wall Street protests quite well and I have been inspired by what is going on and it teaches me in standing up against corporate and bank corruption in my own way. I see the police arresting the protestors and I think of past demonstrations in our country that made a difference and moved us out of oppression of many sorts. Nowadays, I tend to believe that we are the slaves of the corporate leaders (the corrupt ones of course) that use and abuse us daily and get away with murder. I am not against making money or anything of the sort. I am, however, for living simplicity and am against profiting if it hurts people in our nation or abroad and or causing environmental destruction. I know I must make the changes and educate myself to have little participation in the process of corporate rule. It is challenging as so much is controlled by big money that harms others or the environment, such as Big Oil and Corn Industry. I mean I do have to drive my car. But, little by little I am trying to find solutions within my community and to keep educating myself on better ways to do things so lesson my participation in the corporate power that rules. This is why I seek out news from sources such as Democracy Now, who indeed educates the public in great ways through honest, corporate-free journalism.
But a question came to me yesterday. M y husband asked, "I wonder if any other news source is covering Occupy Wallstreet like Democracy Now?" and it got me thinking again. Am I brainwashed watching only Democracy Now all the time? Is it sufficient? So today I took a chance and went back to my old news sources to see what is going on. What can I learn? How can I grow from what they report? I never watch the TV news anymore and wondered, just for a moment, maybe I should.
CNN online was first. I just couldn't find anything on the front news page about the Wall Street demonstrations. Boy, there was tons of stuff on Amanda Knox. Oh, but I did find a video about the protest. It is a video reporting the foolishness of the crowds, concentrating mostly on the characters in the crowd. They show an incompetent folk,dancing, wearing cooky outfits, expressing that they are "hippy" crowd. My heart sank. The vidoe just pointed fingers and showed how ridulous it all was. I learned nothing of any substance from this reporting. Unless I believe in what they are showing me But who owns CNN? Who wants to create this illusion so we stay away? Is it truth to believe in? It all is so confusing and easy to believe I am just one of the cooky people. I guess I have to keep searching.
So I went to Fox News. Surely they would have it. Fair and Balanced is what I am told. That it is truth. They would surely educate me. I found nothing on the front page (again Amanda Knox all over the place) but I did find an article in the US section. It is entitled "Occupy Wall Street--More than Just Looney Protest Movement From the Left". What a poetic title to this article, don't you think? Is this not journalism at its best? Fair, balanced, educational. Reading that title I for sure begin to picture crazy, obnoxious, out of their minds, tree-hugging, leftists performing rituals on Wall Street. What a great way to plant this in the minds of the people. The perfect set-up.
I go on to read this article. It begins by saying "it would be easy to dismiss the Occupy Wall Street protests as another disorganized and liberal whinefest … because that’s basically true. The demonstrations, taking place in New York and now other cities and other nations, have a classic lefty feel. But there’s more to this, if you dig deep enough. These protests do reflect the genuine economic fears that many Americans feel." Love the set up, "liberal whinefest". Superb journalism. So glad that behind the whining and complaining of corruption there is a point somewhere to be found, as you think indicated by the rest of that sentence. But, the article continues on and if you haven't guessed my sarcasm by now, then let me be honest. It is AWFUL reporting and disappointing to the core. I want to be educated and not brainwashed with labels and propaganda. Both CNN and Fox News just reek of being paid-off media entertainment . It is frustrating and puts a fire in my belly. I can not read or watch anymore.
I have learned my lesson and although I questioned my ways, I thank CNN and Fox News for keeping me on my path. I will go back to my fair and balanced journalist, Amy Goodman, and her crew, and other sources I get educated by, as in The Guardian. I looked up more on Occupy Wall Street and found a wonderful article written with much class on what is going on and something finally taught me a bit more. You can find this article here at The Guardian Online. They do have a lot of other stuff that I am not sure of, but I do like some of their journalist and how they write to educate the public. You can reaserch and see what you do or don't like about it. Freedom of thought, right?
Real journalism is so important and I am understanding this more and more. I hope some will open their eyes and seek out corporate free news sources. I encourage to point your internet towards Democracy Now and begin there. Watch journalism at its best. It isn't showy as you get from TV sources, but it is refreshing and truthful which is all worth it. Goodbye again to CNN, Fox News and other news on TV once again. I am off to make a positive difference and hang out with the radical, leftist, crazy dancing, cooky, tree-hugging folks.
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