Tuesday, July 20, 2004

While reading the news online recently, I noticed that some of the usual online ads I inevitably subscribe to were different. Sure, there were still the annoying ones talking about delivery services, flowers, and food, but while looking at an article on the new Iran/9-11 links being discussed in the news, I found this ad for John Kerry and John Edwards.

While I applaud their business-like approach similar to that of Senator Dean during the nomination process, I've come to the conclusion that I'd prefer not to be bombarded by ads about funding an already million-billion dollar institute that seems to have the media on its side. With the release of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and the mass press coverage on the Abu Ghrabi prison abuse scandal, 9-11 Commission Documents, and numerous Hollywood stars proclaiming "get rid of Bush," I can't help but think that the press, at least the vast majority of it, is in it for Kerry and Edwards.

But before I go on, I must clarify and concede to a few things: First, I acknowledge there are certain media outlets that are entirely pro-republican (i.e. Rush Limbaugh's EIB network, etc.). Second, I concede that Bush isn't the best president we've had given light of information pre-9/11. Finally, I note that there are certain celebrities that are for Bush.

With that said, I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't like the media coverage and bias over the past months. Granted, every media source has a bias, inevitably, but some don't display it as blatantly as others. Recently, it seems to me, we've been exposed to everything in terms of "how the media feels about the issues" and not the whole picture. It's like there's some sort of distorting between what the whole picture is and what is being presented to masses. Obviously I don't think it's fair. I thought the basis of journalism was to show the whole picture as clarified as possible, but obviously not.

Perhaps, though, the media isn't entirely to blame. From what I've seen in Europe and read in the papers and online, I think part of it has to do with how the rest of the world feels about Bush as well. Almost everywhere you go in Germany, for example, you can find numerous anti-Bush posters. The same sentiment is reflected across Europe in other countries. When my brother went down to Greece he noted that numerous Greeks, once they found out he was American, talked to him about how much they "hated Bush and were hoping for Kerry to win." They also talked about Olympic security and how it will be "stronger than any other nation's". I guess we'll see about that. Moreover, it is believed that many countries are withholding diplomatic/democratic action until after November, just to see what happens (Read more here: Europe's Big Bet on a Bush 'Regime Change'

Given that, though, I suppose it's no surprise American media is reflecting world opinion--even though it's still at a bias too.

I guess what I'm most concerned with is not so much who wins the election, but rather, the means at which they got there. It just seems like a lot of mud slinging to me and I don't like the dirt that's become politics of America.

Post Script: On face value, literally, Kerry looks very old. LOL! (Just joshing you Lacey!) ;)

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