One Nation Under Media

Mainstream media has become the brain and conscience of America. It is governed by gatekeepers who not only filter information, siphoning off the excess fat or useless, repeated, un-newsworthy information, but who determine what the public should believe, say, and/or allow in our society and culture. The mainstream media has taken it upon themselves to govern America by the information it feeds us. By the way it distributes news, Americans are to know what to love, hate, believe, shun, admire, detest and so on. The sad fact is that the media has an agenda; it is one's own responsibility to search for and find the whole truth.

Mel Gibson, famous for acting in many successful movies such as the "Mad Max" and "Lethal Weapons" series', "Maverick," "What Women Want," and then directing and producing movies such as "The Man Without A Face," "Braveheart," "The Passion of the Christ," and his latest, "Apocalypto," has recently been in the news for his anti-Semitic drunken tirade. His words, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," have been publicized, by large media conglomerates as well as smaller media sources. Gibson was pulled over by police, for speeding on July 28, 2006. A breathalyzer test showed that Gibson was legally intoxicated by California state law. He was described as "uncooperative" and "belligerent." Documented below are the words of Mel Gibson to the arresting officer:

You mother fucker. I'm going to fuck you. I own Malibu. Fucking Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?... What the fuck do you think you're doing?... What do you think you're looking at sugar tits? (Jaffee, 2006)

When this was made public, people from all over the world criticized Gibson and the media labeled him an anti-Semite. This was not the first time Gibson bore this label, and in fact, the reason these few offensive words caused such an outrage among the people is due, largely in part, to his religious background and the release of Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ." When "The Passion" was released in early 2004 Gibson's rendition of the New Testament crucifixion was harshly judged and labeled anti-Semitic.

This script for this movie was based on many different sources, including the Roman Catholic Bible. These sources included various Roman Catholic mystics and nuns, Roman Catholic traditions, and anti-Semite Mel Gibson's own personal Roman Catholic religious ideas... The anti-Semitic Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ" movie is at odds with the Bible's account of what actually happened... Is anti-Semitic Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ" a movie about the "Real" Jesus Christ of the Bible? The answer is a resounding "No!"(Unknown).

Given the deliberate nature of Gibson's anti-Semitic, anti-queer, anti-feminist message, the irresponsibility of reviewers like Roger Ebert, who denied the film's anti-Semitism and gushed over this "work of genius," is criminal (Moon, 2004).

ADL Executive Director Abraham Foxman expanded on Korn's statement.

"We were troubled ... that it portrayed the Jews, the Jewish community, in a manner that we have experienced historically. Seeing passion plays used to incite not only a passion of love in terms of Christianity, but at the same time, to instill and incite a hatred of the Jews because of deicide," he told CNN (Foxman, 2006).

The media showed Mel Gibson in an anti-Semitic light before he ever portrayed any anti-Semitic behavior. The Jews of the Bible in the New Testament did in fact call for the crucifixion of Christ.

New Testament, Matthew 27:21-25 KJV The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. ²²Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. ²⁴When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. ²⁵Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

If Gibson's film was based off the documentation of the Christian Bible, how is he anti-Semitic?

In addition to this failure of fact finding, when the recent police report was turned over to the media, no one took into account that Gibson was intoxicated. Many drunks say things that they later regret and know that they did not mean. Because most of these drunks are not in the public media's sites, their drunken tirades go ignored. Gibson has been defended by friends, family and surprisingly Jewish members of society. When asked what he thought of Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks, Jackie Mason, a famous Jewish standup comedian, had this to say:

Let me be very honest with you, no one could excuse these remarks, but do you ever take it so seriously when a guy is drunk in a drunken stupor and he's laying on the floor and he says some ridiculous things? People curse their own mother in a state like that. They tell their whole family to drop dead.

When asked if Mason thought Alcohol was a sort of 'truth serum,' he responded with an emphatic,

You gotta be a moron, you gotta be the phoniest, retched frauds in the world to claim that it's a truth serum. If it's your family or your friends and they say something in a drunken state, you say he was drunk and you forget about it (Mason, 2006).

There is nothing like kicking a man when he is down, and that is exactly what mainstream media did next. Back in 1992 Gibson was interviewed by a Spanish Newspaper, El Paìs, on what he thought about homosexuality. The media brought this past tidbit up in 2006 shedding what they see as more "light" on the situation. Here's a portion of his interview:

"They take it up the ass." Gibson gestured descriptively, continuing, "This is only for taking a shit." When the interviewer recalled that Gibson previously had expressed fear that people would think he is gay because he's an actor, Gibson replied, "Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them? I think not." However, when reminded that he had worked closely with gay students at university, he said they were "kind people" (A. Unknown, 2007).

Another celebrity who has recently been through the media in a racial 'ringer' is Michael Richards. The comic who played Cramer in the televison hit series "Seinfield" was video taped at a comedy club in an irate tirade in which he verbally attacks two Black audience members that had been previously haggeling him. Below is a very short portion of the extremely offensive and crude rant of Richards at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on November 17, 2006:

Shut up! 50 years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass. You can talk, you can talk, you can talk! You're brave motherfucker! Throw his ass out! He's a nigger. He's a nigger! He's a nigger. A nigger! Look, there's a nigger! Oooohhhh! Oooohh! Alright, you see? This shocks you. It shocks you... to see what's buried beneath you stupid motherfuckers! (Richards, 2006)

The media splashed this video anywhere and everywhere they could. They interviewed fellow comedians of Richards, Black people in and out of show business, and anyone who had anything negetive to say about the situation.

Yesterday about a half-dozen community activists gathered at the club to denounce Richards's remarks and demand an apology. At a news conference , club owner Jamie Masada expressed remorse and said Richards would not be back at the club until he says he's sorry (A. Unknown, Richards loses his cool,then offers apology, 2006).

Veteran publicist Michael Levine, whose clients have included comedians George Carlin, Sam Kinison, and Rodney Dangerfield, called Richards's remarks inexcusable.

Levine said, "I think it's a career ruiner for him. . . . It's going to be a long road back for him, if at all" (A. Unknown, Richards loses his cool,then offers apology, 2006).

Richards appologised for his atrocious rant on David Letterman's "Late Show" with an uncharacteristicly sober attitude. He told the Letterman audience that he was ashamed and shocked by his words but was in no way a racist. He said he did not realize he had so much bitterness inside of him and that he would be doing some soul searching. A friend, Paul Mooney, who had been extremely shocked and angered by Richard's explosion had this to say after speaking to Richards in person days after the incident:

The apology on David Letterman was a, a two, what he did was a ten. The apology didn't match what he did on the stage. And he's got some pentence to do. And I've talked to him privately in a room and I'm convinced that he is truly sorry, he regrets it, uh he didn't know he had these feelings. And they came out; they were suppressed I guess. It wasn't a comical performance, it was a mental breakdown (Mooney, 2006).

Again, the mainstream media would not be the media if they did not kick Richards while he was down. ABC News found a couple who had watched one of Richard's comedy acts in April of 2006 who was highly offended when he started poking fun at the Jews during his comic skit. When reporters brought this little tidbit up in November 2006, Richard's publicist informed the media that Richards was in no way anti-Semitic, he is, in fact a Jew himself. Richards was just "role-playing" (Schou, 2006).

The main stream media cashes in on these celebrity meltdowns and the public just eats it up. Am I defending the words of Gibson or Richards? No, but the fact is that the media exploits them, and celebrities like them, when they make their mistakes, or have their breakdowns. The media makes an example out of these celebrities, sending them a message. It is not okay that you behave as normal human beings that make mistakes and stick their foot in their mouths.

What I find confusing is how the media's standards change completely without warning. A mere three months after the Gibson arrest and in the same month as the Richards ordeal, a Colorado Springs Pastor Ted Haggard of the New Life Church, was deeply involved in a sex and drug scandal. After days of denial, Ted Haggard finally admitted to paying a male prostitute for sex as well as purchasing methamphetamine from him. How long has this gone on? Three years was the appalling answer. Does the media call him out? Do they question his Christianity as they did Gibson's? No they do not.

Many religious leaders had rallied to the pastor's defense when the allegations broke earlier in the week...But Focus on the Family founder James Dobson -- who had castigated the media Thursday for reporting Jones' allegations -- issued a statement Friday saying he was "heartsick" upon learning of Haggard's admissions..."He will continue to be my friend, even if the worst allegations prove accurate," he continued (Gallagher, 2006).

Ryan Price and his fiancee, Karen Geyer, were impressed. "It seemed genuine [Haggard's apology] - from the heart. It's unfortunate but it happens," said Geyer. "He's reaching out and asking for forgiveness," said Price (A. Unknown, Haggard admits 'sexual immorality,' apologizes, 2006).

Shocking? Absolutely! Especially in light of what was said about and to Gibson and Richards, and their apologies. They were mere men, not proclaiming to be anything other, while Haggard is supposedly a man of God, called to teach and lead others to Christ. Haggard is a married man of 29 years, with five children, ranging in ages from 12 to 23. He has spent the last 32 years proclaiming his Christianity and has been a Pastor of a Christian church for at least 23 years.

Despite having homosexual relations with masseur Mike Jones, Haggard has condemned "homosexual (A. Unknown, Ted Haggard, 2007).
activity." In the documentary Jesus Camp, one scene shows a sermon where he preaches, "we don't have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity. It's written in the Bible"

This man is not only a liar but a hypocrite as well, and yet he has been supported by the media as well as his congregation and family; he has been forgiven by those as well; he has been prayed for; his rehab been financed; has had money donated to him and his family for ease of suffering... how does this compare to Gibson and Richard's treatment?

The media has decided that both Gibson and Richards are anti-Semitic bigots. Gibson is a homophobic bigot, while Richards is a racist bigot. Gibson and Richards have lived their lives in the company of those they are said to hate. Gibson has been involved in and has contributed greatly to the Jewish community, while never treating any homosexuals badly, or being reported to act hatefully toward them. Richards has been extremely close to some of his Black friends for over 20 years and is himself a Jew.

Both of these men have been judged by isolated incidents in their lives. Yes, they both said utterly appalling and offensive things, - one time- does that make them bigots? Merriam Webster Dictonary defines bigot as: "a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance."

Neither of these men in the above situations demonstrated "devoted" intolerance, nor do they treat a specific group of people with hatred and intolerance. Both men had a reason, warped as it may have been, to treat the people who took the brunt of their abuse, with hostility. The media's definition of bigot is anyone who does not agree with the "overall" consensus of the main stream or someone who is politically incorrect. Both Gibson and Richards fall into that category.

As soon as a person mentions a minority group in any way that is other than an unequivocal endorsement, they are likely to be labled a bigot or racist, or worse, and even more so if the person is an entertainer or in the media (Edwards, 2006).

When Natalie Maines, lead singer for Country Girl Band the Dixie Chicks and a Texas native, in a concert in London announced that her band was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," she may have well signed a death sentence to her band's career in music (A. Unknown, Dixie Chicks pulled from air after bashing Bush, 2003). This took place just nine days before the war in Iraq started with almost 90% of America for Bush sending troops in (A. Unknown, Poll: Americans less positive on Iraq, 2003). When mainstream media got done with the Dixie Chicks, no radio stations would play their music, they were boo'd off the Country Music Awards stage, and their record sales hit at an all time low. Maines did offer an apology to President Bush for disrespecting him as the President of the United States, but that was not good enough for the media. Why was the media so condemning of the Chicks anyway? Is this not America? Land of free speech? Perhaps it is because...

...entertainers in the mainstream, the common wisdom goes, must never dare to do anything but entertain. Other than making pleasantly ambiguous statements like, "Let's all hope for peace" (would that be before or after we kick Iraq's ass?), it's best for any artist who hopes to hang onto one of those precious ancient documents called a recording contract to keep mum (Zacharek, 2003).

Once more, the media is sending the message that if one fails to agree with mainstream media, they should keep it to themselves or watch their career go up in smoke. The Chicks have been told to "shut up and sing," they have had their lives threatened, they have been accused of being "unpatriotic, terrorists, friends of Saddam, un-American, anti-American," and countless other names that makes the public as well as other celebrities think twice before ever speaking their minds again. The Chicks were not the only ones noticing this new definition to words like terrorist, unpatriotic, un-American...

I was beginning to think I was the only person to see that our Government was using terrorism as an excuse to silence dissenters and critics at home and to attack any country who dares to disagree with the U.S. (Arizona, 2002).

The Dixie Chicks newest album is banned from many stores and radio stations. Rush Limbaugh recently referred to Walter Cronkite as an idiot for having an anti war view... Think about it, Limbaugh challenging Walter Cronkite's intelligence. It has become hunting season for anyone who doesn't support this war or this administration's actions (Mom, 2003).

The result of countries past who have caved under the pressure to "shut up"...
... in every fascist shift, more and more kinds of speech and protest become cast as "treason," "terrorism," "subversions," "espionage" or "sabotage." (A charge of "slander" tends to prepare the ground first: In Stalin's Russia, criticism of the state was first defined as "slander" and then redefined as "treason." (Wolf, 2007)

What ever happened to: "To criticize one's country is to do it a service and pay it a compliment" -J. William Fulbright, The Arrogance of Power 1966 (Snow, Propaganda, Inc. Selling America's Culture to the World, 1998-2002)?

In late August of 2005 Hurricane Katrina shook the foundations of America by taking out huge sections of Louisiana and Mississippi. The death toll was counted as well over 1000, and could have been over 1800, several of our major shipping ports were destroyed and useless, and the state of Louisiana as well as Mississippi were declared to be in a state of emergency. It took FEMA five to seven days to reach the people of this massive devastation, and offer them food and water. Canada arrived before our own government to help those in New Orleans.

"A Canadian search-and-rescue team reached a flooded New Orleans suburb to help save trapped residents five days before the U.S. military," a Louisiana state senator said on Wednesday. "The Canadians beat both the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. disaster response department, to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, where flood waters are still 8 feet deep in places," Sen. Walter Boasso said(Boasso, 2005).

September 2, 2005 a famous Black musician Kanye West, was outraged at the FEMA response as well as the reaction from George Bush and the media. West told the public that the way the media was portraying the people in New Orleans was racist. He stated that when the media showed a group of white people breaking into a store, or carrying food supplies off, they were described as searching for food, but when a group of black people were shown in similar circumstances, they were accused of looting (Moraes, 2005). After stunning his co-host Mike Meyers with that announcement, West goes on to say, "George Bush doesn't care about black people"(Moraes, 2005). Twelve days later, on September 24, 2005, when asked by ABC News' Terry Morgan if West thought that his statement was fair to Bush and if he still believed what he had said, West's answer was, "I have a hard time believing that George Bush cares about anyone" (Morgan, 2005).

This incident sounds familiar, accept the backlash that West would feel because of his statements never came. The media had changed their standards once again. West's popularity grew overnight, his albums hit record highs, he was described as a "hero," "a leader," and the media had nothing but praise to offer him. Why this sudden change? Why was his musical career not blasted to pieces as the Chick's had been; the radio broadcasters told to ban his CD's? Why was he not called a "traitor," "un-American," "unpatriotic," "anti-American?" He did the same thing the Dixie Chicks had done didn't he? He stood up and criticized the president of the Untied States.

The fact is the mainstream media guides the public into what they should believe, and who and what they should accept. Their standards change as quickly as the ocean tides. When a media stunt will benefit them in some way if it is portrayed in a positive light, the mainstream media does just that. They do not care if they have to change definitions of words; if they have to lie to the public; if they have to submerge information that could be harmful; they just don't care. The media has an agenda, and they use their connections to show the side of the story that they want the public to see. The public gets to see that story from the side that the media itself, is sympathetic toward. "Modern propaganda is a consistent, enduring effort to create or shape events to influence the relations of the public to an enterprise, idea or group" (Bernays, The New Propaganda, 1928, 2005).

Small groups of persons can, and do, make the rest of us think what they please about a given subject. But there are usually proponents and opponents of every propaganda, both of whom are equally eager to convince the majority. (Bernays, The New Propaganda, 1928, 2005)

In essence America has become -one Nation, under Media with our liberty and justice decided for us. - We have let ourselves become the mainstream media's cattle. Our cry can be heard from shore to shore... "lead us!"

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