Category Archives: Government & Politics
On the basis of what the American national media has covered most intensely recently, one would think the most pressing concerns of our country were the Michael Jackson trial and a missing teenager in Aruba. A short while before that, the most important issue of the United States, from the media’s perspective, was a vegetative woman in Florida. And, back through time, the pattern continues of our major news outlets concentrating on and hyping up stories with little genuine importance. … Continue reading
Before the trial against Michael Jackson started, his prosecutors, with the aid of an eager media, promised the world damning evidence against the superstar. Finally, we were led to believe, the allegations that “Wacko Jacko” shopped for partners in the junior section would morph into facts. After the prosecution was done with him, the whole world would see him for the child molester he supposedly was, and he’d be going to jail for a very long time. Reality has developed … Continue reading
WASHINGTON, DC (JV) – In a landmark vote, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill today that would create a Christian church regulated by the federal government, with a clergy composed of presidential appointees. “This is a great day in the histroy of America,” President George Bush said after the bill’s passage. “For the first time in millennia, Americans will be able to worship the creator of their choices, without having to tolerate the Islamic and the atheistic heathen.” … Continue reading
Americans think of themselves as the freest people on Earth. After all, they say, they have rule by majority, equality amongst themselves, freedom to do whatever they want, and most importantly, freedom to think whatever they want. The First Amendment to their United States Constitution proclaims the government may not infringe upon freedom of speech. Americans can generally say whatever they want without fear of legal sanction or physical violence. Yet in his seminal work Democracy in America, Alexis de … Continue reading
Dec. 31, 2011, edit: How amazing the effect the passing of a decade can have on one’s perspective. While I still stand by the thesis we are not in a “clash of civilizations” with the Muslim world, I of course must vacate the propositions that American interventions have been warmly greeted in targeted countries. And I believe American foreign interventionism clearly does inspire loathing of the United States that sometimes ignites terrorist ambitions; I would strongly dismiss the Bush explanation were … Continue reading
Statistics from the National Federation of State High School Associations reveal that, in 1999, 15 students perished while playing in high school football games. This fact received little to no coverage in the national media. Angry parents did not parade into Washington, D.C., in order to demand stricter regulation of high school football. Politicos feigning intense anguish did not bemoan football’s domination of most learning institutions’ sports programs. The large majority of this country’s citizens watched their favorite high school … Continue reading
Michael Jackson has established himself as one of the most successful musical artists in history. His album Thriller—which won a record eight Grammies—remains the bestselling album of all–time, having sold over 51 million copies worldwide. Jackson’s enormously popular videos for “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” eliminated MTV’s reluctance to broadcast videos from black artists. Also, TV Guide, BET, and MTV determined “Thriller” to be the best music video ever made. Jackson’s later albums also experienced phenomenal success. Bad, from … Continue reading
