thoughts on technology and culture, politics, and information design
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Protest
Received the following e-mail from my friend Kurt...displayed with permission. I hadn't been thinking about the two-year anniversary of Iraq. Maybe because it wasn't discussed by the mainstream media?
Hola comrades,
Just got back from a large Hollywood protest on the two-year anniversary of Iraq. Wasn't as big as 2003, but still, the city had to shut down about a dozen blocks in downtown Hollywood - more than they did for the Oscars.
The organizers estimated 20,000 in L.A. today, at least as many in NY. Apparently there's a human blockade in front of the prime NYC military recruitment center as I write this. And a large number of soliders' mothers are in North Carolina protesting at a military base.
It's not just a U.S. thing, either. The Guardian UK's top headline is:
Protesters mark Iraq invasion
Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters mark the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq with demonstrations across Europe.
So you'd expect at least a mention of these events in the U.S. press, right? Well, here are the top AP stories right now:That's right, unlocking corn's genetic code is more important than a worldwide peace rally attended by tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.
- Congress reaches deal on Terri Schiavo case
- Bomb at Qatar theater injures more than 50
- Pope may be in the audience Palm Sunday
- Policy OKs preemptive strike to protect U.S.
- World Bank hails rapid growth in Russia
- Researchers unlocking corns genetic code
- Univ. of Michigan to build Arthur Miller theater
- NCAA Tournament - Scoreboard - Bracket
CNN has a protest-related news story, but it's about the 30 people (actual number) outside Terri Schiavo's hospital in FL (she's that comatose woman who has been on and off life support). Even the NY Times, that so-called bastion of liberalism, doesn't have a drop.
There's not even a mention of the two-year anniversary in any of the major outlets. It's a sad reminder of the disproportionately scant coverage of the Feb. 2003 protests - the largest in human history.
It's difficult to see how there can be change in this country without media coverage. If most of the U.S. isn't reminded of how many people (57%, according to the latest CNN numbers) disapprove of this thing, how can there be momentum?
Would Vietnam have ended if the mainstream press hadn't covered the protests? And would we have any recollection of them if we didn't have camera footage and other documentation by mainstream outlets?
In the meantime, stay tuned for the latest on steriods in baseball, celebrity trials and - lest we forget - corn.
Con fuerza,
Kurt
Comments
Comment posted by 
Nathan White : 10:45 AM - permalink
So if I have this straight you are saying that the Iraq war is an annoyance, and the "non-biased" media and general population of the world doesn't care about Iraq?
What are the pressing issues the "non-biased" media is concerned with, and are you suggesting that when Iraq is covered on the news it is by "biased" media?
What is the "general population" in your view, or are you talking about a specific group of people in a specific country. What does the "general population" care about. Is it perhaps the runaway bride story? That is what has been the most visible story on CNN over the last few days.
I don't want to be part of the "general population" that prefers to learn about a runaway bride than the progress of the war in Iraq. Maybe you do...but since your comment is anonymous I guess you don't feel comfortable expressing your opinion publicly.
Comment posted by
Anonymous : 10:10 PM - permalink
Perhaps you're aware that other people might be more concerned about other issues than what has been a constant annoyance? Everyone's got to join on the bandwagon of anti-war; and frankly, the non-biased media and the general population of the world doesn't care.