living, thinking and writing
|
|
| PRACTICE living, thinking and writing |
|
|
Monday, January 24, 2005 A book called ‘BLOG’ I fetched a book called ‘BLOG’ last night from B&N, assuming it is a general introduction on blogging, and might be a reference to my research. ell, yes and no. Aside from some banal discussion of how political campaign and corporate PR/marketing can benefit from information obtained from using blogs, the author, a republican pundit, took every opportunity to attack liberals and CNN, and singing praise to GOP and FOX news. In a book with the title of ‘BLOG’ that shinning in gold, he proposes that blog, with potential of equal to talk radio, is a weapon that conservatives have been and should be picking up to get even with the prevalence of mainstream liberal media. And he keeps reminding the readers (at least in two places in the book while I flipping the pages): if you are liberal, this book is not for you, go back to your Michael Moore movie. There are some very weird notes through the book, such as, the journalists are all liberal because, they hate their alumni who became richer by working for corporate, and ‘CNN begs audience to listen’. My news consuming mostly takes place on cable news channel, and I happen to like almost all CNN news anchors, since they appeared reserved and intellectual (and CNN is going to cancel ‘Crossfire' partly because of the criticism from Jon Stewart). When I watch FOX or MNBC, their threatoning and dramatic tone really turn me away. If one thing that Hewitt says right, those anchorman and anchorwoman from FOX do sound full of ‘revolutionary spirit’. Likewise, what make me uncomfortable about republicans are those conservative fanatics, such as this Hewight, who can not even talk straight about a technology in an impartial and calm tone; or that Ann coulter, the most famous blond right-wing writer in past two years, who declares that her upmost happiness is to see ‘liberals weeping, crying and threatening to move to Canada’ (Time Magazine, Jan.17). Above of all, what make conservatives amazing is their ability to make it sound they are the oppressed group and unheard voice. In Chinese, we have a saying like ‘the thief call ‘Catch the thief’. That’s a very smart way to get away with the blame and cover oneself up along with the innocent. And that’s how I felt about him or the book when I flipping over the pages of ‘blog’. Though everyone knows media is owned and controlled by big corporate, let’s make it sounds far more liberal than it really is; though the nation is totally governed by Republicans, let’s make it sound as though the liberals are overwhelming. As an outsider, I do think the republicans are the noisier and more aggressive ones, however, it is the Democrats and liberals who look desperately seeking for attention. I don’t deem myself democratic or liberal. Actually I am quite conservative in many ways: very slow accepting new art and new technology, stick to classic music and books (even the futon cover I just bought is so neutral and old-fashioned). I am for free trade, small government, but not low tax (which I think is very irresponsible for the people and society). And I think religion (at least for individuals) and family are very important, and a man married a woman is a better match (in Chinese, we says ‘yin’, the female, meets ‘yang’, the male), but just in my opinion. I did wish there was a change of regime only because I disagree with the lot of things the current president and his administration has been doing. His problem solving is really making no sense to me: invading Iraq to fight terrorism while the terrorists are in Afghanistan and nukes are in Iran and North Korea; cutting deficit by privatizing social security while spending more on a war a continent and an Ocean away; improving education by imposing standard exams to all children while cutting education budget; starting medical care reform from limiting legal action towards medical malpractice? The logic behind his proposals is either non-linear or suspiciously crooked. In Chinese we will describe such actions as ‘scratching the itch on your foot with your boots on’. It really doesn’t help much. Then the secret weapon that the Republicans still rock the election and the country, after all that the administration has done, might be sought on their highly disciplined and very effective campaign team and the invincible propaganda machine. During the campaign season, we see all these prim and polished republican PRs speaks on TV in such a consistent tone and words, while not much novelty but very disciplined and strategic. And all these conservative pundicts like Hewitt or Coutler, have the courage to voice their partisan rants everywhere, funny sometimes,but very virulent most of times. I went to an assembly led by Michael Moore in UCLA during that time, and I said, boy, Democrats were not going to make it. Loosely organized, with 60’s rock-n-roll spirits, the event was a ride of transitory ecstasy and longer lukewarm stage wait. And it is no secret that Kerry failed by the inconsistency and lack of attacking spirits of his campaign team. Nonetheless, the reason that liberals are liberals is because they are, more or less, anarchical and in contempt of organized and institutionalized propaganda machine. Then, it just comes into my mind, if Hewitt did not imbed those ideological comments to the book about blog, his publisher ,who seems to be much favor of the religious topics, may not want to publish his book called ‘BLOG’. posted by lmeimei @3:24 PM| permanent link| | |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
