"That One"


"What happens when America's airwaves fill with hate? BILL MOYERS JOURNAL takes a tough look at the hostile industry of "Shock Jock" media with a hard-hitting examination of its effects on our nation's political discourse."

Some radio hosts have compared Muslims and Liberals to cockroaches.
There is a history of what happens to a society that starts to listen, to name, to accept that those they don't like are cockroaches or rats.

"Sticks & Stones: a prelude"
Genocide in Rwanda
Private Collection


Months prior to the genocide in Rwanda the government owned radio had a campaign in which they fueled the most effective level of hate speech with the specific purpose of preparing the people of Rwanda for genocide. They urged the listeners to kill the inyenzi (cockroach). A seemingly benign word yet this word led to the intentional dehumanization of one group of people, the tutsi and became the justification of mass murder.
When Good People Do Nothing

A Red Flag for the Secret Service: Tony Campbell



Comments

Connie said…
I'd like to also suggest the wonderful documentary about the same subject called: God Grew Tired of Us. This one is about hope and strength of the human spirit...as well as the horrors.

This painting, Corrine, is going to haunt me for years. It is so powerful.

Peace & Love.
jafabrit said…
Thanks Connie, I will check it out.
I'm voting for that one. ;)
Lana Gramlich said…
There are many good books on this subject by Neil Postman, including "How to Watch TV News" & "Amusing Ourselves to Death" (the latter of which Roger Waters based a solo album--perhaps his finest--on.)
Ironically, I just checked the movie "Network" out of our library.
jafabrit said…
thanks lana, I will check Postman out. Network is a classic, haven't seen it for years.
Margot Potter said…
Amazing.

Well stated, powerful and you know I feel as you.

Margot
Plot Whisperer said…
Amazing blog!!
Ruinous Right said…
Nice piece & post.

I plan to help keep that conversation alive for some time. Enough already!

RR
jafabrit said…
thanks margot, RR and Martha :)
Susie Q said…
Wow Corrine...I am truly in tears. This piece of art is so powerful.
This election season has turned evil...and as *those ones* get more desperate, they become more vicious. I went to Fifth Third Field today with 2 of my oldest friends. My knee is killing me today so, after the rally, they went to retreive the car as I waited by the curb. A large toothless man (I suppose to mention that he was toothless is to denegrate other toothless people! I apologize to other toothless people everywhere! *grin*) pulled up in an old van, flashes a McCain/Palin sign and
screamed,
Obama Whore! You will burn in Hell! God will punish you!"
Now just the sort of folk their campaign takes pride in huh.

Thank you for the these posts...

Corrine? I am so sorry I have been such a bad bloggy friend of late. I have been to visit you but haven't left comments when I should have. : (

I am trying to get back to visiting everyone reguarly.

Love,
Sue
jafabrit said…
susie, don't worry about the bloggy friend thing :) Life is busy. I just am glad you can pop in now and again.

"Obama Whore! You will burn in Hell! God will punish you!"

YIKES, that is HORRIBLE.
Anonymous said…
One of the reasons I don't watch shows like The Unit and military based shows is because they are propaganda. They show every single week a threat by foreigners. They show every single week who the "enemy" is. These shows can and will slowly change our thinking and belief system before we even know it. It's subtle sometimes but it is there so I don't watch those shows. I prefer truth as it is not the Hollywood version.

As far as the Obama campaigns went, I noticed some very sly ads meant to cast doubt on Obama's true intentions. The last add before McCain was humiliated in the election used a simple phrase to frighten the public. He asked the question, should we not question Obama's "sudden rise to power." For me it was crystal clear, for those willing to fear it was another reason to stay stuck.

Very powerful painting.
Austin of Sundrip
Anonymous said…
.....one more thing.... my neighbor said she can't vote for a man with "that" last name. She said it says "everything." WOW. Really? His name tells you who he is? Now there's a small mind I fear.

My grandfather on my mother's side has a German last name. Is he a Nazi? I wonder if she would change her mind if she saw him...if she saw this short black man (my grandfather) from The Democratic Republic of Congo with his German last name.

Is it really all in Obama's name or is it about those people with that name over there?

thanks for the forum on this one. :-)

Austin
jafabrit said…
thanks for dropping by austin and sharing your thoughts and experience.

I was once asked by a store clerk why I didn't change my last name. I asked why and she said it was too strange and foreign. I said are you kidding me, have you seen the phone book lately.

I haven't watched any of the shows you mentioned, but it doesn't surprise me. Even when not intentional there can be an undercurrent that gives a subtle message that can be detrimental.

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