American Mullahs and the Cult of Fear: Network News as Counter-Reality
by Steven Laffoley
Certainly, it wasn't what I expected to hear from a CNN news anchor. But there it was - striking honesty about the news.
Arms waving for emphasis, the host of the CNN morning show passionately complains about the Bush administration's unwillingness to accept the science of global warming. The host says it is "a fear of science." "In fact," says the host, "the members of the Bush administration are like American Mullahs." The host thinks for a moment, perhaps amused by the comparison. "Yes," the host repeats, "like American Mullahs."
But the criticism doesn't stop there. Leaning forward on elbows, the host talks about the whole CNN network and its cowardice to report the honest news about global warming. "Look," the host says with disgust, "only now can CNN finally say the science is sound - finally." Not knowing what else to say, the host throws hands up, resigned, then looks down and has a bite of salad.
I am sitting at an adjoining table in the Brooklyn Diner on 7th avenue in New York City, not far from CNN's New York offices...
(snip)
The next morning in my hotel room, I watch the CNN morning show and listen to the same host. I am waiting, with some faint, naive hope, for some of the same honest reporting I'd heard the day before. But on television the host is both congenial and earnest. There is talk of the space shuttle launch and of Karl Rove, but there is no hint of American Mullahs and their fear of science, or of CNN's cowardice to report honestly about global warming. Nope, just the morning news as comfort food.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0719-22.htm
*
by Steven Laffoley
Certainly, it wasn't what I expected to hear from a CNN news anchor. But there it was - striking honesty about the news.
Arms waving for emphasis, the host of the CNN morning show passionately complains about the Bush administration's unwillingness to accept the science of global warming. The host says it is "a fear of science." "In fact," says the host, "the members of the Bush administration are like American Mullahs." The host thinks for a moment, perhaps amused by the comparison. "Yes," the host repeats, "like American Mullahs."
But the criticism doesn't stop there. Leaning forward on elbows, the host talks about the whole CNN network and its cowardice to report the honest news about global warming. "Look," the host says with disgust, "only now can CNN finally say the science is sound - finally." Not knowing what else to say, the host throws hands up, resigned, then looks down and has a bite of salad.
I am sitting at an adjoining table in the Brooklyn Diner on 7th avenue in New York City, not far from CNN's New York offices...
(snip)
The next morning in my hotel room, I watch the CNN morning show and listen to the same host. I am waiting, with some faint, naive hope, for some of the same honest reporting I'd heard the day before. But on television the host is both congenial and earnest. There is talk of the space shuttle launch and of Karl Rove, but there is no hint of American Mullahs and their fear of science, or of CNN's cowardice to report honestly about global warming. Nope, just the morning news as comfort food.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0719-22.htm
*
posted by Dan at 9:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home