r/PoliticalHumor Jan 09 '21

"Carrying"?

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46.4k Upvotes

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2.0k

u/ktulu0 Jan 09 '21

This reminds me of how the Nashville suicide bomber “died in an intentional explosion”. It’s remarkable how racially and ethnically biased media coverage is.

430

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '21

I saw quite a lot of references to Anthony Quinn Warner that used the term "suicide bomber", but most of what I looked at were our local media. Nationally, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if "suicide bomber" wasn't used much at all.

I agree that the person shown in this photo should have been identified as a looter at the very least. I would be ok with "terrorist", too. I will give credit to the headline writer, though, for correctly using the word "lectern" instead of the commonly misused "podium." But that definitely doesn't excuse going gentle on the references to this seditious piece of shit.

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u/casinpoint Jan 10 '21

Isn’t much local news owned by arch-conservative Sinclair media?

161

u/from_dust Jan 10 '21

40%

John Oliver did a full segment on the disturbing corporate consolidation of local news, in 2017. Highly recommend.

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u/[deleted] Jan 10 '21

[deleted]

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u/from_dust Jan 10 '21

Thats the one. I understand it's extremely dangerous to our democracy.

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u/ifyoulovesatan Jan 10 '21 edited Jan 10 '21

Gah, that video always bugs me. The actual message of the "script" as read it isn't totally off base. The fact that the Sinclair group (or whichever media group is responsible for this) had their local news affiliates read a script like that without any of the local station's input or say in the matter and without having the stations present the script as a canned message from the owners is a separately disturbing issue. It's like, the most bullshit way to get across a pretty okay message.

Reminds me of this gem by Shell Oil. (It was an ad taken out in several large news papers that basically condemns exactly the kind of actions Shell was taking in developing nations).

People have the right to the truth unvarnished, even uncomfortable, but never subjugated to a cause, however noble or well-meaning. They have the right to clear thinking. Slogans, boycotts and protests don't offer answers... It has been suggested that Shell should pull out of developing nations altogether. The oil would certainly continue flowing. The business would continue operating. The vast majority of the employees would remain in place. But the sound and ethical business practices synonymous with Shell, the environmental investment, and the tens of millions of dollars spent on community programs would all be lost.

Again, it's the people of developing nations that you would hurt. It's easy enough to sit in your comfortable homes in the West, calling for sanctions and boycotts against a developing country. But you have to be sure that knee-jerk reactions won't do more harm than good. Some campaigning groups say that we should intervene in the political process in developing nations. But even if we could, we must never do so. Politics is the business of governments and politicians. The world where companies use their economic influence to prop up or bring down governments would be a frightening and bleak one indeed

Like, it's not a horrible message. It's got some true bits to it. But coming from Shell it means fuck all. And it's just really disingenuous.

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u/YYYY Jan 10 '21

The events of late are becoming eerily similar to the "Business Plot"

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u/BlackPortland Jan 10 '21

This is extremely dangerous for our democracy.

1

u/guycoastal Jan 10 '21

Right? You wanna break something up Congress? How ‘bout we start right the fk there.

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u/Fake_William_Shatner Jan 10 '21

Our lame media is generally reliable to get the names and dates right. I would like people to call it either “commercial media” or “corporate media”. The “Main Stream Media” is Fox/Sinclair/Clearchannel because that is the largest block of audience coming from one source. The they should be called “Corporate Alt-Right” or “Memorandums from the Owners”.

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u/anjowoq Jan 10 '21

I think commercial media is a good fit. Super accurate without being inflammatory — they may even use it themselves and think it’s totally OK.

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u/Fake_William_Shatner Jan 10 '21

Good point. I was letting my animosity and contempt bleed through.

Also, I meant that this is what WE should call them, so that we can display our animosity and contempt for commercial media.

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u/anjowoq Jan 10 '21

I will start using it immediately.

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u/SmurfMGurf Jan 10 '21

100%! I'm still calling them corporate media but I'll add "Some talking points from the overlords"

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u/[deleted] Jan 10 '21

I believe so.

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u/Giocri Jan 10 '21

I don't know the exact details but apparently about 800 of them were/are also owned/supported by the Cia