I guess I am always trying to find out what is really going on. I listen to
news and to opinion, to try to figure it out. I tend to trust some people more
than others, the people who seem to be most honest, to really care about the
reasons for why things are happening, who care about the people to whom things
are happening. I seem to be most interested in what this country is doing
internationally to other countries and for a very long time, I've been
interested in the quality of news sources and how it's reported. I remember
being surprised that other people seemed not to care about that. And by the
way, I have been wondering for quite some time, where Amy Goodman gets her
money from because it can't be that her program does what it does, just from
small donations. Maybe George Soros is donating to her. As much as I like The
Intercept, it's original funds come from the guy who owns Ebay. It asks for
donations, but it is becoming more and more mainstream in many ways. Our
profit system corrupts everything.
And that reminds me. I began thinking, this morning, about how blind tech
users are victimized by capitalism. Here I am, old, on a fixed income, very
dependent on my computer for information and books and social contacts, and I'm
not a competent tech user. If agencies for the blind worked as they should and
if our socio-economic system were different, first of all, someone would have
taught me to use NVDA and Thundeerbird. NVDA is a free screen reader and
Thunderbird is a free email program. The person who taught me would be paid by
an agency for the blind. Even if I were asked to pay a fee to that agency, it
would be a small fee. But no one teaches blind people how to use these programs
because everyone who teaches, teaches the programs used by rehab agencies and
the rehab agencies have all been convinced to use Jaws and everyone teaches
Microsoft Office because that is what is taught to people who work. If you're
blind and younger and technically adept, you can learn free programs on your
own or from your friends. But you can't do that if your older or if you're
newly blind. And agencies for the blind only teach people for whom they can be
reimbursed by state and federal rehab funds. If they were using the model from
60 years ago, they'd just provide services to any blind person who needed them.
When I first became a social worker, I remember that I H B would send a rehab
teacher to someone's house to teach him or her braille or some other specific
skill, if that is what was needed. But then reimbursement from the commission
for the blind came along and the person had to be taught a cluster of things
and fit into a category. No one could just learn braille anymore, unless it was
part of a plan. It's really an unfair, unrealistic system. An older sighted
person who needs a new computer can just buy one and her children or
grandchildren can show her how to do the things she wants to do on it. That's
certainly not true for an older blind person. You need a special program to be
installed. You need to learn to use it. When Internet Explorer becomes truly
unusable, I'll need to pay a blind person to install a substitute for me and
show me how to use it and it will be a remote lesson because there's no one who
can travel to where I live to show me. I read on the newly constituted Jaws
list yesterday, that now Jaws will cost $90 a year for a home use license. I
used to pay $120 every 2 years. And office 365 costs approximately $70 a year.
But this is what an agency should be doing. 60 years ago, agencies employed
sighted people to drive blind teachers to people's homes in areas where there
was no public transportation. I'll bet no one does that anymore. Of course,
agencies sold the myth that once a client received services, he or she would be
able to live an independent life and would no longer need extra help. And there
are some blind people who believe that they are actually doing that.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 1:53 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria
Propaganda
Well, you are one up on me, Miriam. I'm terrible with names. But you're
right, Seymour Hersh was on Democracy Now, as was Noam Chomsky. But I listen
to the broadcast for a sense of world and national news, and then the Bellevue
college channel has local and state news. All public sponsored. That's where
my dribble of money goes, not to NPR or even to Amy Goodman. And I usually
tune in to Thom Hartmann if I'm near the radio at 9:00 A.M. He's too much the
Liberal Democrat, but he does offer stimulating opinions. Alternative Radio is
another favorite of mine...when I can find it. Last Sunday I listened to a
1987 speech by Howard Zinn. It could have been given last evening.
But there's no perfect program. And even the people I agree with can make my
skin crawl. Richard Wolff, the Marxist professor, sounds like he's talking to
six year olds, Thom is too much the liberal democrat, David Barcinian(forgive
the spelling) sounds like he might not make it through his program, and Noam
sounds exactly like Doctor Jerry Dunham.
Dunham was a blind PhD who...sort of directed the Washington Services for the
Blind, back when I first became blind. He did inspire some of us. He was so
inept that he inspired us to go to the legislature to pass the Commission for
the Blind.
Anyway, we're all flawed enough that we should never hang our hat on one super
leader.
And in my wicked, fuzzy minded past I've done that a time or two.
Regardless of who, what, where or why, I always remind myself that someone paid
to put forth the news or opinion. First, I ask myself who that could be, and
then I ask what's in it for them. Usually they're busy telling me why it's
good for me, but since I already know what's good for me, I want to know why
they're spending all their money. I can do this with the commercial news, if I
can put up with piles of commercials and giggling news casters. But I can do
it better with Amy Goodman, too. At least she's more on target on most issues
than the corporate media.
Oh yes, another half hour program that I stumbled across is named, The Media
Project. Three or four journalists kick around issues of the day. It comes
from upstate New York, and gives me a different sense of the workings of
journalism.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/27/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, but the problem is, that is also happening to Democracy Now. She
covers the same stories as corporate media and she uses corporate
media representatives to do it. The exceptions are Glen Greenwald and
Alan Nearn and very occasionally, Jeremy Scahill who, of course, got
his start on Democracy Now. But I read all of the real left of center
investigative reporters and I hear them on podcasts, and she doesn't have
them on anymore.
Perhaps she had Seymour Hersh when his latest book came out. Even the
Nation had him. But what she has now is the acceptable, commercial
Left. Not only doesn't she have the authentic Left. She doesn't have
principled people who write for the Conservative Press like Gareth
Porter or that military guy, can't think of his name, who's often on
The Real News. She doesn't have Aaron Mate, who also got his start
with her, because he has been doing real investigative stuff with
alternative media. He's far enough to the left to have moved from The
Real News to The Grayzone Project. The people whose reporting and
opinions truly differ from the mainstream, end up on the Grayzone
Projectd, Mint Press, assorted podcasts and RT or Sputnik which is
ironic. It's ironic that our radicals can't find a place in American
media and end up on media sponsored by Russia which has an
authoritarian government. But then, Russia is where Edward Snowden
found refuge from the American police state. And Putin is an authoritarian,
or they say he is, who persecutes gays and lesbians and is being protested in
his own country.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:01 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat
of Syria Propaganda
Unless NPR changed their minds, they no longer are National Public
Radio, they are simply, NPR. Bit by bit, piece by piece, and position
after position NPR has quietly been selling us out. It takes money to
run an operation as large as NPR. We have learned that a dollar has
as much right to express itself as does any other First Class
Citizen...we'd better all check to see if our names are on that list.
Anyway, despite all the protests to the contrary by NPR, they are
sounding more and more like all the other Corporate controlled networks.
I think NPR now stands for, No Public Responsibility.
Carl Jarvis: listening in vain for the old NPR.
On 8/26/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Opinion & Analysis
NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria Propaganda
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut",
Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for
her life.
by Rick Sterling
August 23rd, 2019
By Rick Sterling
It may be a new low in propaganda. National Public Radio (NPR) used
the news that Syrian First Lady Asma Assad had overcome breast cancer
to mock her and continue the information war against Syria. They
interviewed a Human Rights Watch staffer named Lama Fakih who is an
American from Michigan now based in Beirut.
Do you believe Ms. Fakih in Beirut or do you believe people who live
in Syria who say we are being lied to? Lilly Martin is such a person.
Although
she is American from Fresno California, Lilly has lived in Syria for
nearly
25 years. She is married to a Syrian and has two Syrian sons. Dr.
Nabil Antaki is another such person. He is a medical doctor in
Aleppo, fluent in English and French as well as his native Arabic.
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut",
Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for
her life.
While Ms. Fakir in Beirut says that there is "quite a lot of anger"
because Asma Assad has conquered cancer, Dr. Antaki says that Syrians
are happy at the news. Asma Assad is First Lady, mother to three
children, and known for her compassion. Lilly Martin says that even
while she battled cancer Mrs.
Assad continued her charitable work.
Asma Assad NPR cancer
While Ms. Fakih says that the "Assad government has been
systematically targeting medical facilities and medical personnel",
Dr. Antaki, who has remained in Aleppo throughout the conflict, says
this is not true. While there are many western accusations that the
Syrian government attacks hospitals, the evidence is remarkably thin.
One of the most highly publicized cases was regarding "Al Quds
Hospital" in east Aleppo. In April
2016 there was a media blitz about this hospital having been
destroyed by the Syrian Army. Following the departure of the
"rebels", it was discovered that "Al Quds Hospital" was an unmarked
portion of an apartment building, that it had NOT been bombed and was
the LEAST damaged building in the area.
It was determined that the nearby Nusra (Al Qaeda) headquarters and
ammunition depot was the Syrian army target. Accusations that "Al
Quds Hospital" was bombed were false. It was a media stunt.
Ms. Fakih says that "Syrians have not been able to benefit from
medical care
in Syria since the beginning of the uprising in 2012". Lilly Martin
simply
says "This is factually untrue. The Syrian system of national
hospitals, free services to the public, are in every area of Syria
and have run continuously throughout the war." Dr. Antaki is an
example; he is one of THOUSANDS of doctors working at HUNDREDS of
hospitals throughout Syria. But you would never know it from NPR or Ms.
Fakih.
It is true that there have been disruption and damage to many
hospitals, as demonstrated in this jihadi assault on Al Kindi
Hospital. These are the "rebels" supported by Ms. Fakih and Human
Rights Watch. They effectively supported them in east Aleppo until
they were expelled from the city. Now Ms. Fakih and HRW is supporting
the "rebels" in their last redoubt in Idlib.
There are countless videos demonstrating the cruelty and fanaticism
of the "rebels". For example, the aftermath of the above assault on
Kindi Hospital and the execution of the Syrian soldiers who defended
the hospital. Those who are cheerleading for the "rebels" and trying
to prevent the Syrian reclaiming Idlib should look at the execution
video to see what they are supporting.
The West has provided weapons and other support to the "rebels". In
parallel, there has been a campaign to whitewash the "rebels" and
demonize the Syrian government. On top of this, the USA has imposed
crushing sanctions on Syria which make it difficult or impossible to
get critical medicines and replacement parts for western medical
equipment. Dr. Antaki says it took him 1.5 years to obtain a
replacement part for a Japanese medical instrument. I had my own
experience with the draconian and inhumane sanctions. It took one
year and endless hassle to send hearing aid batteries to help a deaf
child in Syria.
This is one among hundreds of Syria "regime change" propaganda pieces
broadcast on NPR. Behind a facade of authority and objectivity, there is
bias and misinformation along with crocodile tears. As Lilly Martin
says,
"While the Syrian government medical system has tried to meet all the
needs of Syrian civilians during 8 years of armed conflict, still
there are numerous cases where the needs were not met and Syrians
have suffered, and that blame must be shouldered by every person who
held a gun against Syria and their foreign supporters who have
succeeded in bringing the Syrian people into the depths of destruction and
despair."
As to Asma Assad and her integrity, it is best to listen and judge
for yourself. At about 5:30 of the interview she speaks of the
families of 100 thousand Syrian martyrs who died defending their
country. "On a personal level, I am humbled by their determination,
by their resilience, and by their love of Syria. They are my biggest
source of strength and hope for the future."
The sneers, misinformation, unverified accusations and de facto
defense of Nusra/Al Qaeda by NPR and Lama Fakih stand in stark contrast.
Feature photo | Asma al-Assad visits the children of Basma
Association, which cares for children with cancer. Photo | Syrian
Presidency
Rick Sterling is an investigative journalist based in the San
Francisco Bay Area. He can be reached at rsterling1@xxxxxxxxx
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not
necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.
