[lit-ideas] Re: Hitler/Stalin - Stewart/Colbert Tag Team
- From: "veronica caley" <molleo1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:36:32 -0400
Dear Bonzo,
I accept your comments as perfectly valid. I watch Colbert and Stewart, as
I watch liberal cable, because I have watched right wing stuff, Limbaugh,
et. al. I don't want to watch right wing stuff or listen to it because I
find it more offensive. What I like about what I do watch, whether straight
or comedy, is that it tells me what these important political figures are
saying, compared to what they said in the past. No other programs do that,
to my knowledge.
I watch Rachel Maddow because she is a meticulous researcher, as the Rhodes
scholar that she is. I know she
leans to the left, and I take it into account. If you have watched any
network world news, or some other cable channels, you will know why I watch
the above programs.
A few weeks ago, there were some really important things happening on the
world stage and in the US. I tuned into ABC world news. There was barely a
mention of two or three of maybe eight important developments, but there was
a segment of how people celebrate birthdays around the world. 'Nough said
about that.
NPR had a discussion re health care issue this week and there were two
positions, one pro one con. Not a word was said about the con guy being a
lobbyist for the health care industry. This was uncovered by Maddow. BBC
and CBC would not cover these.
I read a great deal about current and historical issues, but I can only read
so much and I need to read some decent novels from time to time, to maintain
my sanity. I read newspapers on line and off and also several magazines.
I was in Canada a few weeks ago and bought both their major Saturday papers.
I was astounded that the Globe and Mail had two items, both dealing with the
threat of losing democracy in Canada, one an editorial. I was astounded to
read an editorial about how destructive salt is and how more and more of it
is in processed food.
I already knew this, because I read Nutrition Action, a publication of
Center for Science in the Public Interest.
I would bet you that not 5% of Americans know it. But now a lot more
Canadians do.
Re your other comments concerning nihilism, irony etc. it's probably true.
It is also true, unfortunately, that most people in the US, especially the
young, don't read much.
And when they do, it's romance novels and adventure tales. Which is fine,
but not enough.
Google something re surveys on what people know about the Constitution for
example, read it and weep.
I do, and I am also scared. If people could analyze what these people in
the right wing media are saying, they would stop listening to it.
Furthermore, people evidently can't see the hypocrisy or don't care.
Exhibit A: Bill O'Reilley writing a book on morality for the young, shortly
after paying off a woman for sexual harassment, to keep himself out of
court.
Yours,
Veronica
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Yost" <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:39 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Hitler/Stalin - Stewart/Colbert Tag Team
"Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert"
A few friends also rely on Comedy Central for news. I don't know what to
say to them about it, so I change the subject when those guys come up.
Here, I can vent.
Can't anyone see that something is terribly wrong with the popularity of
Stewart and Colbert? Maybe imagining them as right-wing comics would help.
Maybe not. The problem is more than political. It's the reinforcement of
nihilism, of irony-as-worldview with no positive counterargument.
Comedy Central's main demographic audience, unlike Veronica, has no
understanding of any social, political, or economic issues. Instead they
receive biases wrapped in jokes. The indoctrination is subliminal. Comedy
substituting for reading.
What about Limbaugh and the rest of the talk radio people? The
conservative gasbags rely on outright verbal persuasion. A listener can
accept or reject faulty arguments and slander using the critical thought
available to them. It's in-your-face politics, take it or leave it.
TV politicomedy disguised as news, on the other hand, bypasses the
critical faculties. A good joke, even if laden with faulty argument and
slander, is accepted as entertainment. Goes straight to the funny bone.
"It's just a joke. Lighten up." Hitler/Stalin could only dream about such
plausible deniability; lacking it, they had their secret police and prison
networks.
Sure I'm making too much of it ("It's just a joke. Lighten up.") but
ironic nihilism only plays in favor of the ruling elite, whatever their
politics or agenda for the rest of us.
Off my rocker,
Bonzo
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