« Chrysta Bell | Main | A World of Lebowski » Hiroshima and the Media Portland IndyMedia has an interesting analysis of the media's role in misleading the American public about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Probably no surprises for anyone who's studied the relevant history and given it some thought, but timely given the role of media in selling the Iraq war. Complex issues here worth debating – I know there can be compelling arguments for secrecy and disinformation in certain contexts. It would be worthwhile to debate whether and when it's appropriate to mislead, what the public's role (if any) should be with regard to life or death military decisions. Remember Colonel Jessep in A Few Good Men? You can't have democracy if you don't trust the public's ability to handle the truth, though the IndyMedia site acknowledges that the government and military will be secretive. However the press claims to be objective, factual, and free. Far from being independent, though, the corporate media acted as the government's agent in furthering the official narrative, attempted to squash any dissenting facts, and questioned the 'patriotism' of those who raised concerns. This complicity has continued to the present day, not just with the story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but with many subjects, especially war. Parallels with contemporary corporate coverage of the current "war on terrorism" are easy to find.[Link] jon posted this at 10:15 AM |
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