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Pandora's
Glowing Box (Mar/April 2005)
The
problem is that everyone is always so bored. The act of just being
alive has become trivialized in the face of megalith blockbusters,
sensuous superstars, and one-hit wonders. Our free time is filled
up purposely with the shallow daytime dramatics of talkshow hosts,
and the latest greatest reality television, bringing out the worst
in people for the entertainment of those whose lives have been
commandeered by the relentless self-interest of a few media moguls.
Cue the flashing neon lights. Cue the epileptic glowing box that
has become the center of our households.
Now that we're captivated, now that we're under the thumb of an
increasingly consolidated corporate maelstrom of what passes for
creativity, the next step is isolation. Followed by apathy. Followed
by dependence. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are breeding
a culture of hyperactive addicts. How many people do you know
complain about being broke, who would never think about trading
in that big screen TV, who would never contemplate canceling their
cable, as they continue to put artificial stimulation before groceries.
Teachers are competing with aggressive marketing campaigns and
the glossed over cool pushed by MTV. Attention spans are waning,
and all the Ritalin in the world isn't going to fix the problem.
Each year the average child sees 200,000 commercials, and by the
time they are eighteen, they've witnessed 200,000 violent acts
and 16,000 murders.
We are entering
an age where people know more about products than what is happening
to the world around them. This dumbing down of the populace is
spearheaded by the phenomenon of profit-driven journalism. While
pundits kick and scream their way to the next commercial break,
discrediting any point of view outside the mainstream, they use
slogans like "objective," or "fair and balanced."
Some staffers at CBS are accused of cutting corners on a story
critical of the President, Dan Rather comes out looking like a
fool, and the whole debacle becomes a talking point for masters
of Orwellian newspeak, who cry "liberal media." Those
responsible for "memogate" are pressured to resign,
while journalists who ignore information to play up the threat
of WMD's in Iraq, or tout the GOP's agenda receive a pat on the
back. Dubious definitions now saturate our mindscape. Palestinians
are synonymous with terrorists, protesters have become traitors,
environmental destruction is labeled as economic growth, and obedience
is now called patriotism. Wars have become sporting events where
embedded reporters do nothing but cheer for team America.
Some of us have
come to the realization that it is time to take back the media,
that independent presses create independent minds. Thirdeye is
part of a broader movement of average people who feel that an
informed public is essential to a working democracy. We know that
unbridled creative expression, discussion, and the sharing of
knowledge are the basis of justice and freedom. We work to promote
tolerance of diverse viewpoints and opinions different from our
own. We can no longer afford to simply complain, we have to become
the media. There is much that we can do to compete with the sex
sells, if it bleeds it leads, echo chamber that has become our
primary source of satisfaction. Write letters to the editor, and
make phone calls to hold news organizations accountable for neglecting
stories that are of importance to you or your community. Write
your own stories and press releases, turn off your TV, and start
tuning in to alternatives such as indymedia.org and democracynow.org.
The future of information is in our hands, and if we allow ourselves
to be controlled by thought police, the last remnants of the republic
will be destroyed.
-Jason M Glover
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