HONEST FREE SPEECH........
Thursday, September 18, 2008
It is Thursday night, & to tell you the truth I am just not sure where to start? I am a true believer that we all are entitled to our personal opinions, politically & otherwise.... & should feel free to voice them in a respectful way. When it comes to the presidential election the same is true. Most of us are reading about, watching news programs & debating issues trying to get all the facts,... in order to make an educated decision about who should lead our country. It is no secret, that for years the media has had a liberal voice....but in the last few weeks it has become ludicrous!....Does the media really think we are that stupid?....Do they think we don't notice the "slanted" way they report the news....& how absurd some of these interviews are conducted.
Just last weekend, Charlie Gibson of "ABC news" was asking questions of Gov. Sarah Palin. As the interview began I hardly reconized Mr Gibson?...Who was this man?....I know there is a difference in their heights, but please, the camera protrayed Gibson as hovering over Palin, almost scolding her!...and his voice?...I watched Good Morning America for years & have NEVER heard the tone he took on that evening? Someone mentioned he looked like a school principal reprimanding a student, which I feel was a perfect description of this exchange.....And some of the material he had the nerve to bring up?...The "Bush Doctrine"????....There is no such thing!? Shame on you Mr. Gibson!
Then going on to "The View",.... the daytime "coffee-clatch" of 5 of the most annoying ladies ever assembled on television. A few weeks ago the group had on Sen. Barack Obama. It was a very cordial visit,....with the ladies drilling him with "hard-hitting" questions about "whether it was true or not if he was indeed related to Brad Pit"?...or Barbara Walters, ...maybe one of the most biased women ever, almost drooling, as she brought up how "sexy" they all felt Mr. Obama was!?
And then to be "fair", this last week we watched as Sen. John McCain & his wife Cindy came for a chat. Almost from the get-go, it was an attack!....Miss Walters, sporting a sour attitude & talking so loudly, Mr. McCain could hardly answer the questions?....Followed by, her sarcastically asking Mrs. McCain about the number of homes their family has????.... Who the hell cares, Barbara!???
This kind of unfairness by the media is just inexcuseable to me!....To the media,...don't even try to pretend you are treating the candidates the same!.....And Miss Walters claims to be such an important "news woman"?.....
And tonight, listening for a while to Larry King on CNN....After 45 minutes, my husband shook his head & made the comment that not one positve or correct thing had been said about the Republicans in all that time?....not one!
Then as the final straw tonight, my daughter Mallory came home with an interesting story. Mallory is a senior at San Diego State University, working toward a degree in Applied Art. I have two college age daughters, who both have had classes where the liberal agenda was voiced loud & clear!....& even though my husband & I have always encouraged them to speak their mind, they very rarely have in the overwelmingly Democratic environment of a college campus.
However, today was a bit different.Today in Mallory's "sculpure class", each student had to present their individual project to the class. Each person took their turn, until it was the turn of one young man in the class. This student stood tall, showing his "scupture" to the others. It consisted of a suitcase of blood-stained money, fake guns & the pictures of Bush & McCain with slashes across their faces. He went on to verbally explain his project saying our country is run by a "sociopath",... that he HATES Sarah Palin & all she stands for! My daughter said that she was sitting right next to this young man & was feeling a bit uncomfortable. As he reached the final explantion of his "artwork", the class started cheering & saying how wonderful it all was!....And, then one of the students, an older woman in her 50's stood to speak,...She told the young man that she couldn't agree more with his viewpoints & was proud of him!.....My daughter couldn't believe it?.....Then the teacher also stood to sing his praises, mentioning how it was too bad that no one with an opposing viewpoint was in the class......My Mallory spoke, raising her hand. She told the teacher she was the "opposing viewpoint"!...She explained that she looked at the young man & told him that he presented his viewpoint very well, that his project showed exactly his feelings about his government......And then she also went on to say, that she is a Conservative & one that likes Bush, McCain & Palin....& how deeply she is offended by his project, & went on to explain her feelings. Mallory then said the room went completely quiet, including the young man. The teacher went on to excuse the class......I don't know if I have ever been as proud of my daughter!.....
I guess what I am trying to say with this lengthy post, is this. Question what you hear from the "American Media".....research ideas & viewpoints yourself, don't rely totally on what you hear on your favorite shows or from celebrities or celebrity interviewers. Most of these folks have an agenda they want passed, which may or may not be the best one for you. And then, after deciding what is right for you, treat all sides fairly & with respect......This is America where we have the right to "free speech"....just make sure that what you say is "Honest Free Speech".
26 comments:
I whole heartingly agree with you. I just don't listen to what they say anymore. I just keep praying for the leaders of our great country and that people will listen to their own hearts and not the bias newspeople.I am scared at what will happen to our country if the democrates get a hold of it.All I can say is keep praying and spread the word! Tell your daughter to keep standing up for what she believes! You go girl!
i agree with you 100%%%!!!
omg!! what an awesome post!!
your daughter needs a hug!!!
Bravo for this post...it has sickened me the way the media is so biased...and the "celebrities" who spout their political views is enough to make me regurgitate...who cares what they think? Not I...I hope the voting public wakes up before it's too late! Go McCain-Palin! ;-) Bo
Amen!
I was just telling my husband that I can barely watch the news anymore because it is so one sided-And further more doesn't make a lick of sense. The sad part is so much of our youth is being "molded" by these lies.
Once I was interviewed for the news. They asked me questions and most of the interview I was smiling and saying wonderful things but they also asked me yes and no questions. They then took my no answers and made them into something I didn't even say! I was shocked how much they edited it to make it "their" view. It made me furious.
Good for your daughter - It is time we stood up! I do hope the teacher gives her a decent grade. I had a friend do something like this and the teacher tried to fail her. She told me stories of college classes that I couldn't even believe. What has our world come to? I agree with Molly-We really need to lift our country up in prayer.
Have a great weekend and tell your daughter thank you for standing up for "our" beliefs.
Robin
Heidi,
This is why I love you and consider you such a great friend. We agree on so much.
Both of my sons served in the U.S.Navy. One for 5 years and one for 7-8. They both got out before Clinton came into office thank heaven.
The only news I can watch anymore is FOX. What has Sarah Palin done but raised a family, been a wife, tried to be a good citizen, worked and raised a son who wants to serve his country, as does she?
I think Hollywood and most of the liberal media is giving Barrack a free ride.
Congratulations on raising such a fine young woman as you daughter. I'm proud of her and I'm her newest fan. She is the kind of person I hope my granddaughters grow up to be.
Hugs,
Gretchen
I could not have said this better. Journalists are supposed to be impartial and not be slanting their stories one way or the other. They are just supposed to tell the facts. Sadly, American journalists are not this way. I too am sickened by what I see happening in this election. The scariest thing of all is the brainwashing that goes on with our young voters by the media. They aren't getting the full and complete picture. The only way we have to counter this is by talking over at dinner what we each hear and deciding for ourselves. We need a strong man in the white house this election and I think the facts bear out that McCain is the better of the two choices, especially bz I believe he will protect our military men having been a POW himself. He pledges allegiance to our flag and puts his hand over his heart when the national anthem is sung. I truly am scared for our country if the media gets their way this election.
Okay, I read all the comments. Digested the post. But every time I read one of these "politicized" posts with "prayer" included I feel like I'm having something I don't like the taste of crammed down my throat. Whether I agree or disagree is redundant and obviously an ineffectual gesture here. So now you can take your "bias" and turn it on me. And I shall take myself to more neutral ground.
Brenda
Heidi,
I'm new to your blog but could not agree with you more. The media is making a mockery of the very concept of democracy. I have a son who is a Politics and government major. He is also a senior. I think that your daughter and my son would make a great couple!!!! He thinks he's the only Republican in the whole population of his university! Please tell your daughter that there is a Mom in Illinois who is very proud of her. That's right! Illinois... land of Obama. I hang my head in shame. Carol
I just have one comment. I'm neither a staunch Republican nor a Democrat. I vote for whomever I feel is the best choice. But - isn't it wonderful that in this country we can say what we like, WHEN we like, and where we like about any of the candidates?! Every single person is free to voice their opinion! This is going to be one of the most interesting elections in a very long time. I think it will go right down to "the wire". I for one, am excited to see which way it is going to go. 3 Cheers for your daughter! I love seeing people stand up for what they believe in. More people should. After all in a free country that is what we are supposed to do. As you stated, do your research. And then - get out there AND cast your vote!!! - Kathy
Good for you, Heidi. And, fantastic for Mallory. My son could be the Republican party poster child. ;-) We should not be ashamed to stand up and voice our choices.
I think John and Cindy McCain handled their interview on The View very well. I was impressed.
Heidi, your post is outstanding! I agree with you so much. In fact, my husband and I were just talking yesterday how bias the news media is and so liberal that it is almost scary because alot of young people are listening to this crap and actually believing in it. Good for your daughter to stand up and say what she believes in and what she feels. I have taught my children to always stand up and voice what they believe in especially when it comes to being a Christian and whats morally right. Bravo to your daughter and to you and I am so afraid of what's going to happen if Obama gets in!
Love, Ann
Bravo; I am so proud of your daughter too. Not too many people would stand up and do what she did. You have a very special daughter. When I watch the news I cringe every time they talk about the election. They are not bias any more, and yes they do think we are a stupid people and will believe any thing they say.
Your post was so very right.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs;
Alaura
I'm impressed with your daughter. That would be a difficult, difficult thing to do, especially being that age. She has some wonderful qualities to be able to do that.
The favorite thing you said in this post for me was something about "respectfully" giving our opinion. There is so little respect when opinions are given. It makes me crazy.
My political leanings are my own. I do not beat anyone else over the head with them, and I appreciate it when people do not try to beat me over the head with theirs. Ranting drives me crazy, fanaticism crazier. I cannot listening to people who vote for someone ONLY because they are from a ceratin political party without finding out anything else about the candidate. And the media? You are right. And though I do not consider myself Democrat OR Republican (though I usually, not always, vote more conservatively)I haven't listened to news in a good 6 (maybe more?) years because I cannot bear the slant of it or the sensationalism of it when it isn't about politics. (When Hurricane Katrina came 3 years ago, I was recovering from a surgery that had me bound to the upstairs of my house. I TRIED to watch that because it made me so afraid for the people in its path, but I managed about two hours before I had to turn if off because of the sensationalism of it.)
But the thing is, a lot of people believe the media. They have ideals set in their head, and the media feeds it. Don't get me started on that.
And it's funny, but there is one not-totally-left-wing news network (though I would hesistate to call them right-wing), and the ranting from liberal quarters about it (FOX News) would make one think the whole country is run by it.
Though I am quite centrist in my own opinions, I see more (not all) conservative opinions quietly, calmly laid out and more (not all) liberal opinions thrown in my face. I tend to reject things thrown in my face, by the media and anyone else.
Well-written post.
WOW Great post, Heidi! I couldn't agree with you more. And give Mallory a big hug from me. What she did took some serious guts!!! I don't know if I could have done it. Can you imagine the uproar if someone had done the same thing with Clinton/Gore? The collective *they* would have freaked out! I find the democrats like to dish it, but they can't take it. There is nothing I hate more than a person that loves to cram their opinion down your throat, but have a fit if you try to give yours.
Heidi,
What an amazing young lady you have raised! You must be so proud of her. I am 100% on her side and wish I could have been there to applaud! Don't even get me started on Obama... shudder.... Lori
Well written and I applaud your daughter!!!
I don't think it really matters who we are voting for or not. I think what your daughter is wonderful! She stood up for her belief and didn't care if she was the only one to do so. It only takes one person brave enough to stand up to make a change. Good for her. You have a wonderful daughter and should be very proud of her.
I also think you are very brave to post your belief here on who you are voting for. I'm a bit surprised you only had one person get upset with what you wrote. I thought for sure you were going to get tons of angry people leaving nasty messages.
Maybe Blogland is where we should all live. We play nice here. LOL
Hugs,
Joanne
Absolutely wonderful post and I can't agree with you more! I truly hope that the people of this nation will think for themselves on this one and not vote for what they think is trendy or fashionable, so to speak. Our media should be so ashamed of themselves and for way more than just this election year.
Cathy :)
Yes, the press are certainly biased- but they're biased both ways. After watching both national conventions and listening to the pundits (both for and against each candidate), it was obvious that there are reporters, newscasters, and news agencies that promote their own agendas while putting the "spin" on those of the opponent. Emotions run high, and candidates count on the emotionality of voters instead of on our clear thinking: adrenaline isn't always our friend.
Hopefully everyone will understand that there are NO saints or saviours in this election, no matter how cute, how perky, how personable, how statesmanlike, how diplomatic, or how patriotic everyone tries to present themselves as being. ALL of them have made mistakes. I personally find it appalling that the "big talk" lately has been about what outfits the First Lady candidates and Gov. Palin have been wearing.
BTW, I'm also an Alaskan. And while I do feel state's pride that our governor is out there on the world's stage, knowing her record in Alaska, I'm really wondering *why* the Republicans decided she was the most experienced and most complimentary to Sen. McCain. The press LOVES kitchy little taglines and "colorful" character stories and has, in my mind, used the mythology of Alaska that many lower 48'ers THINK is the "real" Alaska to create Palin's back story.
I agree wholeheartedly with you: people need to do some work, digging to TRY to find the actual TRUTH about our candidates and NOT rely on biased journalism.
Just know, spin doctors and "plants" around the nation are putting skewed info out there daily...hourly, or are blocking access to documentation and testimony that could shed some light on the issues we should care about.
I could not agree with you more. What happened to the media just giving us the facts?
I am so tired of the one sided view points. And I was sickened to see the ladies on the View drooling over Obama. Could they not keep it in check and show the woman of American we are strong and informed and have the ability to not act like a teenager in love with a teen idol? Barbara Walter's has set woman journalists back many years by her stunts on the View. I want someone who can led us forward so we can break that glass ceiling in this man's world. I do not believe we would see a male journalist interview Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton and talk about how beautiful they or drool over them as much as Barbata drooled over Obama. Thanks for the post. Glad to see others see the bias in the media.
Bravo! This bias is not new for this election, but has been going on for years. Just the other day in the lunchroom we were discussing having a woman on the ticket and that being a governor, she has experience being in charge. I commented that Bush and Clinton had been governors before running for President and that in fact George W Bush had been a businessman... at which time one of the other teachers interrupted that Bush hasn't done a very good job of running anything. I replied rather shortly that even if he hasn't had all the answers for the economy or whatever she thought he should have done, he has kept our country SAFE, and if we weren't safe, none of the other issues matter! As for other disrespect of the Republican Vice Presidential candidate... she is commonly referred to by the press as "Sarah". They do not afford her the honor of her office as Governor of Alaska. They ALWAYS refer to Sens. Obama and Biden.
I was none too thrilled at the selection this time around until Gov. Palin showed up! One more thing while I'm at it. Talk about Washington DC insider: Biden has been in Washington since he was 30, before McCain was released from the Hanoi Hilton! McCain continued his military career after recovery. Blessings to you for speaking out! Thanks for letting me get THAT off my chest. Shay
Couldn't have said it better. Love that your daughter stood up against so many people of a polar opposite viewpoint.
It is comforting to hear these comments from you! Sometimes I am afraid that so many people in our country are playing the part of sheep, letting themselves be led wherever the media wants them to go. It gives me hope that not everyone is completely blind to the obvious media bias when it comes to so many matters.
I went to Agnes Scott College and LOVED my time there. God sent me there and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that that was where I was supposed to be. Part of the reason I had to go there were the challenges to my faith and conservative views I would face regularly. My freshman year after being on campus less than a month (this was just before the 2000 election) I made mention that I supported Bush and a senior who happened to hear me asked me how I could call myself a woman. She asked it not in a way that promoted healthy debate, but with a tone and manner that suggested I should not be allowed a viewpoint.
Time and again I faced an overwhelming bias toward liberal politics pushed and applauded on all sides. It made me stronger than ever in many of my conservative leanings.
I finally developed the (very cynical, I know) following measure of higher education: So many of my professors were people who couldn't make it in the world, so they found an arena where they could push their ideas on those who had not yet formed their own ideas or a defense of those ideas.
Sigh...as long as people see where the media are trying to lead and don't keep silent about it (kudos to your daughter!) then we aren't lost yet!
You go Mallory and Heidi!!
What bothers me is that over the years I have seen many liberals opposed to the war, or other such things. And yet their opinions and sometimes actions are so violent! It makes no sense to me. War, violence. Hmmmm....
I'm so glad Mallory stood up for herself in class. I hope by doing so, she got the real message thru to some people.
Heidi,
I applaud your daughter...funny how the opposing side goes all quiet in the face of the truth but will stand out in the streets in massive groups and scream and cry for MORE...on and on..
It's a crying shame that the fact remains that so many DO rely on and believe all that main stream media has to say..It's quite scary to me.
FOX News is the only news channel that I watch...Charles Gibson and all those hosts of the View are a bunch of vampires. Sorry that's as diplomatic as I can get concerning them.
Thanks for this post and thanks again for reminding me that I can talk about my political feelings without being ambushed. I'm proud of your daughter.
Happy Day!!
Well written article.
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