Media Corruption

The following is an excerpt from my final unit paper, entitled "Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Thought".

"The thing I really dislike about the media is that it never says anything different. All that is reported is that which should be obvious. The death toll in Iraq is up? Well, of course it is. The longer we stay there, the more fed up people are likely to be with it. The really important things are generally talked about under the radar, and when they’re found out, more often than not they are covered up. Recently in class we watched a movie called “American Blackout” about the suspected voter fraud in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Voices of reason were mangled until everyone turned against the speaker. If news stations were able to do something like that so easily, they’ve clearly had some practice. I wonder how much of what we’re getting from mainstream news is true. This is not only blatantly against the Constitution in that it takes away people’s right to say what they want and be heard, it takes away another right. It takes away the right of the people to make their own choices and think for themselves. You might be saying “Come on, it’s not that serious. I can still think for myself and nobody will arrest me”, but how much of your free thought is influenced by the same media that lies so much about important issues? Doesn’t everyone turn to the news for the latest information on government activity? Isn’t that where we get nearly all of our information about all things politics? The mainstream news is just the government’s subtle way of controlling thought. How long until we become like that world described in “A Wrinkle in Time”? Same actions. Same voice. Same thoughts."