Most of us approach a strange puppy, kitten, bunny rabbit or human baby with a smile, maybe even reach out and pet it, talk gently to it, and smile. Occasionally we meet another adult who smiles for everyone they meet, makes friends easily, sometimes even foolishly. More often than not, however, people approach fellow human adults with some reserve, especially those of the opposite race. Over time we've become jaded if not downright paranoid. I think major media bares much of the blame for at least some of our bad public relations, particularly with the way we relate to other races, the police and public officials.
Influencing societal values, has, in the past, been played by Churches, the Bible, the Chiefs of tribes, books, newspapers and magazines. Now societal values have come to be influenced more by major media, mainly the Teeee Veeee, and, more recently, social media over the internet. And these means of brainwashing have become the most effective of all time! Why? Because they are easily, even lazily absorbed and sometimes fun to become involved with.
It is a sad fact that major media is controlled by corporations whose profits are more important than the needs of community. Because of this it is unable to play the most vital role of a 4th Estate in the political arena, to help us keep a truly democratic government. This is why I can so easily blame major media for bad public relations, for pessimistic view of the world, for our fears, for injustice. We need major media to function for the benefit of all of us as a community, not just on behalf of the few. We need to be influenced to do the right thing by our fellow travelers in this "valley of tears" called "life." We need major media to help relieve tension between races, encouraging us to be polite to one another, to respect one another, to hug one another in the face of threats, instead of encouraging conflict. We need fairness in presenting competing views of the most intelligent people in society, experts in their fields. We need honesty in reporting, not cover-ups. At this time, we are not getting the highest standards of reportage and thought. We get just the opposite, another problem with capitalism.
We can't immediately solve that problem, but there are some
things I would advocate we do in the meantime. We must all try to get through
our problems and protests -- and a revolution -- with some degree of respect for
one another. A four letter word is
disrespectful. WE should try to remember that it is hard for anyone to hate us
when we show them we have high regard for them as for ourselves. If a policeman stops you, show him respect
and he will surely think you have good judgment and will want to protect you.
To the policeman, I would suggest he or she express anger by presenting a
ticket rather than a gunshot. WE, as revolutionaries, need to have the good
will of our policemen. Remember, they also feel our pain, they are also victims
of the power elite.
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