So after watch some of the news on the Washington, D.C. tea-bag protests I went searching for some clarity. I found this video.
It seems like most of the people protesting here do not even know what they are battling over. They are being feed ideas from overly bias media sources and they just absorb this madness without question.
When the reporter in the clip asked certain individuals what in particular about the President's policy angered them or which of the bills being written were they against, many had no idea how to answer. They are misinformed and therefore ignorant to what it is they are ultimately fighting over.
News casters like Glenn Beck cannot be considered rational people, they are looking for ways to draw in an audience. So, they fill their shows with bitterness and intolerance in order to inspire fear in the hearts of the viewers. This then sets into action the mob effect. These angered citizens spring into action, ready to protest, screaming and shouting for their opinions. Yet, when confronted by facts they are left little more then speechless, questioning what it is they stood for in the first place.
Interesting topic, Maria, and a good example of how we have many ideologies competing today- what Croteau and Hoynes call the "Culture Wars." I would love to see more detail about the issues at stake, and the sides people are taking on this. It is certainly true that people are getting very angry over this issue, while perhaps not having all the "facts"- but that is an important observation. Why is this issue so important to them? Many values they hold dear are being threatened (or so they feel). What sorts of words and images do they use to explain themselves on both sides of the issues? A lot of references to the U.S.A., and to the idea that individuals should provide for themselves. The fact that they don't necessarily have the "facts" to back up their positions show the power of emotion and "common sense" beliefs in ideology- they don't require explanation and therefore are difficult to question. It operates at a deeper, more emotional level than rational analysis.
ReplyDeleteIt might also be interesting to consider who put up this video on youtube. What is their position?