It never fails to make me angry when I find clear examples of shading the truth. It happens all the time, Sometimes in big ways, sometimes by only reporting part of the story. Why can't we get the real news rather than constant morphing of the world?

by Rowan Wolf (105 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 146 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 12:00:24 AM

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I think because of OPEDNEWS and efforts like yours, contributing to it, we are getting a much more complete picture. The question is, how soon can we WAKE UP the masses?

These comment sections provide much feel-good therapy against the anger and frustration progressives share, patting ourselves on the shoulder, reinforcing one another, but it's a bit like preaching to the choir. All of which is important, don't get me wrong, but not nearly as important as the effort needed to further disseminate articles like yours (above) to the other, "my country right or wrong" side which is so totally brain washed and propagandized by MSM.

The system has been set up to accommodate us through our representatives and to get them, with loud speakers, to spread the word and to fight for us. The trouble as I see it is that we are not reaching out to them effectively enough. All Americans want "the truth" you write about. All Americans, and I think it is fair to say, Republicans included, in retrospect, are proud and happy of the political freedoms this country stands for. (This in spite of how they may have voted or certain issues.)

The system is failing us because our representation has learned that with more money in their coffers they can buy their way, with advertisements, into our minds and hearts, no matter how much we might disagree on particular political issues, or worse, on (an apparently increasing number of) secret issues we are not even made aware of.

In effect, we have relinquished our control of them, our representatives. They have learned to ignore us because we have been ignoring them for such a long time. We complain to ourselves, at family meetings, to our friends, in venues like this, but we fail to follow up with letters and demands to them, all of which leaves them clueless, (our fault, not theirs) and that much more free reign to continue on the course they have set for themselves or with others, without us.

There is no need for violence until we outvote the representatives who refuse to listen to their constituencies. There is no worse traitor in my mind to the American People than Congresswoman Pelosi who effectively stripped us of our most fundamental and basic Constitutional right, that of impeachment. And who fought more valiently for our cause than Cindy Sheehan, running against her in San Francisco? That Pelosi won that contest speaks wads to our apathy, not hers, and sends the worst of all messages onto other Congressional Powers that Be.

It is we who have failed the system, and ourselves, by ignoring our representatives rather than holding them accountable and demanding they listen to us, the American people, rather than the lobbyists who bribe them.

My point? Every great article written in OPEDNEWS, every comment each and everyone of us makes should be emailed to our representatives, demanding a response, demanding to know THEIR position. Do they agree with us or not? Stay in their face. Do not be intimidated. They work for us. Don't ever forget that. Any employee left on his own is the fault of the employer.

For each of the many articles and comments I have forwarded to my own Congressman, William Delahunt, D-MA, asking him specifically for a personal response, he is always quick to respond with a form letter which at least tells me he has received my email. But that's all it tells me. It doesn't tell me he has read it or agrees with it or disagrees with it. When I call to talk with him I can never get through. I ask his interns how he feels on certain matters, like mpeachment, etc., and they tell me they are not sure or are not at liberty to speak for him. Where does that leave me, his constituent, his "boss"? Delahunt, probably like all other representatives, is playing the system for whatever he can, acknowleging he's received my letter but not advancing the discussion, cutting me short. This is what we have to combat. But it starts where we have failed, by including them so that they can and must represent us.

Please pass this, and EVERY article and comment you write for this great site, OPEDNEWS, onto your own rep.

by Nick van Nes (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 595 comments [150 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 12:13:04 PM

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Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. I fully agree that we, the citizens of the United States are significantly responsible for where we are where we are on this path. Too many left the job of keeping our government our government to politicians. Those politicians have disproportionately chosen to represent those who gild their pockets and their interests. Too many have been willing to believe comfortable lies. Many more were deliberately dissuaded from participation by the campaign of "your voice doesn't count."

There are numerous ways for the people to reclaim our power and our voice. Certainly, holding our elected official's feet to the fire is one of them.

by Rowan Wolf (105 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 146 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 6:25:20 PM

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I appreciate people sharing their resources for credible information.

by Rowan Wolf (105 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 146 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 6:26:30 PM

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The most balanced souurces for Middle East news are www.english.aljazeera.net and www.haaretz.com.

Human rights in the region are from www.pchrgaza.org.

Rob Kall suggests www.livestation.com

BTW, only Aljazeera covers the USA objectively.

by Jason Paz (68 articles, 88 quicklinks, 111 diaries, 1384 comments [97 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 11:14:25 AM

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Truth has become a quite valuable commodity. Controlling truth and reality for the American public is a necessary part of the agenda.

The media bias, Israel/Palestinian conflict, Allison Weir:

YouTube - Biased media reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - 1

The United States Congress is occupied territory:

YouTube - Israel, Palestine, and the US Congress: Realities and Opportunities, Part 3

Media control: "All media reporting will follow the set policy:

YouTube - The CFR controls American media

Constructing Public Opinion:

YouTube - Constructing Public Opinion

by Michael McCoy (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 487 comments [26 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 5:09:48 PM

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Yes those who want to get to the core of this should read Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann, as well as Propaganda by Edward Bernays.

A little general knowledge on the Architecture of Modern Political Power, would be a good idea as well.

by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1685 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:54:22 PM

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I don't believe that most Americans can tell what the truth is even when it hits them in the head. Like truth is in the eye of the beholder, man. And most probably don't even care as long as they got what they want.

by arlen custer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 466 comments [68 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 9:20:54 AM

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If you are concerned about getting the news accurately enough to stop watching television, try reading Cliff Kincaid's Accuracy in Media (AIM.com), the DeWeese Report, GeoStrategicTrends (from August Review), or the publications from the Mises Institute. I promise it will change your perception of the world. Try it. You'll see.

by Fred Mitchell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 34 comments [18 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 at 12:10:34 AM

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