The Embarrassment of Mainstream Media: Distortion of Neil Young's Tar Sands Comments

To say that the above clip is "fair and balanced" is to make a mockery of any legitimate honest debate. It is literally beyond laughable and must be seen to be believed. We cry for our future. [ed: note, unfortunately -- or fortunately -- the embarrassing mainstream video of "The Morning Show" has been removed, probably due to this blog post. Commentary below gives a flavor of what's missing.  Meanwhile the classic graphic below summarizes even better mainstream media lies and manipulation.]

Mainstream Media Lies and Manipulates Audience

 
The distortion of Neil Young's recent comments regarding Tar Sands oil extraction in Alberta, Canada has been a case study of all that is wrong with the mainstream media.

Much of the outrage focuses on the quote "The fact is, Fort McMurray [Alberta] looks like Hiroshima."

From this quote, much distortion of Neil Young's message has taken place. There's been a failure by many to grasp that the use of the city of Hiroshima is simply metaphorical.

If one listens to the clip in it's entirety, one hears Neil explicitly state that he's talking about an area that is "25-30 miles outside of town". Yet, from this, even the Mayor of Fort McMurray has felt insulted and interpreted the comment to be an indictment of downtown and all of its citizens. It seems like so many media outlets are unable to grasp the fundamental point that Young was making -- or deliberately distorting the quote and misleading their audience.

Anyone who has followed this story closely should feel embarrassed by the trivialization of the debate in the above clip. It would be funny, if it weren't so sad. It's important to state what a disservice that "The Morning Show" does to it's audience with the attempted semi-humorous discussion of Neil Young's Tar Sands oil extraction and the ensuing uproar.

Furthermore, one needs to understand that this isn't simply the empty headed-ness of the teleprompter reading on-air actors. Or the script writers and producers of "The Morning Show". What you see and hear is a concerted effort by corporate media owners to take any serious challenge to the existing status quo and marginalize, trivialize and ridicule those messengers.

Turn off the mainstream media.

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

- :Buddha

According to Gandhi, Neil is somewhere between Stage 2 and 3 of victory.

Conclusion? When Neil Young Speaks Truth To Power, The World Listens.

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