The United Nations issued a report today that accused Syria of "crimes against humanity". According to the UN, at least 256 children had been killed by Syrian government forces. The UN also found patterns of summary execution, arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and torture, including sexual violence and abuse, some of it directed against children. One would think that this would be big news in the mainstream media. Anyone who thought that, however, would be wrong. What is the story of the hour? Herman Cain may have had an affair. That's right, why focus onindiscriminate rape, torture and murder of close to 4000 people including over 250 children when you can talk about Herman Cain's possible affair instead.
I would say that the media sucks and leave it at that, but even that statement does not do the situation justice. Remeber four years ago when John Edwards was one of only three Democrats left in the running for president? The National Enquirer broke the story of Edwards mistress and his love child, but the mainstream media did not give the story any coverage. How can it be that Edwards' affair did not merit coverage but Cain's affair does? There is no allegation that Cain fathered an illegitimate child like Edwards did. To my mind, that makes the allegations against Cain not as serious as those against Edwards, but the media just does not agree.
The truth is that the important story today is the slaughter in Syria or, at least, the accidental attacks on Pakistani forces by NATO. People died! But no, the American media is going to spend the next few days discussing Cain's personal life. What a disgrace (and I do not mean Cain's conduct). Can it be that the media is ignoring Syria because the Obama administration has chosen to do the same? Can America really just stand by idly while Assad kills and tortures children. Shouldn't Obama actually say something? Shouldn't America act at least to the same extent as our British and French allies? Is Obama so wrapped up in his re-election campaign that he cannot take the time to do the right thing?
I am not advocating military action in Syria. America has a moral duty to speak up, however. Even if Obama thinks that America is nothing special, he still ought to speak out against Assad; any moral being has that duty.
2 comments:
Fox, at least in the 2 opinion shows I watched, completely ignored Syria as well, while mentioning the new allegations against Cain. That was not likely due to a desire to help Obama. Rather, sadly, sex helps ratings much more than reporting about another dictator commiting heinous acts.
You say Fox "ignored Syria as well" as if Fox is not part of the media. But I was not omitting Fox from what I said. In this regard, Fox is just as bad as the other networks that did not bother to report the news of the confirmed slaughter of thousands in Syria.
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