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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2009 13:54:30 GMT
International political commentators this weekend have been pointing out that interest in the situation in Iran has almost totally faded as the news of Michael Jackson's death completely monopolized the world news media.
And, in fact, protests have died away as the world turned its back on Iran and didn't care about all of the arrests being made at the moment.
Everybody agrees that the present and future situation of Iran is at least 50 more times important than the unexpected death of a pop star, yet everybody seems thrilled to gawk over the bleached body and speculate on overdoses and the coming family fights over inheriting both assets and debts.
"Oh, Iran is so complicated! It makes my head hurt! I prefer to read how many sequined gloves Michael Jackson had in his collection."
Pathetic!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 28, 2009 16:12:45 GMT
This is true, and it seems that tabloid-style news seems to trump hard news every time.
I just clicked on the Google News page, and here are the headlines, in the order in which they appear:
Michael Jackson's Doctor Speaks to Police [1 hour ago]
President of Honduras snatched in apparent coup [17 minutes ago]
Iran 'must free UK embassy staff' [21 minutes ago]
Kinda sums it up, huh? That said, Google News is useful for quick access to news appearing all over the world on a given topic.
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Post by imec on Jun 28, 2009 17:08:46 GMT
What situation in Iran? No mention of it here |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 28, 2009 18:09:49 GMT
Wow. And right under their masthead it says "breaking news .......".
It just shows what a toothless entity the UN really is. The front page reads more like an editorial page, simply opinions about the world going to hell in a handcart.
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Post by traveler63 on Jun 28, 2009 21:02:46 GMT
I agree with all of you. It is the nature of today's globabl society "we" are generally more interested in "star" power than in what is important and going on in our individual and collective countries. Unfortunately this allows the despots of the world to practice their evils in the background, quietly. We sure haven't learned anything by previous mistakes have we? Then we are appalled and upset when something like Iran happens, for about 2 minutes. Then back to who is sleeping with whom and who is caught taking what drug. Sad!!!!!
Yes, the UN is quite a joke
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Post by imec on Jun 28, 2009 21:09:39 GMT
I'd like to know what it is we're all "united" in...
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Post by Jazz on Jun 28, 2009 22:29:04 GMT
Ahmadinejad is probably grateful to Michael Jackson. But, I think this is only a brief respite. The most important reason for the lack of coverage on Iran is that journalists are forbidden to report unless their words are positive to the regime. Any honest or 'balanced' reporters are given 24 hours to leave the country or the 'government will not be responsible for their safety'. We are left with the chaos of emails, twitters, cellphone films etc. So, the vacuum has been filled with Michael's death, which was important in its own way. Sanford has also had a convenient escape, for the moment. Most people, most of the time, can only handle reading the superficial.
I think it has gone far beyond a dispute over electoral results and is an ongoing Revolution. Just because we, in NA and Europe, are not hearing and reading coverage on a daily basis, does not mean that it is not happening. Somehow I think that the desire for change in Iran is not contingent on how much other countries comment. Within the country, they are probably receiving exterior support from the same less obvious sources. (twitter, email etc). It is difficult to follow this. I use a few sources, CBC, BBC, Al Jazeera and listen to Fareed Zakara and Christine Amanpour for some guidance. Tonight, I will watch for the 4th time, Persepolis...the brilliant animated film of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
I think this is far from over.
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