11/29/2006

Media Smoke-out

When people think of Vietnam, they usually think of the tremendous loss of life, both of American troops and of Vietnamese. They think of Agent Orange. They think of unrecognized veterans. Some think of tropical jungles and tigers. But a few will remember the acts of the Buddhist monk, i.e. self-immolation, and how the American public reacted to the news of holy men burning themselves to death to protest the war. Unfortunately, many of those who recall the public's reaction work for the media and in our government.

On November 3, 2006, a resident of Chicago named Malachi Ritscher believed he could rekindle the American public's outrage at an unjust war and he chose the method that had worked so well for the monks of Vietnam. At 6:30 a.m., Ritscher chose his sacrificial place, dowsed himself with fuel and burned himself to death. Haven't heard? That's because the American media, beginning with the local media in Chicago took it upon themselves to say nothing. It is only now that the truly progressive media broke the story, that Ritscher is getting the attention for which he had so hoped.

It may dismay some to know that the media would act to censor such a potent story. However, we should think of Ritscher's act in another way. Yes, they ignored him. But their neglection of duty may have a much larger and lasting effect. Here is concrete proof that the corporate media will act to protect Bushco.'s war even if it means censoring a story that WILL get out and thereby demonstrate their utter complicity with the war-mongers' agenda. Don't allow the American monk to get lost in corporate spin.