What's News in 2016?

Already, it seems that 2016 will be quite an exciting year. Not long into the new year, there was already news of a group of protestors in Oregon. This group, called the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, has started an armed occupation of a wildlife refuge. The activists are protesting against the federal government sending two ranchers back to prison for additional prison time. The ranchers were convicted of arson for their illegal burning of federal property. The dispute then was over land and the placement of property borders. The dispute now is over the federal land use policies that make it difficult for ranching, mining, and logging.

Oregon Occupation

The protesters in Oregon are using armed weaponry to prevent governmental intervention. This is a situation that would be considered domestic terrorism in any other case. But because the demonstrators are white, the media has been unusually forgiving in their commentary about the actions of the protesters. The activists have been called Patriotic for their public demonstration.

Comic

This made me wonder if the news teams would have been so lenient had the protesters been of a different race or religion. Imagine if the protesters were from a group such as Black Lives Matter. News broadcasters around the country would be covering this news non-stop and generating mass hysteria.

In class, we are currently reading Frederick Douglass's autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.  The protest movement in Oregon reminded me of the abolitionist movement back in the 19th century. With the Civil War of the 1860s and the Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s, it seems that it would be about time for arguments over racial superiority to end. Yet no where is prejudice more evident than in the media. The media is an instrument which reflects the current values of society.

Media

Even after hundreds of years, the argument over racial superiority is still relevant in our society judging by how the media has been less critical in reporting on news about white protesters.

Connotation

It actually would make sense to report on an armed group that took over a federal building in Oregon. In fact, it is no secret that Citizens for Constitutional Freedom want attention. They are obviously unhappy with how they are being treated and protesting over the government's control of their land. Nevertheless, all their efforts might go to waste if the media will not report on them seriously. In the case of the Oregon protesters, the easy going nature of the news in reporting on them can actually turn out to be a negative thing. Ironic isn't it?

What should you call...

The media should be objective and fair to everyone. However, the media outlets, when they actually cover news, have often resorted to reporting on events with unnecessarily inciting speech in order to appeal to more viewers. It's a new year. It's time to change our prejudices and give all people an equal chance to make their story known.

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