Fox News (which is not about the news)

Not long ago I posted an article about my encounter with Fox News where I called it Kafkaesque news. At the time, I had known nothing about Fox “News.”  I just encountered it while eating lunch.  I remember thinking how bizarre it seemed.  I couldn’t tell if I was seeing a program that was meant to be a commentary on the news or what.  Why were giving the indication that this was the news, on their program?  I thought, maybe it is a parady.  Maybe the characters, the anchormen and anchorwomen, wanted us to laugh at them… like a script on Saturday Night Live, which can be bizarre in the humor department as well.

Sometimes later, it started to seem to me that they were trying to present this as actual news, as an actual news program.  Surely no one would believe that they were getting the news – a true representation of who, what, where and when.  Sure there are commentaries on news topics but when you are presenting the news, you just tell who, what, when and where.

Since that time, it has become obvious that they want to present their program, Fox News, as actual news reporting.  I don’t understand though certain things.  They use the words Fair and Balanced.  Clearly they are not even remotely fair or balanced.  Surely it is obvious that opinions and commentary are not true representations of what is happening in the world.  It is very strange to cut off, insult, yell at, belittle or shame someone that has a different view or perspective on this.  That’s just mean and cruel and very malicious and unethical.   You just don’t do things like that no matter who you are or what.  I certainly would not want to do that to anyone if they disagreed with me.

That’s the thing, I do want to understand how and why a person feels the way they do.  I’m honestly interested.

Anyway, I know that my comments of criticism about Fox News will be poorly received because one can recognize that my views are different…  my ideas.  Indeed, I cannot deny that the things I have seen and heard on Fox News are honestly offensive to my values, my morals – my ideas of right and wrong.  My beliefs and morals are motivated by my Christian faith…  Some people have the same faith but come to different conclusions.  This is curious and confusing.  I don’t mean that because I am claiming to be right.  It’s just curious.  My beliefs and values are very genuine and very well thought out.

I was just watching the movie “Outfoxed,” which was about the Fox News program.  I was just catching some clips of Bill O’Reilly interviewing a person.  I was shocked.  What a despicable person this Bill O’Reilly is.  He was yelling at the guy.  Insulting him.  Cutting him off.  Showing disdain for him.  How could he speak to a guest this way?!!!   What is his problem?  I was sick and in tears for this man.  He had lost his father in 9-11 and now was protesting the war and speaking about his concern that the US was beginning to look like a terrorist nation themselves.  This Bill even brought in his mother into the conversation.  I felt a profound sense of love and compassion for this man being attacked by Bill O’Reilly.  I honestly feel that what he did was just wrong and offensive.  I felt righteous, moral indignation.

People with different morals, values and beliefs are humans too.  I feel that I am a good person with strong morals.  So, certain things are going to offend me.  Over my lifetime, influenced by family, friends, faith, I’ve developed a moral conscience.

More to follow…

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This blog is published by Bruce Whealton, more information about Bruce Whealton is here… Bruce Whealton is the owner of Future Wave Designs, a North Carolina Company providing Web Design and Web Development. Visit:
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