tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post1167317317829031142..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Atrocity Exhibition in the Gilded AgeKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-74434337861226979402014-05-24T16:50:17.674-04:002014-05-24T16:50:17.674-04:00Conde Nast? I might have to give up my subscripti...Conde Nast? I might have to give up my subscription to the New Yorker. It's all about billionaires anyway. The New Yorker is really impressed with money and those who have it. They're obviously smarter than the rest of us. They're different from you and me, I'm told.msnandover54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-9295057237305684482014-05-19T13:56:10.901-04:002014-05-19T13:56:10.901-04:00There seems to be a growing backlash against the t...There seems to be a growing backlash against the tacky gift shop at the 9/11 memorial, and even the price of admission.<br /><br />http://nypost.com/2014/05/19/politicans-angered-over-crass-911-musehttp://nypost.com/2014/05/19/politicans-angered-over-crass-911-museum-gift-shop/um-gift-shop/<br /><br />To me, the thought of a "museum" was questionable from the start, let alone a museum that charged admission. And a tasteless "gift shop?" Well, beyond the Pale...<br /><br />The memorial should have been on a par with something like the Vietnam War Memorial: somber, simple, and free.<br /><br />But in New York City, given enough time, any tragedy can be turned into a perpetual money-maker. <br /><br />"Ka-ching."<br /><br />Just another reason to never visit NYC--or NY State--again.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-69072021766017787922014-05-16T18:03:47.710-04:002014-05-16T18:03:47.710-04:00Sorry this posting is from Pearl. I pressed the wr...Sorry this posting is from Pearl. I pressed the wrong button.Pearlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-47973053723582531422014-05-16T18:01:36.791-04:002014-05-16T18:01:36.791-04:00The problem with journalism and journalists and ne...The problem with journalism and journalists and news reporters is that they share a weakness with the majority of the citizens in the country,ignorance. Ignorance of facts, of opposition points of view not easily available, of past history and lack of educational standards that never get out of the box, and so on. Just watching the conflicting reports about the Ukraine, about global warming when proper information is available if one really wants to know how to pursue it, results in inaccuracies. And of course the fear of not belonging to the majority opinion whether in a local place of work or community or larger picture frightens the timid ones off.<br />We need more writers like Karen, who do thorough research, connect the dots and are not influenced by the popular sentiments which may be full of holes.<br />She is encouraging more people to speak up and out with convincing facts and interpretations. It becomes a political detective story to report the truth which few writers and journalists have the ability and tenacity to deal with.<br />But there are many examples of good ones around many of whom have great articles in Truthout. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26316915336804195562014-05-16T16:57:42.421-04:002014-05-16T16:57:42.421-04:00A Gift Shop? What an insult to the memory of thos...A Gift Shop? What an insult to the memory of those people. Every time I think it's bad, it gets worse. What the hell is the matter with us?<br />And Sirota's piece on journalism. Craven is the only adjective I can come up with - it covers the gamut.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-67397386617728654262014-05-16T14:46:20.226-04:002014-05-16T14:46:20.226-04:00Thanks, Zee. I covered the big chill on journalism...Thanks, Zee. I covered the big chill on journalism and cited the Indiana study last week in "Oh What a Tangled Web We Freeze," also x-posted on Truthout. Glad to see Sirota covering it, as the survey and a similar one from PEN are not getting much attention. Reporters are too scared to even talk about being scared! But Putin Bad, Obama Good. USA!!! USA!!! Karen Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-2287478447319247482014-05-16T14:19:29.781-04:002014-05-16T14:19:29.781-04:00Off topic, but I thought this article would be of ...Off topic, but I thought this article would be of general interest to Sardoniskistas:<br /><br />http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/is_journalism_losing_its_nerve_20140515#<br /><br /><i> “When I </i>[writer David Sirota]<i> went into journalism, one of the first things I was told as a freshman is that journalism is different from stenography. It is supposed to be—or at least has been—about using rights granted under the First Amendment to be a check on government and corporate power.<br /><br />Yet, the hedge in that last sentence is deliberate—and appropriate. That’s because a new survey from the Indiana University suggests things are fast changing in the news industry—and not for the better.<br /><br />The latest in 42 years worth of surveys of journalists, this one polled more than 1,000 reporters in the latter half of 2013. That timeframe is significant—it was right when revelations about the NSA’s mass surveillance were being published.<br /><br />You might think such an historic time period in the annals of journalism would only strengthen reporters’ belief in the necessity of responsibly—but fearlessly—publishing information, even if the powers that be do not authorize such publication. Instead, it seems the exact opposite has happened. <br /><br /> As IU researchers note, 'the percentage of U.S. journalists endorsing the occasional use of ‘confidential business or government documents without authorization,’ dropped significantly <b> from 81.8 percent in 1992 to 57.7 percent in 2013.'</b>” </i> (My bold emphasis.)<br />...<br />[Wow!]<br />…<br /><i> “Simply put, the path that avoids regular confrontation with power is often far easier, less risky and more lucrative in the news business. Thus, it has become the preferred path du jour, to the point where almost half of the news business does not support reporting news that the government and corporations don’t want reported. And who knows? Maybe the next IU survey 10 years from now shows a full-on majority of journalists saying news outlets shouldn’t publish without the express consent of the corporations and governments.<br /><br />That would no doubt make the CEOs and politicians quite happy, but it would be a tragedy for the rest of us.” </i>—David Sirota<br /><br /><br /><br />The 43.3 percent of rebels excepted—of which you are one, Karen—it still sounds as though “journalism” is rapidly becoming just another “go along to get along, make money, and hang out with the Very Important People” kind of <i> job, </i> rather than a <i> career </i> or <i> profession. </i>Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-44218605899492009742014-05-16T09:44:42.227-04:002014-05-16T09:44:42.227-04:00Tacky gift shop and sponsorship by Conde Nast?
I c...Tacky gift shop and sponsorship by Conde Nast?<br />I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to post 9/11 America.<br />Oh, yes the use of volunteer labor is a stealth tribute to our the financial/housing collapse. You can make a donation too! I assume it is tax deductible. <br />As Pearl pointed out, there will be no tributes to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. I guess we have already left our "memorial" there. Almost every day there is a tiny news item in the paper ("news from around the world") about a dozen or so Iraqis dying in some sectarian violence. There is really no coverage of the garden variety lack of electricity or water. We do hear triumphal stories about elections there. March of democracy (thank you USA!).Katnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-2005661406361936872014-05-15T20:52:52.203-04:002014-05-15T20:52:52.203-04:00I wonder if they will ever include the screams and...I wonder if they will ever include the screams and cries of the Iraqi people who were killed and maimed, paying a price for the 9/11 horror they had no hand in. And our current leaders boasting about leaving Iraq behind in better shape??!! They are not even bothering to clean up what they destroyed despite massive ammount of money allocated for that purpose. <br /><br />A recent article about agent orange used in Vietnam indicates permanent damage to various habitation areas as well as to people's lives with deformed babies resulting. To say nothing of damage to the mental and physical health of U.S. troops.<br />We have a shameful history to be remembered.<br /><br />Pearlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-66330967712379427832014-05-15T20:02:01.140-04:002014-05-15T20:02:01.140-04:00There are significant volunteer opportunities as w...There are significant volunteer opportunities as well.ste-vonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-7801142456705499032014-05-15T19:59:31.576-04:002014-05-15T19:59:31.576-04:00Not that I'll be spending my tourist dollars i...Not that I'll be spending my tourist dollars in Second Amendment-hating NYC any time soon, but if, for some science-fictionish reason, I suddenly found myself transported there <i> à la Star Trek, </i> I <i> STILL </i> wouldn't be spending so much as a microsecond—or a single dime—at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.<br /><br />Cozily ensconcing myself in a private booth and listening to the horrifying last moments of doomed people calling family and friends on their cell 'phones to tell them that they loved them, or deciding whether to burn alive or jump from the building? <br /><br />God help us! What have we become?Zeenoreply@blogger.com