Satire and Politics: Rally to Restore Sanity
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2010-10-28/satire-and-politics-rally-restore-sanity
Jon Stewart says his Rally to Restore Sanity is pure entertainment, but is it? Coming on the heels of Glenn Beck's DC rally in August, many people view this event as a direct response. We explore the line between satire and reality and ask when humor crosses the line into politics.
Guests
Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher
Artist-in-Residence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Political Cartoonist, The Economist
Todd Gitlin
Professor of Journalism and Sociology, Columbia University; co-author "The Chosen Peoples: America, Israel and the Ordeals of Divine Election" (Simon & Schuster); Long-time liberal activist
Comments
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I'm going to the Rally this Saturday with my 13 y/o daughter. After a week where we saw people stomped by others, I feel strongly that we must bring civility back. In a climate, where we have seen swastikas, hysterics at town meetings, and downright hatred for the President, it is important for people to speak up, & return those derogatory emails.
Please know that I consider myself an independent but no one can ignore the hostile climate in the country. BTW~ As a person who has voted in every election ( unlike many who are running ), I will also bring my children with me to VOTE this Tues. & take every opportunity to discuss politics with them. It isn't just a rally ~ it is a call to arms!!
I too am educating my children about politics since they were very young. My 13 year old regularly engages in reasonable political discussions. She noticed that many of her friends when they didn't have an answer , solution, or response would resort to name calling. ( Because she is independent(Neither Left or right ) , she picks the side of an issue she believes is most sensible and fair.
She heard Kojo's guest blast tea party and Glenn beck by name calling and rolled her eyes and said to me , "Mom why are you listening to these guys, you know when they start to throw stones it is the only thing they got."
Obviously neither Kojo nor his guests have a clue as to what anyone except for themselves believe.
One guest said that the Tea party is racist. Really? And Kojo let that one go by. I guess he is afraid to question the party line that NPR is obviously towing these days : "If you don't agree with all the left leaning biases, then you will be fired" ala Juan Williams.
I am so disappointed but glad that I can finally see the true colors of the unfair and unbalanced left leaning NPR and WAMU radio. I used to be a supporter because I enjoyed what I thought were opened discussions. But lately all I hear is one sided same old song. Villify anyone that doesn' t agree; anyone who does not support support health bill is racist, tea party is racist , and the left is civilized. While your guest calls Glenn Beck a demogog. I am sure he has not taken a minute to listen to a word , maybe only soundbites from fox news.
I agree with my daughter at the same time I told her, you have to know what everyone is saying in order to understand where they come from. And she said, " you mean the land without logic?"
Touche!
As a longtime employee of The New York Times I was told I couldn't attend political rallies, or make donations to a candidate, put a sign on my lawn, etc. There was a body of opinion that said we shouldn't even vote!
Now that I'm no longer at The Times, I can go to the rally, which I will. But I wonder: did NPR and The Times similarly warn their employees not to attend the Glen Beck rally? Or are they sensitive ONLY to the charge that they are too liberal.
Sometimes liberals (which to me means people who are willing to hear both sides before they form an opinion) are just too wussy. What's wrong with being proud to say I'm for freedom from stupidity. I'm for freedom from fear. I'm for freedom from misinformation. I'm for freedom from jingism. I'm for freedom from simplification. I'm for freedom from Fox.