Fear and loathing in the 21st century
http://www.dakotastudent.com/features/fear-and-loathing-in-the-21st-century-1.1787618
One of Hunter S. Thompson's more politically-oriented works still stands up.
November 19, 2010
The 2010 midterm election two-and-a-half-weeks ago is setting a
precedent for the next "big show" in 2012. The tiresome jokes about
the end of the world are perpetuated through small talk貞mall talk
that is distorted and ill informed blabber regarding a colonized
people that is being recited from those that know best by those who
know nothing but "ignorance is bliss."
The world is ending no more today than it will two years from now.
Entropy is now passed off as information as it has been and will
likely always be.
What is not being done is analysis: analysis of one's "true" self,
those around us that we live with day-to-day, and those voices and
images we are fed through tubes (e.g. boob or series of). This
analysis is being handled in the wrong order.
Authority is granted to the journalists, anchors and other talking
heads spouting out virulent slander designed, manufactured and
digested for simple pleasure. When we hear a phrase from a pundit
repeated or acknowledged by someone else, the most common and wrong
interpretation is that of accuracy and correctness.
The failure here is admission to one's self by means of: listening to
the Media, which has every reason in the world to manipulate their
audience; listening to those who we live with, to say society, are
also being manipulated to further the Media message; and the ease of
not having to think for yourself.
In Hunter S. Thompsons Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72,
both the media and the politicians running for office are shown in a
way that is as lacking in today's contemporary discussions as it was
37 years ago when the book was first published. Originally published
as separate articles in Rolling Stone throughout the 1972 campaign,
this collection of essays and other writings offers a glimpse into
the nearly day-to-day decisions made by those running for office.
In a passage that states (rather succinctly) Thompson's views on
politics, the free press and where (and how) the two converge, he
writes, "...Fifty years ago H. L. Mencken laid down the dictum that
'The only way a reporter should look at a politician is down.' This
notion is still a very strong factor in the relationship between
politicians and the big-time press. On lower levels you find a
tendency苔mong people like "national editors" on papers in Pittsburgh
and Omaha負o treat successful politicians with a certain amount of
awe and respect. But the prevailing attitude among journalists with
enough status to work the Presidential Campaigns is that all
politicians are congenital thieves and liars.
"This is usually true. Or at least as valid as the consensus opinion
among politicians that The Press is a gang of swine. Both sides will
agree that the other might occasionally produce an exception to prove
the rule, but the overall bias is rigid... and, having been on both
sides of that ugly fence in my time, I tend to agree...." (p. 100).
If you consider yourself a particularly political fellow or gal,
F&L:OtCT '72 should be a book that you have not only read but one you
keep nearby as a reference point for future elections. Neither
mudslinging, slander nor deception will end; having Thompson nearby
as a reference will be an invaluable tool in trying to keep a sane
head while cutting through the clutter.
.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Sixties-L" group.
To post to this group, send email to sixtie...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
sixties-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
