“Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.”
“Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.”
The face, the very nature and character of journalism has undergone radical change over the least several decades, more so in the last two.
News, the truth of it, has become secondary to the celebrity figure that mouths the words and opinions a staff of writers has written for them-it’s no longer about reality and the even handed presentation of it-it’s about Rush, Maddow, or any number of talking heads-Max Headrooms in the flesh, a construct based on opinion polls-who and what resonates with the audience.
Sixty Minutes was the first news program to make a profit, and in doing so ushered in an age where news is viewed as a commodity, a revenue source.
To understand this one must acknowledge the rules of Capitalism-that profit is the priority and obscene profit taking is even better.
The essence of Capitalism is what is referred to as “growth”-that translates to a lack of desire not to merely maintain a reasonable and healthy profit margin but to always “grow” and increase it.
An axiom that almost always leads to a decline in the product or services being offered-just as we see in the product the media is producing.
The hope, the salvation, of journalism lays in small independent outlets. And the public understanding the need to move beyond the cult of personality the modern day media celebrities are awash in,to demystify them and their employers.
The mainstream media, the major purveyors of the “news”, need a Howard Beale, a real one, not the faux variety many are adopting as a persona.
Someone who will stand up, say they’re mad as hell, and not going to play the game anymore, and mean it.
A few of those exist in the small independent media outlets I mentioned, but also some notable crackpots.
I would like to think some of these stalwart individuals exist in the mainstream media as well-and admit I have at one time or another believed actually they might.
But that brings me to the second part of this rant, and it has to do with Democracy Now and the love fest they recently aired regarding Leonard Peltier.
An AIM/Peltier centric presentation if ever there was one-shameless in my opinion.
Shameless in the sense that during an October of 2012 book promotion appearance in Boulder, Colorado an indigenous journalist by the name of Richard Two Elk had the opportunity to present contradictory material to both Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan, yet inspite of this the hard questions were never asked-instead Peltier was given what amounted to a carte blanche platform to promote the lies and propaganda that have been his and AIM’s forte.
In presenting Democracy Now and it’s anchors as being both democratic and liberal one would think it reasonable to assume that an entity that honored and subscribed to the core principles of a democratic and free press would have presented both sides-they would have taken a position of abject neutrality evidenced by allowing those who hold an opposing view equal time.
Another point to consider is that Two Elk was an AIM member who actually participated in the WK2 takeover-held a security position, and would have some insights to offer.
One would think as well Goodman would have afforded the opportunity to a family member of either agents Williams or Coler’s family, or to Annie’s daughter Denise whose mother was interrogated at gunpoint and had the option to take herout if he didn’t like the answers.
I submit that Democracy Now-it’s staff, and in particular Goodman and Moynihan spend a few moments to read and ponder the definitions of words like democracy, journalism, and journalistic integrity-perhaps while doing so they might ask themselves how much they want to grow their product and at what price?
There is no place in journalism for Che style berets, AIM posters, or free Peltier bumper stickers whether they are deemed to be evidence of a liberal support of dime store revolutionaries or not-nor for the pettyfoggery displayed in this so called investigative report
Neither Rush, Maddow, or Goodman are entitled to assume they constitute a beneficent filter through which the truth must pass to then be relayed to the audience as pristine, unbiased, and above all else pure.
The mainstream media from WK2 forward has presented AIM and Peltier in the context of some B grade Hollywood movie of cowboys and indians and have deliberately made both the poster boys-it’s time they do what journalists are supposed to do-present the facts, all of them, and forget about audience and market shares.
Truth of the matter is I don’t much care what media celebrities think, what scripted editorial they want to intone, or where they want to lead me as they count audience shares,the revenue that accompanies it, and sip their pumpkin spiced latte while considering how it all translates to their personal celebrity and one percenter status.
As indigenous people we have our own journalists, our own media sources-some we will agree with and some we wont. But I think in the end we are better served by them than the cowboys and indians variety.
Democracy Now has a history of providing air time to everyone from Banks to Peltier and as yet to provide equal time to their victims, I say there is something dramatically wrong with that. I say they should do a little investigative journalism on the other side of the fence, they should ask LPDOC for a look at the books among other things.
And, the judges decision to dismiss Arlo Looking Cloud’s Habeus Corpus filing….just let Arlo take the fall for the Abourezk’s, & other AIMsters… who clearly helped send Arlo down the river at his first trial in 2004…
Sound familiar?
Just like what Judge Nichols did for Banks….let evil (Abourezk’s & AIM leadership) walk free while the innocent (Arlo) pay the price.
Can we have some genuine outrage over this…?
Arlo did not have the position of power within AIM, to rape & murder a lover of Dennis Banks, a main AIM leader, unless Banks gave the rapist-executioner, Graham free rein to lose the baggage re: Anna Mae.
Anyone who thinks Arlo was involved in her execution with free will, think again…murder makes one accept what is going on around them, just to be able to survive the situation themselves.
Arlo Looking Cloud was the fall guy for AIM leadership & their buddies, the Abourezk’s, & AIM’s other legal eagles…that isn’t going to change the truth, no matter what a judge decrees…a lie is a lie!
Arlo is not the main man law enforcement & the judicial system needs to continue to remain behind bars, it is the people in high places who misused their authority against innocent people, those people died or were abused, then these high & mighty lied about it for 40 years, as if it were their due.
LBW-I have mixed feelings about Arlo, some credit has to be given to him
concerning the remorse he expressed to Annie’s family before he was
arrested and tried, and the testimony he gave-but the fact remains he was
a participant in the abduction and murder Annie-so I pretty much take the
position it is for her family to decide what they believe is just and equitable.
It’s just too difficult for me to accept that a man would stand by and watch
a woman get killed out of fear-it certainly isn’t the stuff warriors are
made of.
I agree though that none of this would have happened without Banks knowledge
and consent-after all Banks is the one Russell said could make people
disappear.
I also agree that Arlo can be said in one sense of the word to be the fall guy
for AIM and the rest of them-that being incarcerated and not able to protect his
family and loved ones could very well factor into the equation. Nor should the
indictments and prosecutions stop with Graham and Arlo.
The apparent fact that they have speaks to other things.
Both Russell and Vernon escaped the justice in this life that was due them,
I suspect Banks and Clyde will as well as will others-that too will speak to
other things.
I was just reading the other day where cops in California I believe it was
made an arrest in a cold case dating back to the 80′s-I’m struck by the fact
that local police are able to this while a national law enforcement agency
can’t(?).
It has become a yearly event, like New Years resolutions, for rumors to begin
circulating that this is the year when indictments will be forthcoming, until
such takes place I view them as nothing more than rumors and place no faith
in them.
Reblogged this on Looking Back Woman-Suzanne Dupree blog and commented:
Rezinate is always good!
thanks again LBW
Excellent piece.
Not to change the subject but just to add only a slight diversion to the seriousness of the subject matter on Rezinate, by the moderator and contributors, and yes, even Wilbur: I would defer, just this one time, and tonight after another long and trying day, to the wisdom of Gary Mule Deer and America’s second favorite pastime and sport (well, I guess you’d have to rank, baseball, football, and Nascar through your own personal preference…frankly I think golf is boring) http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid775285209001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAtIGFX_k~,MRIHKYX9xs0gxDxXtswwaTGIc7vAXA6V&bclid=0&bctid=1797260929001
Never heard of or seen Gary Mule Deer before but funny stuff, and
indeed a dilemma.
There is an African proverb that says- Until lions have their historians, tales of the
hunt shall always glorify the hunters.
The same could be said of the media-until they do their job AIM will always be
glorified by them.
“Joe Trimbach believes the agency did no wrong — if you can get him to talk about it at all. When asked a relatively simple question, “How many informants were there inside the village?” None, he responds. He claims to know nothing beyond the first two weeks.”
Silent Bear believes AIM and Peltier did and do no wrong-and when asked
a relatively simple question like is the Mr. X story a lie responds
either no or he doesn’t have an opinion.
this is an excerpt from the report of James Anaya, The UN Special Rapporteur for The Rights of The Indigenous Peoples. It is pretty powerful and we are sending it around the world. Forward it anywhere you want.
A/HRC/21/47/Add.3
20
21. United States of America
Case no. USA 2/2011. The health situation of Leonard Peltier, an indigenous activist serving consecutive life sentence in prison
• Urgent appeal: UA 07/02/2011
• State reply: 17/11/2011
Observations
71. In this urgent appeal, the Special Rapporteur drew the attention of the United States Government to allegations concerning the poor health and prison living conditions of Leonard Peltier, an indigenous Anishinabe/Lakota activist, who was convicted in 1977 for the murder of two federal law enforcement agents that occurred in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Mr. Peltier’s case has generated national and international attention due to alleged irregularities in his arrest, trial and conviction. The Special Rapporteur’s urgent appeal letter focused on the allegations that federal prison officials have over the years not provided adequate medical attention to Mr. Peltier, who, now in his late sixties, has suffered from severe health problems. It was also alleged that he lived in substandard conditions in a small cell in the Lewisburg penitentiary in Pennsylvania, with no ventilation and with a deteriorated toilet system. The letter also noted Mr. Peltier’s unsuccessful attempts to be transferred to prison facilities closer to his family in North Dakota, which would be consistent with federal prison guidelines that promote the maintenance of family ties by inmates.
72. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government of the United States for its response of 11 November 2011. He takes note of the Government’s position that Mr. Peltier was receiving adequate medical care to address his medical conditions and that he was regularly seen by clinicians at the Lewisburg federal penitentiary. The Government also stated that due his high security level status, Mr Peltier was not eligible to be transferred to the prison facilities closer to his family. In addition, the Government’s response also stated that Mr. Peltier’s classification is reviewed regularly to ensure he is placed in the lowest security level facility for which he qualifies.
73. Subsequent to the Government’s response, the Special Rapporteur was informed that Mr. Peltier was transferred to a federal penitentiary in Coleman, Florida. However, concerns have still been expressed regarding his deteriorating health condition as well as his living conditions. In addition, the Special Rapporteur has been aware of ongoing calls for his being transferred to home confinement, as well to be granted executive clemency, particularly in light of his health which has deteriorated in the more than 36 years he has been in prison.
74. The Special Rapporteur would like to urge the Government, through the relevant authorities, to ensure that Leonard Peltier be provided adequate medical attention to attend the health conditions described in his communication of 7 February 2011 and to consider Mr. Peltier’s request to be transferred to prison facilities closer to his family in light of his age and health conditions. In addition, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the recommendation stated in his report on the situation of indigenous peoples of the United States that new or renewed consideration be given to clemency to Mr. Peltier, in light of the totality of the circumstances (A/HRC/21/47/Add.1, para. 92).
We’ve addressed this previously-since you have either forgotten that
or assume everyone else has and run it by again in the hope of soliciting
some sympathy for Peltier I will reiterate what I said:
Any authority that assumes the power to incarcerate an individual
whether it be Adolph Eichmann, Richard Speck, or Leonard Peltier
also assumes the reponsibility to treat them humanely and meet the most
fundamental of needs-like, housing, diet, and health care-but it does
not imply they must have colored jogging suits as opposed to prison gray
as Peltier has whined about.
James Anaya in his position of UN Special Rapporteur and humanitarian
should also be addressing the crimes committed by AIM within WK2, the ones
you yourself have admitted AIM is responsible for.
The word humanitarian encompasses a certain compassion for people and taking
a stance against injustice by it’s very definition.
In that context Anaya should also being raising his voice regarding another
AIM murder victim by the name of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, and another by the
name of Perry Ray Robinson Jr., and those unmarked graves.
He should be addressing the rampant gang and drug activity, the fact that
indigenous women suffer the highest number of rapes and abuse of any demographic,
until such a time as Anaya elects to broaden his base and do so I could care
less what he has to say about convicted murderer Leonard Peltier.
As to Peltier’s security status would you like to mention how many convicted
murderers with an escape added to the list in which yet another person lost
their life hasn’t been placed on such a security status? Want to tell us how
many have been placed on “home confinement”? How many are in a medium or low
level facility with this kind of record?
No? I didn’t think so-research it and do the math.
The U.N. Yes, a fine organization it is for sure. Jack Coler and Ron Williams would no doubt trade their coffins for Peltier’s ailments. After all…we’re all getting older and those things come with age. Peltier made a choice…and he will continue to live with the consequences. Neither he nor anyone else can point to anything that shows he is innocent….his own statements only reinforce his just conviction.
“Wilson was a traitor who sold his people out, the same as
many are doing today-and they like Wilson should be called
out rather than being allowed to glorify themselves and their
crimes against the people.”
REZINATE- from “Peltier and too Damn Bad.”
If this is what you truly believe then you should be standing right behind the investigations, even if they lead right into the halls( files) of the Hoover building. Hey, what happened to the congressional investigation of Durham and the FBI that was conveniently dropped after Dick Wilson sold off an 1/8th of the reservation for Uranium mining and after the Jumping Bull shootout?
As I said previously I support an independent truth commission
with the ability to supeona-in saying so it should clearly
indicate as I made a previous point of that it would have the
investigative powers to go anywhere, investigate everyone, and
access any and all documents and records they deemed necessary.
Is there some part of this you don’t understand-or are opposed to?
I don’t care where it could lead to-can you say the same? Are you
willing to advocate for the same-to in essence say openly and
transparently investigate the feds, AIM, Banks, Clyde, etal,
and then make everything public and vigorously pursue prosecution?
This what you said SB-notice the emphatic NO, and then the attempt
to water it down with the same old bs of AIM somehow isn’t responsible,
that somehow they can commit murder and it’s not a big deal
“Yes. Answer the question. Should Peltier be granted clemency or not?
He didn’t shoot Annie Mae, Ray, ect either and he wasn’t even at WK2.
( He was imprisoned in Milwaukee on another phoney charge that he was
later acquitted for. Remember that policeman’s wife ratting him out saying
that he was waving a picture and saying, “I’m going to catch a big one for
the FBI.” another FABRICATION. So what’s your answer? The answer is no, to
your question BUT they pulled the strings behind the scenes to make it happen.
This is the way COINTELPRO works. THEY instigated the murders so therefore
they are GUILTY and culpable as “aiders and abettors.”
You gave a one word answer to whether the feds were responsible for the
crimes within Wk2 during AIM’s Reign of Terror-that word was NO-something I don’t
think you’ve ever done before in your career as talking head for AIM.Then you went
on with the standard bs that somehow AIM really isn’t guilty-that must sound as
feeble to you as it does to me.
Now what is left to you and the boys is to provide a single shred of evidence that
the feds did instigate the murders-something like they were there and handed the guns
to AIM, they drugged or hynopotized them, they dug or instructed AIM where to dig
those unmarked graves.
Not only that but you have to explain Crow Dogs own words in the blog Crow Dog and
the Gravediggers where he’s going on about talking to Banks and finding a way to blame
it on the feds. If it was the feds fault why would anyone have to FIND a way to blame
it on them?
You have to explain the Mr. X lie, the Jimmy Eagle “old boots” lie, Peltier’s
ignorance in his own words and ever changing story about not going down to where Williams
and Coler lay-and then when busted in that lie say oh yeah he did.
You have to explain Peltier’s words when he talks about Stuntz pulling a fed jacket out
of the trunk and putting on, you have to explain Peltier’s words where he goes on about
he didn’t actually shoot at anyone and then says he was laying down fire like he had a
rail gun or something as another said.
You have to explain his words as he kisses his own ass in saying the people knew who the
“hero” was, they knew who fought bravely-then to top it all off you have to reconcile how
a person shooting, but making an effort to avoid shooting in Williams and Colers direction
could be viewed by anyone as being heroic or a brave warrior.
But wait-you can’t do any of that can you? No, all you got is the “yeah but”
routine and the AIM Chicken Little theatrics.
Mr. Wilson goes to Washington-everybody knows that one and nobody defends it-but what
interests me is what was Mr.Vernon doing with his won’t go into WK2 self-what went on
when Mr. Means went to Washington to air grievances and “negotiate”-know anything
about either of those? Think they warrant looking into?
It has been brought to my attention by the erstwhile and inimitable
Silent Bear-he of the sundance and firekeeping, that Goodman has conducted
an interview/debate with federal agents and Peltier’s attorney at the then
moment.
So thank you for that SB, but I would add to my way of thinking it would
have better served had it of involved others I have previously listed.
As to failing to mention that Peltier wasn’t convicted of the Wisconsin charge
I can only respond that a warrant is just that-a warrant to arrest and produce
a person for trial-it makes no judgement as to innocence or guilty-just as it
wouldn’t have during the time it was active.
Now the question can only follow was Peltier found innocent resulting from a trial
or charges being dropped? Did the fact that he was already serving three sentences
factor into any decision? Minutia you may say, but relevant nonetheless.
For SB’s personal edification who states I am a poor “journalist” I would only say that
I have never presented myself as being one, and challenge him or anyone else to
produce a single word illustrating where I have made such a claim.
It should be noted I don’t seek compliments either, and attempt to deflect them when
they occur.
Nowhere have I said anything other than I am a human being, one of the people-a
concept SB no doubt fails to understand in it’s cultural definition due to his not being
indigenous.
Furthermore SB the number of “followers” is closer to 70 than 15 and growing.
In the annual wp report sent to bloggers that lists statistics the number of “views” is
recorded as being in the tens of thousands.
I don’t list these things, and that may be a disservice to those who follow-if so they
need only advise to that end and they will be displayed. What I have made a point
of saying is for readers to take note of the “likes” in blogs, which can also be indicative
of someone who follows, and to checkout their sites/blogs out-something I personally do
and have found to be worthwhile and enjoyable. I also have asked others in emails to
do so.
Now these facts may be unsettling for you-that bitter pill to swallow that would require
something more than “a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down”-if so try a glass
of milk and a cookie, settle back and watch an episode of Space Rangers or the Beverly
Hill Billies as a distraction and a momentary respite.
Attempting to post Ellison opinions in my opinion has as much value as those of the
AIM leadership and convicted wiretappers -so don’t waste your time.