Shut the Beck Up!

i wrote this 10/22 and posted on my facebook notes. i feel it belongs here

so this week i have decided rather than rot my brain with tv shows and other fun things while working overnight, i should read more. i stumbled upon the huffington post, though i've heard of it i never read anything from the site, and i have to say, some of the things i discovered scare me.

i got my first taste of glenn beck finally. my first bite i should say, since i have heard a few stupid things he's said and seen him cry on tv about how much he loves america (puh-lease). but some of this stuff shocks me. its a different kind of shock than when you get trolled by some idiot who sends you two girls one cup or shit like that. this is seriously dangerous banter that appeals to ignorant, racist and paranoid people. it amazes me that people on fox news call obama hitler when he tries to empower people to take responsibility for themselves and their community when all fox news does is falsely report and instigate fear on their channels. if you scare people enough they will violently react. kinda like... you know... hitler did with his propaganda. hmmm. i'm just saying.

now i'm a huge fan of the first amendment and anti-censorship so i'm not saying he shouldnt have the right to be on tv and speak his mind. or any one of the "beg the question" far right wing pundits (limbaugh oriely and hannity..etc) but where do we draw the line on what is acceptable and responsible broadcasting? people take shots but i haven't seen anything substantial that would force rupert murdock to second guess his tactics. now, i dont give a shit about janet jackson's old stupid tit. i am more concerned about fear mongers who do nothing but lie and rile people up without actually delivering any news on tv and radio.. etc.

it took half a semester of a logic class for me to formally learn the types of argumentative fallacies that are possible. i could tell when people made bullshit claims, but i finally had names for them now. i think the most dangerous one fox news commits on a daily basis has to do with their name. appeal to authority. fox news. NEWS. how much news casting is really on the channel? most of it is talk show banter. "but it has news right in the name! how could they say all that and get away with it?" i know right? thats what i'm wondering too...

CNN = cable news network. i'm no fan of CNN either since they make every single news story into a major motion picture and sensationalize the shit out of it. i think they are kind of guilty of the same thing fox news is but its not nearly as slanted and propagandist. MSNBC, a favorite for fox news to pick on. Microsoft/National Broadcasting Company. They broadcast things. no news in that name. NPR - national public radio. do you see where i'm going with this? i'm not trying to say the other listed networks dont pander. of course they do. how and what news gets out is an insane web of bullshit and money and political power. but i cant even touch on that one. i havent even gotten through the intro to manufacturing consent yet.

i dont feel like writing a huge essay right now even though i have already laid the groundwork rather sloppily, but i'll leave you with this to check out: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/

i really suggest you at least skim the examples and definitions. you wont look at any claim of any topic the same.

ok so back on to the topic i started on. although i cant stand orielly or hannity either, they seem a little more harmless to me right now. maybe im ignorant. i probably am. but beck's balls scare me.

he has the balls to joke about poisoning speaker of the house nancy pelosi. third in line to the presidency. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UudQuVOwSds&feature=player_embedded how has he not been arrested for this or at least suspended and investigated? thats not something to joke about. regardless if its a political figure or the average joe. he is LOVING the idea of murdering somebody on live television. a guy in new jersey was arrested because he was overheard making threatening small talk about obama at a coffee cart. granted he is an airport security guard at an airport where obama was scheduled to fly into the next day, but he wasnt even on tv. he was over heard. they are talking about all the prison time he will probably face and he hasnt been arraigned yet. why hasnt anybody talked to beck in a quiet little room about this? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/john-breck-arrested-newar_n_328927.html

he has the audacity to belittle, mock and call efforts for people to help one-another maoism. wow. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/glenn-beck-slams-obama-en_n_326632.html
he mentions green week (first started in 07 when bush was president), special episodes and weeks are announced to the viewers. he insinuates its subliminal. he doesn't say it but the way i heard it, it sounds like thats what he's getting at. he says he would rather see people volunteer without the incentive of a free trip to disneyland. well, i bet a lot of people that currently volunteer will take advantage of the reward, and i have to ask - if the incentive doesnt cost you a dime, what do you care that they are trying to get americans to do good things? seriously! if disney wants to con you into doing something nice, at their own expense, why is it an issue? or he mentions no need for volunteering for a disaster that hasnt happened yet. ok-hunger is the first thought that comes to mind. thats a disaster many americans face every single day. volunteer and or donate to a food bank/soup kitchen/homeless shelter... etc.


i am doing my best not to use argumentative fallacies in my own political rants because i dont want to be that guy. i try to have data to backup my claims and not just preech and rant and rave. im sure i slipped and threw in a few insults. dont take an insult as evidence for an argument. i am obviously annoyed with these people so thats my personal opinion. i dont feel like going back and editing this entire thing. its 4am for pete's sake! (by the way, who is pete? peter the apostle? hmmm wait, peter was an apostle, right? great now all the comments will be about this)

anyway... comment away. i want to know if seeing or hearing people incite fear, spread false information and slander others is scary to you.

EDIT: so i just saw one more video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szlLM5lCNJg&feature=player_embedded

art and/or history majors, please weigh in. i need to go find out what formal education glenn beck has to decide what each image is supposed to represent. and you know... as if what he says in general isnt offensive enough, he has to do it in that sarcastic, mocking tone. i would drop any class i was in if a professor lectured like that.

and fascism? relating progressives to fascist? read up on fascism and go read up on what a dictator is. then check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_aujjUA4lI

fascist and dictators scare you out of your rights and empower you to be with the government or against it. that doesnt sound very progressive to me.

maybe im just an angry, ignorant punk poseur who knows just enough.

whatever.