May 16, 2005

Fact or Fiction? You decide.

 by Jeremy

Before the advent of film, radio and television, a writer of fanciful literature could make a decent living reducing readers to fits of laughter, shock, even tears. When Shakespeare penned works that are now generally considered to be literary masterpieces, he did so with the goal -- and it was richly rewarded -- of inducing deafeningly raucous reactions from unbathed audiences at the Globe theater.

Dickens was like a rock star of his day.

There aren't a lot of writers who can get that kind of reaction anymore.

Part of the reason, I think, is that we today have an addiction to what we consider to be 'reality.' We're far too literal minded. Scarcely does a story begin before we are asking, 'yes, but is it true?'

Of course, that's the wrong question, isn't it. In the realm of fiction it is proper to ask not 'is it true?' but 'could it be true?'

Not only has this story caused the kind of riots among the common folk that would make Shakespeare writhe in envy, like any good work of speculative fiction, it could even be true. Who know. Does it matter?

While the US magazine Newsweek has said it was wrong to report that a copy of the Koran was flushed down a toilet at Guantanamo Bay by US military interrogators, sources in Kabul maintain that the demonstrations that spread all across Afghanistan last week in reaction to the Newsweek report, have the potential to turn into a mass movement against the foreign presence in the country. The sources maintain that various factors have melded to fuel the anti-US riots in Afghanistan which left at least 15 people dead.

If Shakespeare were alive today he'd be writing for Newsweek.

?Dickens was like a rock star of his day.?

And Dickens would likely be treated as a rock star today. We simply have more entertainment options. There are some major rock stars that I?ve never heard of! A superstar in one genre could walk into a restaurant or an airport, and half of the crowd would be oblivious to their presence.

Posted by: David Thomson at May 16, 2005 11:03 PM

Newsweek has not retracted the claim that the prisoners were smeared with fake menstrual blood.

The U.S. is still abusing prisoners.

McClellan and Rumsfeld can bully the press all they want, they will not change that fact.

Posted by: Matt at May 17, 2005 11:47 AM

The fake menstrual blood doesn't seem to have ignited a worldwide jihad. There is apparently something especially egregious to Muslim fundamentalists about flushing a Koran down a toilet -- it evidently pisses them off more than even Christian fundamentalists would get pissed off by the same being done to a bible. And it seems to piss the Left off quite a bit too.

If prisoners were abused then the story should be reported responsibly. That means checking facts, even if 'right thinking' people who support 'social justice' already 'know' they're probably true, or that something similar is probably true on some level.

If we don't need 'facts' to be true in news stories then why do we bother to read the news at all since we can just build our own myths around whatever prevailing 'wisdom' we think everyone already knows is true anyway (I think I just invented Michael Moore).

So, Newsweek breaks what must be one of the top ten rules of journalism 101 by reporting a dangerously inflammatory item without corroborating it...

And here's what Mclellan said:

"The report had real consequences," McClellan said. "People have lost their lives. Our image abroad has been damaged. There are some who are opposed to the United States and what we stand for who have sought to exploit this allegation."

Fascist!

And here's what Rumsfeld said:

"People need to be very careful about what they say, just as they need to be careful about what they do."

Censorship!

Of course what is most offensive about statements like that is that 'we' already 'know' that those guys are evil fascist scum so it is infuriatingly cynical and dishonest of them to exploit a crisis like this in order to make the U.S. seem reasonable and the press seem capable of ever being irresponsible when criticizing the government or the military.

They're bullying the press! Impeach them! (not sure you can impeach a spokesman. Do it anyway!)

Posted by: Jeremy Brown at May 17, 2005 12:24 PM

You are a douche. The news story about Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction was fiction. That story left alot more dead than 15.

Posted by: Matt at May 19, 2005 08:18 AM

Against my better judgement I took some time and engaged in debate with you, Matt. But it appears you're not actually interested in discussing or debating anything, you just think that anyone who does not say what you want them to say is a douche. I get that a lot, so it will comfort you to know you're not alone in the world.

It should not surprise you to learn that I've banned you from commenting here. Now you can tell people that I don't tolerate dissent, so that should be good for a bit of catharsis. (Yes, I'm sure you can find a way to comment anyway. And I can keep banning you.)

I'm willing to tolerate insults with a shrug when I'm commenting on other people's blogs, but not here at home. It's fine for people to come by and bitterly contradict me, but name calling is not going to happen here, though it's tempting for me to respond in kind.

I wish you all the best navigating through life with that bizarre attitude of yours.

Posted by: Jeremy Brown at May 19, 2005 09:18 AM

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