Mean modes of media
I have a dear friend who is disturbed by things in the news—as well as the public’s reaction—and blames the media for many of the country’s ills. It’s a touchy subject, so I don’t pursue it at length, but I’ve told my friend that my experience doesn’t support that view of the media. I explained that I get my news primarily from public radio and The New York Times, and don’t watch television at all. I suggested it’s possible such in-your-face sources of current events are a problem, although I couldn’t say for certain.
However, since I read my “newspapers” online, I’m occasionally provided a clip of TV news, particularly when the clip is the subject of an article. Hence, I recently viewed a taxpayer funded public service announcement––made for television, YouTube, and TikTok—that declared “Together we will defeat communism, socialism, and Marxism in America.” Now I see problems with the media.
I was taught—and I think my friend would agree—that the beauty of being an American citizen lies in the promise that you can be anything you want to be. A doctor, lawyer, auto mechanic, teacher, minister, musician, dancer, Christian, Jew, or by golly, even an atheist. It is perfectly legal to attend any church you like—or a gathering of Freethinkers. You can be a Democrat or a Republican. Or an independent. You can join the Democratic Socialists of America, or even the Communist Party USA. Because you have the right to your beliefs. Our government does not dictate your choices.
Admittedly, there exists the Communist Control Act of 1954, inspired by the second Red Scare. But it’s generally considered unconstitutional. Members of Communist Party USA have been elected to public office, and the country did not spontaneously combust. I am not a communist. But I am offended by taxpayer funded television ads declaring that “America will never be a communist country.”
The ad declared “together we will defeat communism, socialism, and Marxism in America.” Yet we currently have legitimate candidates running in the mid-term election who either support socialist ideas or might even be members of the Democratic Socialist Party—as is their perfect right. Just as it is our perfect right to vote for them if our principles tell us that’s what’s called for—or against them if we think they’re off track.
For a television ad—especially one purchased with tax dollars—to declare that together we will defeat these isms is unAmerican. And for commercial television to accept taxpayer money to air such an ad, even if it declares itself a PSA, definitely feels like a “media problem.”
For just a moment imagine if the ad said, “The United States will never be a Jewish nation,” or “a childless cat lady nation.” Even if you’re not Jewish or you’re a father who dislikes cats, surely these words would sound at least a little off kilter for the America you know. We are allowed to be Jewish, childless, cat-loving, or female. Or all of the above. Now imagine the ad said, “The United States will never be a Christian nation!” There’d be an uproar. Of course we’re allowed to be Christian! But we are also allowed to pursue political ideals that our elected leaders might find disturbing.
The government has committed twenty million tax dollars to pay for this advertising campaign. For a taxpayer funded PSA to dictate which ideals Americans must find distasteful, is, in itself, distasteful. Hateful. Mean. Regardless of the mode of transmission. And networks are responsible for vetting PSAs before airing them. Perhaps the media should consider this ad’s intent before accepting public money to support it.