Not quite so UnAmerican activities

**Solly** · March 11th 2003, 09:50 AM

From the article linked below:

AN AMERICAN HISTORY OF MEDIA MANIPULATION AND ABUSE

This nation has a considerable historical precedent for its actions against Iraq in the persons of Native Americans. The media has always been used to preparing public acceptance for that which would normally be unacceptable to a citizenry fixated on the idea that its own concept of morals should be the standard for the world.

The media is called the "fourth estate" for more than just a convenient title. It simply means that, in addition to the other three estates of government--executive, legislative and judicial--the media is no more than an unofficial branch of the government. And like the others it, for the most part, "dances with the one that brung it."

The media cooperation given the government in its propaganda assault on Iraq's moral position seems strongly reminiscent of another such "information" blitz in American history.

"They are a dissolute, vagabondish, brutal, and ungrateful race and ought to be wiped from the face of the earth"
--Rocky Mountain News editorial March, 1863.

In that same year, of 27 articles dealing with Native American Indians, 20 called for their extermination. The white American citizenry of that time was thoroughly indoctrinated by the media with the concept that death was the only viable solution to resolve government problems with the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations.

The Rocky Mountain News also published the editorial comment in August 1864, "go for them, their lodges, squaws and all." [6]

L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, was the editor of the Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer at the time of the massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota in 1891. Ten days prior to that infamous occurrence Baum, in an editorial, urged a campaign of genocidal extermination against all Native Americans. "The nobility of the Redskin is extinguished," Baum wrote, "and what few are left are a pack of whining curs who lick the hand that smites them. The Whites, by law of conquest, by justice of civilization, are masters of the American continent, and the best safety of the frontier settlements will be secured by the total annihilation of the few remaining Indians." Here is a respected American editor damning the Indians for defending themselves and their ancestral lands, and then damning them when they stop and want peace. Will the Iraqis suffer the same excoriation because they have now bowed the knee to the United Nations?

"Why not annihilation?", Baum continues his assault upon the Indian. "Their glory has fled, their spirit broken, their manhood effaced; better that they should die than live, miserable wretches that they are." A week and a half later the Sioux would lie dead on the snow-covered ground of Wounded Knee. Baum, later expressing his approval of the slaughter said, "we had better, in order to protect our civilization, follow it up...and wipe these untamed and untamable creatures from the face of the earth."

And where were the "Christians" during this part of American history? The most infamous massacre of American Indians, next to the incident at Wounded Knee, was the 200 killed and mutilated, mostly woman and children, of a largely disarmed Cheyenne village at Sand Creek, Colorado. The Massacre was led by a Methodist minister, Col. John Chivington, according to the United Methodist News Service (UMNS).

"Ironically, Chivington not only received a commendation for his attack on these people but was honored both by Coloradans and Methodists at his death in October 1894 as a hero and pioneer." (ibid.)

Link

This thread is dedicated to those who think the only truth is American Truth.

**Ryokan** · March 11th 2003, 02:53 PM

We were wrong, and are not above coloring our media solly. But neither is Europe. European truth isn't the only truth.

**Solly** · March 12th 2003, 04:09 AM

03-11-2003 @ 06:53 PM
Ryokan:

We were wrong, and are not above coloring our media solly. But neither is Europe. European truth isn't the only truth.

Never said it was. As said on another thread,, and America has Most Favoured nation status with God that provoked these threads on my part

**Rubia Warren** · March 12th 2003, 09:36 AM

While I realize how media in America manipulates, I don't think comparing what was going on with the Native Americans to the war on Iraq equals anything.
No one is talking about exterminating a race of people. I'm not even going to go any further- that article is just silly.

**Ishmael** · March 12th 2003, 09:55 AM

03-12-2003 @ 07:36 AM
La Rubia:

While I realize how media in America manipulates, I don't think comparing what was going on with the Native Americans to the war on Iraq equals anything.
No one is talking about exterminating a race of people. I'm not even going to go any further- that article is just silly.

Solly is trying to be like his hero Kiwimac.

**Pilgrim** · March 12th 2003, 10:16 AM

WHy can't we just take the middle road and say, "Yes, the US has been gastly in some circumstances...just like every other government that ever sat in power."

Pilgrim

**Ishmael** · March 12th 2003, 10:23 AM

I don't have a problem with that. Kiwimac is that one with an axe to grind about my homeland.

**Pilgrim** · March 12th 2003, 11:06 AM

Is it a legitimate Axe? Most likely. The U.S. does have blood on it's hands. However, that does not make us into an evil entity. It just makes us like everyone else. And it does not negate all the good that we have done.

**Ryokan** · March 12th 2003, 02:41 PM

The real axe to grind with Kiwimac is he is a spammer who won't sit down and fight.

**kiwimac** · March 12th 2003, 08:00 PM

Cobblers! (and I'm not talking about shoemakers here, either)

I have shown no disinclination to discussion or to a goood, old-fashioned screaming match. The problem here is, that you are unwilling to even grant my points may have some validity. I am generally unwilling to engage in useful discussion when I am going to be excoriated simply for holding my POV.

Calvinist, my problem with the US is what the US does to other folk all the while claiming that you a: don't do that kind of thing and b: are God's gift to the rest of us.

Kiwimac

**Ishmael** · March 12th 2003, 08:12 PM

03-12-2003 @ 06:00 PM
kiwimac:

Cobblers! (and I'm not talking about shoemakers here, either)

I have shown no disinclination to discussion or to a goood, old-fashioned screaming match. The problem here is, that you are unwilling to even grant my points may have some validity. I am generally unwilling to engage in useful discussion when I am going to be excoriated simply for holding my POV.

Calvinist, my problem with the US is what the US does to other folk all the while claiming that you a: don't do that kind of thing and b: are God's gift to the rest of us.

Kiwimac

Your view is read by me (at least) as that of an outsider with a very inflammatory way of expressing yourself.....

There are some things about the USA... no some things about the Army that I don't like and it's fine for me to criticize those things all day long with my buddies at the pub... but say an Airman walked up and started the same kind of discussion with us... that Airman would likely not make that mistake again once...

Calvinist, my problem with the US is what the US does to other folk all the while claiming that you a: don't do that kind of thing and b: are God's gift to the rest of us.

You aren't making your point to me very well with the articles you have chosen and the snide comments.

I have studied the manual that Special Forces soldiers are required to read along with the companion book, "The Ugly American." So I am acquainted with your perspective on Americans in general and I also know that Americans can be difficult to deal with for the reason that you mention. HOWEVER, when I read what you post I get the impression that you (and outsider) hate my Country as a matter of basic philosophy; therefore, I don't feel that dialogue with you (a fellow westerner, supplanted generationally into the East) is really necessary as you will ALWAYS see the bad and never the tremendous good that Americans do around the world.

**Ishmael** · March 12th 2003, 08:17 PM

And another thing, I don't really know that much about New Zealand politics or NZ except that my wife and I are considering a vacation there. In fact, I am not very interested in what your government does or does not do. So I find it curious that you and other who are outsiders care what the United States does.

Does the actions of my country in the Middle East affect your island so much? And if it does, why doesn't the actions of Iraq or some other Middle Eastern country?

**kiwimac** · March 12th 2003, 10:34 PM

Calvinist,

The whole world is in this together! What you do as a country affects us individually. Your CFC's and other pollutants create a hole in the Ozone over MY COUNTRY every Year. Your tarriffs force my country which has scrapped tarriffs to buy and sell at rates which impoverish my countryfolk.

Your war will affect my fellowcitizens, some of whom are NZers!

Kiwimac

**Ishmael** · March 12th 2003, 10:51 PM

Does the actions of my country in the Middle East affect your island so much? And if it does, why doesn't the actions of Iraq or some other Middle Eastern country?

**GrayPilgrim** · March 13th 2003, 02:04 AM

The flatulence of your sheep contribute to the ozone as well. BTW it is the CFCs from the developing countires that have outdated machinery that are the big problems, but will you address that issue? No. For instnace whenver you eat choclate you are injesting quantities of lead because most chocalate comes from Africa where they are driving...Mercedes that still use leaded gasoline and put out more lead polutionm but is that issue addressed? No, just pick on the USA and all your problems will go away.

I agree the USA is not God's gift to the universe, never said it, never intended to. I am not a post-mill who sees the US as the New Israel, the City on the Hill from the 17-19th Centuries! So just because you read somewhere that Americans think that don't you think it would better to ask us what we think.

GP