AMERICAN RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY
A few days ago a "journalist" on a FOX news program commenting about the public's revulsion with the actions of Tiger Woods, said something very seriously along these lines:
"I understand that Tiger is a Buddhist or something. There is not the forgiveness in Buddhism that there is in Chrisitianity. I would suggest that he convert to Christianity and receive forgiveness for his actions."
That is what passes for objective journalism by a journalist on FOX. However there has not been a resounding criticism from the public. What is further disturbing is that some people amazingly look to FOX News for their main source of news. What in the world has happened to journalism in the U.S.? In fact, what has happened to the United States? This is an extremely disturbing development.
If Americans look past this serious development then we can be assured that what we were founded upon as a nation has disappeared. The objective of a democratic society and government is to protect the rights of the minority. If that is not done, the rest is silly rhetoric.
What would have happened if a journalist had said on U.S. network television that Tiger Woods should dump Buddhism and turn to the Moslem faith? Not only would the American public be up in arms, the entire journalism community would rally in revolt to that suggestion. But we seem to accept it when it is a positive Christian reference? Or is it that true professional journalists and people who understand what objective journalism is have come to accept such democratic distortions and unmitigated opinion for what passes for journalism in today's media market when it is on FOX? Do we now accept such low standards because it is FOX doing it? Don't we know the impact of such closemindedness and ignorance? Can't we see the extreme erosion of democracy in such a development?
In my blogs here and throughout my career I have shown by quotes from our Founding Fathers that the government of the United States is in no way based on the Christian religion. In fact, that is an almost direct quote from John Adams. Thomas Paine, who captured the essence of the Founding Fathers in his writings, went so far as to criticize Christianity openly. But because the majority of Americans have always been Christians, Judaic-Christians, or nominal Christians, we seem to think it is OK to distort democracy to accommodate it. But a democracy must protect the minorities, whether it be atheism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, or others groups. That is the essence of democracy.
If you want to read about someone who characterizes perfectly this broad public claim of being of the Judaic-Christian philosophy and acting very un-Christian, check out the life of Rupert Murdoch who owns FOX News. He has money stashed away everywhere to avoid taxes, including in Cuba! He encouraged our war in Iraq because it made money for him and his enterprises. He hides information from his workers and tries at all times to cheat them. He never saw a money-making scheme that he couldn't rationalize, no matter how immoral, unethical, illegal, or repulsive.
For your winter reading, I suggest you read some of the objective and honest criticism of Rupert Murdoch. You will then realize why FOX is so dishonest in presenting the "news." You will then realize why this Australian manipulates the U.S. government and its domestic and foreign policies to put money in his pocket. He is a despicable man. And FOX is part of his legacy.
