When I first saw the video of Nick griffin being pelted with eggs (considering I didn't really know who he was), I was quite shocked that someone could do that on public TV and that the woman who did it didn’t get caught for another 3 days. Technically she was committing a crime.
I've recently seen the video of Nick Griffin saying, " I didn't say anyone should be murdered at sea - I say boats should be sunk, they can throw them a life raft and they can go back to Libya."
This shocked me even more (this isn't a rant about my political views by the way). It’s the fact that the political leader for BNP has the guts to say something like that. This Automatically made me feel angry.
The reason I'm writing about this is that it is interesting for me, considering that I don't follow politics how the media has influenced my emotions to feel slightly sorry for an MP when eggs are pelted at them, then suddenly realising his views made me feel disgust and anger.
In my eyes I feel that the media can influence the public in any which way they please.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It's absolutely true- magazines, tv, the media... all hugely responsible for swaying public opinion. There seems to be very much a culture of building people up, then shooting them down.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that annoyed me about the first video is the implication that the protesters were oh-so-very-bad for being there (a bit like the way the May Day protests were hyped up). OK, throwing an egg is technically breaking the law but people seem to be forgetting more and more these days that this country is a democracy, and it is people's right- if they don't agree- to protest. Look at what happened in the 60's, for example. Many people broke the law then but if it hadn't happened we'd not have equal rights for women, homosexuals and people of different races today.
They try to make the protesters look bad by saying "it's a disgrace... this is a press conference". Of course! What better time to protest! Do they want them to phone up and check when there's a break in the BNP's schedule for them to express their dissatisfaction?
Anyway, this blog is a good point made well.
I completely agree that it is everybody's right to protest and be heard. I think there's a difference between constructive protest and just being a pain in the arse. Look at the extreme animal rights protestors who end up infuriating and disgusting the public so much that they alienate themselves from the cause and any sympathy that would have been directed at them.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, this is a democracy and therefore, even though he's a fascist backward xenophobic simpleton, people voted for the BNP (120,000 in Yorkshire alone) and therefore they must be heard. Instead of throwing eggs at their leader wouldn't it be more constructive to go to these areas and ask how the major parties are failing them so much that they have to resort to fundamentalism?
This is the sad reality - that the failure of social democracy to inspire, lead and protect has created cynicism and disillusion boosting racism and fascism...
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with Ed. It's not sudden shocking news that the BNP receives so many votes, they've always received votes, every year, it was the fact that people WEREN'T voting for new labour and in fact is a fantastic example of media manipulation. The media were so intent on highlighting the BNP seats gained that they put aside the reason why;...natural supporters wasting their vote and a labour policy that fails on most accounts.
I totally agree with Rosie, there's obviously people out there who who will vote BNP without a blink of a eye or even give any other party the time of day because the way the media influence them.
ReplyDeleteThe general public will undoubtedly be influenced by the media, it is consuming everyday life.
I would say it is a source of gossip,but in a sense that it what the news is there for. I personally see a clear divide between 'news' and the 'media'.
The media can make the public absolutely hate someone one week and but can also put them on a pedistal another if they please (The death of Michael Jackson is a perfect example).
I'm not even sure that the News is News anymore as it's filtered so heavily.
ReplyDeleteFair examples are the soldiers in Afghanistan... it's a sad affair that the country has lost these men & women (although it's debatable why they are even over there...) but for every soldier we've lost, they've lost at least 70 civilians...the television/radio/editorial news sure don't ponder on that fact.
Bottom line is, people should attempt to reject the influence of the media, as difficult as it may be, push away what you called the 'media' which I also tend to regard as a celebrity saturated channel and focus on the headlines which are shaping the country.
It's notable that the news revolving around say workers, trade unionists etc whether it be redundancies, strikes, corruption in the workplace, families living off pennies - what I'd call the 'Real News' doesn't get the attention it deserves. Recent regional television news I saw focussed on housing developments, bit of Gordon Brown and the murders of 2 middle-class individuals. So I believe that brings about the question, is the News/Media accommodating for certain classes - a class divide?