As ideologies harden to fanaticism and people with banners herd into warring camps, it remains possible — still — to stand above the madness.
In these most vicious of partisan times, it seems impossible to remain above the fray, examining the issues dispassionately and with no regard for preconceived notions. It is a dangerous era when people feel compelled to take sides, in which the other is regarded as mortal enemies who are, without exception, always wrong.
Standing aside the battlefield to describe the action — the normal behavior of an observer — is fraught with its own peril. It invites attacks from all sides who insist on defining the undefinable, i.e., someone who belongs to neither side. Criticizing either side does not put you in the camp of the other.
The survival of journalism depends on fighting under no flag and being free of ideology. We depend on readers who understand our mission and the dwindling space we occupy.
Please Support Our
Summer Fund Drive!
Donate securely with PayPal
Or securely by credit card or check by clicking the red button:
It can be absolutely right to oppose views that are objectively wrong. To take an extreme example, Nazism. If your view is in favour of the greater good and humanity then you are right to attack those who trample on this view. Consortium News does this all the time, when it attacks those who keep Assange in prison, for example, and the distorted ideology behind them. There is no sublime position above the fray.
I am definitely in a camp, that of the left which opposes brutality savagery, lies and propaganda.
There is no ideology behind the prosecution of Assange. Both US parties have gone after him, and governments around the world, left, right and center, who were exposed by him what to see him destroyed. They are protecting interests, not ideology. If you report the facts of Assange’s case–for instance the fact that he was never charged with rape in Sweden–it becomes very clear he is being persecuted. The facts speak for themselves. Not only is it possible, but it is a professional responsibility for arbiters, judges, journalists and others to strive for impartiality. That is the challenge of the job, if you take the job seriously and still have integrity, which believe it or not, is still possible. Only the most extreme cynic does not believe it is. You don’t have to be in any camp to oppose “brutality, savagery, lies and propaganda.”
It helped to stop watching TV.
Speaking of being non-partisan and a critical thinker.
The great Carl Sagan offers some valuable advice. Especially for those students of critical thought. Sagan wrote. THE DEMON -HAUNTED WORLD: SCIENCE as a CANDLE in the DARK
See the chapter titled The Fine Art of Baloney Detection , with it’s list of twenty in which he lists nine tools to use and 20 of the most “common and perilous fallacies of logic and rhetoric.”, his words, not mine. Jewels.
Thanks CN
“It is a dangerous era when people feel compelled to take sides, in which the other is regarded as mortal enemies who are, without exception, always wrong.”
whilst for those of facility including patience and lack of reflex resort to coercion, who do not feel compelled to take sides whilst co-operating in matters deemed to be of greater import, it is an era of opportunities where perceived assets mutate into liabilities.
That was the “Allies” strategy from 1935 onwards, although Mr. Suslov suggested the commencement date should be 1922.
Very well put.
I have long ago realized that the position of being non-partisan in this country along will hopefully millions of others is being for the country AND it’s citizens. The most important things for Americans is to find unity, which currently is nowhere to be found. Unity among ourselves seems impossible with the current attacks on the truth by the evil doers residing on the dark side. Attacks which are substituted for creative solutions to real problems by the MSM mouth-pieces for the super wealthy all encompassing Deep State.
We need to learn the way to stop the perversion of our government by the powerful wealthy elitist.
Be strong brothers and sisters this is going to be very ugly.
PEACE OUT and Thanks CN