The Media, the US, and Iraq

Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:40:37 -0500 (EST)
Bruce M Podobnik (podobnik@jhu.edu)

As frequently noted, CNN and other mainstream media outlets
typically operate to constrain the terms of the debate regarding the US
plan to attack Iraq. However, as revealed by the CNN-organized town hall
meeting in Ohio, it seems that a sizable segment of the US population is
gravely concerned about the US government's apparent intention to take
military action in the near term. (In fact, it was interesting to read in
a New York Times article that people at the Ohio town hall were raising
much tougher questions regarding the human and even long-term geopolitical
costs of military action than have been raised by the President's national
security advisors.) And widespread opposition to a US military strike on
Iraq is further revealed by the organization of other protest actions.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, for instance, notification went out via email
Wednesday night that President Clinton would be lunching Thrusday at a
hotel downtown. When he arrived, a crowd of over 50 demonstrators had gathered.
As we stood waiting for the President to arrive, a surprisingly large
number of people driving by in their cars honked and waved in support of
our banners. Other protests are being organized in Washington, New York,
and numerous additional US cities. So, although the mainstream media may
be limiting the terms of the debate on Iraq, this doesnt necessarily
mean that US citizens themselves are blind to the potential long term
consequences of taking immediate military action. In fact, it appears to
me that significant segments of the US population are ahead of the
curve when compared to the US government and mainstream media. Through the
use of grassroots organizing efforts (with the speed of email messages
playing an important role), it should be possible for people who are
historically and globally informed (and there are a lot of people like
this out there) to shadow administration officials and local political
representatives wherever they go in public, and force them to address our
concerns -- even if the mainstream media does not.

|--------------------------|
| Bruce Podobnik |
| Department of Sociology |
| Johns Hopkins University |
| email: podobnik@jhu.edu |
|--------------------------|