On spreading hate

Image: Charles Edward Coughlin? radio priest - 1940's by The Retro-Spector

Father Charles E. Coughlin was a Catholic priest turned public figure in the 1930’s and 40’s that built his career spreading his thoughts on various social, economical and political topics via radio and printed press. The thoughts he shared with his audience, however, were not necessarily anything positive or productive – on the contrary, he used his influence on the masses (that went up to 45 million listeners at times) to criticize politicians and economists, and spread anti-Semitic messages.

Reading his story made me feel uncomfortable to say the least, to imagine someone in the field he was in, with the power to reach so many millions of people, using this power to hurt and hate others. Going over the things he said and imagining how bad he made so many people feel turns my stomach upside down.  How did someone like him get to have access to a microphone?

Something that I thought was curious and almost funny in an ironic way was that in one of his radio shows, he challenged all the Jews in America to tell him that they believed in the principle of loving their neighbor as themselves. He’s one to talk! So spending all his time and energy hurting others with his venomous words was an act of love and purity? Defending the Nazis, whose terrible acts resulted in the death of millions of innocent people, inspiring the masses to act violently against one another and to riot, is that all part of God’s teachings?

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think calling him a huge hypocrite is being nice and sweet. Having been raised a catholic – even though I couldn’t be farther from that these days – I was under the impression that priests were supposed to use their influence to inspire others to love themselves and others blindly, and to lead lives that resemblance that of Jesus Christ. I’m not innocent enough to not know this isn’t all that realistic, growing up being put down by the church and their many opinions on homosexuality, but this Father took the hypocrisy to a whole new level.

I will not include the members of the Government and economists in this because they have also done their share of repulsive things, but I feel bad for the Jewish people who lived in these times. I hope they got to understand that this man wasn’t very sane and that paying attention to his message wasn’t worth their time. I think this is a clear example of someone who had power and used it for all the wrong things, and I hope this serves as a lesson to the media to think twice about who they give the chance to speak to an audience.

Muckracking

Image: "The Writer" by Debbie Ohi

Muckracker was a term that was born in the 1900's and was used to to refer to any journalist who was using media outlets to spread the results from their constant investigations regarding corruption and "fishy" behaviors of those in power. They exposed people in many different fields, including politics, economy and healthcare. This period of time in the history of journalism was very controversial and it is still studied these days because of the impact it had in American history and the practice of freedom of press.

Was it pessimism or were facts simply being stated? Were they refusing to look at the good side of things, or was it just a job that someone had to do? I think with all that was happening and still happens, it is necessary. I think corruption should be pointed out and criticized. You can surely kvetch about newspapers mainly containing bad news, but would you honestly rather have them publish fairytale pieces and keep you from the truth?

Telling the truth is the tricky part, however, and this is the point where my opinion faces a crossroad. I think there is a difference between journalists being the medium to open the audience's eyes and using this power to control the masses. Manipulated information gets out there every day and we are exposed to it. It comes from every direction and we're left not knowing what to believe or who to trust. Is it really achievable, then? Can the truth ever be genuinely exposed? Writers use words, and a single word in a sentence can change the whole meaning of what someone is trying to say, or to make others believe. The intention behind an article can give any situation a whole different context.

What do you think? Do you feel informed, or manipulated by the media? Do you care?

Women's Rights

Image: "Ohio Women's Rights Convention" by WashingtonSRC

Gender equality may be looked at as something that was left in the past but the truth is it's still an issue in the times we live in. Reading the history of all the struggles women went through to get to where they are today is truly inspiring to me, and it gives me hope that perhaps full equality isn't just a dream, but something we could achieve if we all work towards it.

Having grown up looking up to and being surrounded by beautiful, intelligent and strong women it's hard for me to understand how creatures so complete and interesting could ever be thought of as less-than. Life begins with them, none of the things we know would be possible without them.

Times have certainly changed since that group of women decided that enough was enough, but we still have a long way to go. I say let's all stand up and pick up where they left off, because I believe if we really want change to happen, sadly we are going to have to make it happen ourselves.

After the jump you may watch a video that shows the story of women who are still currently struggling to be respected.

Video: "Mona Eltahawy: Women in Egypt" posted on YouTube by ScarceMedia.