Well, you are one up on me, Miriam. I'm terrible with names. But
you're right, Seymour
Hersh was on Democracy Now, as was Noam Chomsky. But I listen to the
broadcast for a sense of world and national news, and then the
Bellevue college channel has local and state news. All public
sponsored. That's where my dribble of money goes, not to NPR or even
to Amy Goodman. And I usually tune in to Thom Hartmann if I'm near
the radio at 9:00 A.M. He's too much the Liberal Democrat, but he
does offer stimulating opinions. Alternative Radio is another
favorite of mine...when I can find it. Last Sunday I listened to a
1987 speech by Howard Zinn. It could have been given last evening.
But there's no perfect program. And even the people I agree with can
make my skin crawl. Richard Wolff, the Marxist professor, sounds like
he's talking to six year olds, Thom is too much the liberal democrat,
David Barcinian(forgive the spelling) sounds like he might not make it
through his program, and Noam sounds exactly like Doctor Jerry Dunham.
Dunham was a blind PhD who...sort of directed the Washington Services
for the Blind, back when I first became blind. He did inspire some of
us. He was so inept that he inspired us to go to the legislature to
pass the Commission for the Blind.
Anyway, we're all flawed enough that we should never hang our hat on
one super leader.
And in my wicked, fuzzy minded past I've done that a time or two.
Regardless of who, what, where or why, I always remind myself that
someone paid to put forth the news or opinion. First, I ask myself
who that could be, and then I ask what's in it for them. Usually
they're busy telling me why it's good for me, but since I already know
what's good for me, I want to know why they're spending all their
money. I can do this with the commercial news, if I can put up with
piles of commercials and giggling news casters. But I can do it
better with Amy Goodman, too. At least she's more on target on most
issues than the corporate media.
Oh yes, another half hour program that I stumbled across is named, The
Media Project. Three or four journalists kick around issues of the
day. It comes from upstate New York, and gives me a different sense
of the workings of journalism.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/27/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, but the problem is, that is also happening to Democracy Now. She covers
the same stories as corporate media and she uses corporate media
representatives to do it. The exceptions are Glen Greenwald and Alan Nearn
and very occasionally, Jeremy Scahill who, of course, got his start on
Democracy Now. But I read all of the real left of center investigative
reporters and I hear them on podcasts, and she doesn't have them on anymore.
Perhaps she had Seymour Hersh when his latest book came out. Even the Nation
had him. But what she has now is the acceptable, commercial Left. Not only
doesn't she have the authentic Left. She doesn't have principled people who
write for the Conservative Press like Gareth Porter or that military guy,
can't think of his name, who's often on The Real News. She doesn't have
Aaron Mate, who also got his start with her, because he has been doing real
investigative stuff with alternative media. He's far enough to the left to
have moved from The Real News to The Grayzone Project. The people whose
reporting and opinions truly differ from the mainstream, end up on the
Grayzone Projectd, Mint Press, assorted podcasts and RT or Sputnik which is
ironic. It's ironic that our radicals can't find a place in American media
and end up on media sponsored by Russia which has an authoritarian
government. But then, Russia is where Edward Snowden found refuge from the
American police state. And Putin is an authoritarian, or they say he is, who
persecutes gays and lesbians and is being protested in his own country.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:01 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of
Syria Propaganda
Unless NPR changed their minds, they no longer are National Public Radio,
they are simply, NPR. Bit by bit, piece by piece, and position after
position NPR has quietly been selling us out. It takes money to run an
operation as large as NPR. We have learned that a dollar has as much right
to express itself as does any other First Class Citizen...we'd better all
check to see if our names are on that list.
Anyway, despite all the protests to the contrary by NPR, they are sounding
more and more like all the other Corporate controlled networks.
I think NPR now stands for, No Public Responsibility.
Carl Jarvis: listening in vain for the old NPR.
On 8/26/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Opinion & Analysis
NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria Propaganda
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut",
Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her
life.
by Rick Sterling
August 23rd, 2019
By Rick Sterling
It may be a new low in propaganda. National Public Radio (NPR) used
the news that Syrian First Lady Asma Assad had overcome breast cancer
to mock her and continue the information war against Syria. They
interviewed a Human Rights Watch staffer named Lama Fakih who is an
American from Michigan now based in Beirut.
Do you believe Ms. Fakih in Beirut or do you believe people who live
in Syria who say we are being lied to? Lilly Martin is such a person.
Although
she is American from Fresno California, Lilly has lived in Syria for
nearly
25 years. She is married to a Syrian and has two Syrian sons. Dr.
Nabil Antaki is another such person. He is a medical doctor in Aleppo,
fluent in English and French as well as his native Arabic.
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut",
Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her
life.
While Ms. Fakir in Beirut says that there is "quite a lot of anger"
because Asma Assad has conquered cancer, Dr. Antaki says that Syrians
are happy at the news. Asma Assad is First Lady, mother to three
children, and known for her compassion. Lilly Martin says that even
while she battled cancer Mrs.
Assad continued her charitable work.
Asma Assad NPR cancer
While Ms. Fakih says that the "Assad government has been
systematically targeting medical facilities and medical personnel",
Dr. Antaki, who has remained in Aleppo throughout the conflict, says
this is not true. While there are many western accusations that the
Syrian government attacks hospitals, the evidence is remarkably thin.
One of the most highly publicized cases was regarding "Al Quds
Hospital" in east Aleppo. In April
2016 there was a media blitz about this hospital having been destroyed
by the Syrian Army. Following the departure of the "rebels", it was
discovered that "Al Quds Hospital" was an unmarked portion of an
apartment building, that it had NOT been bombed and was the LEAST damaged
building in the area.
It was determined that the nearby Nusra (Al Qaeda) headquarters and
ammunition depot was the Syrian army target. Accusations that "Al Quds
Hospital" was bombed were false. It was a media stunt.
Ms. Fakih says that "Syrians have not been able to benefit from
medical care
in Syria since the beginning of the uprising in 2012". Lilly Martin
simply
says "This is factually untrue. The Syrian system of national
hospitals, free services to the public, are in every area of Syria and
have run continuously throughout the war." Dr. Antaki is an example;
he is one of THOUSANDS of doctors working at HUNDREDS of hospitals
throughout Syria. But you would never know it from NPR or Ms. Fakih.
It is true that there have been disruption and damage to many
hospitals, as demonstrated in this jihadi assault on Al Kindi
Hospital. These are the "rebels" supported by Ms. Fakih and Human
Rights Watch. They effectively supported them in east Aleppo until
they were expelled from the city. Now Ms. Fakih and HRW is supporting
the "rebels" in their last redoubt in Idlib.
There are countless videos demonstrating the cruelty and fanaticism of
the "rebels". For example, the aftermath of the above assault on Kindi
Hospital and the execution of the Syrian soldiers who defended the
hospital. Those who are cheerleading for the "rebels" and trying to
prevent the Syrian reclaiming Idlib should look at the execution video
to see what they are supporting.
The West has provided weapons and other support to the "rebels". In
parallel, there has been a campaign to whitewash the "rebels" and
demonize the Syrian government. On top of this, the USA has imposed
crushing sanctions on Syria which make it difficult or impossible to
get critical medicines and replacement parts for western medical
equipment. Dr. Antaki says it took him 1.5 years to obtain a
replacement part for a Japanese medical instrument. I had my own
experience with the draconian and inhumane sanctions. It took one year
and endless hassle to send hearing aid batteries to help a deaf child
in Syria.
This is one among hundreds of Syria "regime change" propaganda pieces
broadcast on NPR. Behind a facade of authority and objectivity, there is
bias and misinformation along with crocodile tears. As Lilly Martin
says,
"While the Syrian government medical system has tried to meet all the
needs of Syrian civilians during 8 years of armed conflict, still
there are numerous cases where the needs were not met and Syrians have
suffered, and that blame must be shouldered by every person who held a
gun against Syria and their foreign supporters who have succeeded in
bringing the Syrian people into the depths of destruction and despair."
As to Asma Assad and her integrity, it is best to listen and judge for
yourself. At about 5:30 of the interview she speaks of the families
of 100 thousand Syrian martyrs who died defending their country. "On a
personal level, I am humbled by their determination, by their
resilience, and by their love of Syria. They are my biggest source of
strength and hope for the future."
The sneers, misinformation, unverified accusations and de facto
defense of Nusra/Al Qaeda by NPR and Lama Fakih stand in stark contrast.
Feature photo | Asma al-Assad visits the children of Basma
Association, which cares for children with cancer. Photo | Syrian
Presidency
Rick Sterling is an investigative journalist based in the San
Francisco Bay Area. He can be reached at rsterling1@xxxxxxxxx
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not
necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.