November 10, 2010
As I prepared for my day this morning, the early morning workout, the breakfast smoothie, getting dressed, etc., I had the opportunity to see a subtle yet obvious example of the rift between the mainstream media and its perception of its own audience, and that of Fox News. I generally have no idea what goes on over at NBC, CBS, ABC or any form of their progeny, yet this morning, thanks to my wife allowing one of the MSM channels to linger on the bedroom television, I had a few minutes glimpse of the NBC Today Show with Matt Lauer and whoever the sidekick is over there.
Earlier in the morning, before I stumbled across the NBC offering, I had been informed by Fox and Friends that today marked the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. In fact, in studio today the Fox crew had a number of Marines, in their formal Blue Dress uniforms and closer to the end of the program they exhibited the tradition of their cake-cutting ceremony. They use a sword, the oldest Marine served first, who in turn serves the youngest. It was nice to start the day with that sense of pride, patriotism, service and duty that comes from honoring the history of a branch of our Armed Forces. Although not totally insidious, and no one disputes that the Julie Andrews movie is a classic and favorite of many, by contrast NBC Today Show was touting today to be the 45th anniversary of The Sound of Music. In fact, they had all seven members of the cast who played the Von Trapp family in studio.
I do not know whether the NBC Today show ever acknowledged the USMC birthday. Doesn’t matter really, they likely would not have put any group of Marines in their studio anyway, unless they were confessing to some network-perceived war crime. While there is nothing wrong with a classic and inspiring family musical being presented as the “interesting anniversary of the day” by NBC, it made it clear in its own subtle way, the difference between what goes on at Fox News and what goes on in the MSM. In general, the MSM continues to feed tainted cake and recycled fluff and platitudes. . . easy to swallow bland niceties, unless they are dogging a political rival of the current President. On the other hand, yes, Fox News tends towards red meat. The difference in the nature and content of the broadcast topics and news choices makes clear to me that there are entirely divergent sets of thinking about what is, or should be, important to the viewer. Again, while I have nothing against The Sound of Music, reflecting on its importance and contribution to American life as compared to the recognition of the USMC’s birthday, I find it to be no contest. USMC wins, hands down. Sadly, I honestly believe that the precise opposite view is taken by many in the MSM, at NBC and even some of their viewership. They despise the military, patriotism, and anything that generally involves acknowledging any greatness in our country. They are entitled to their opinion it is still America. Thanks to the USMC.
The folks out there in the MSM (and this includes Comedy Central and HBO twit-wonks disguised as comedians) and their followers, that do not get it, well they do not get me or most of America for that matter. They do not realize that you survive much longer on red meat than cake and fluff. Which is why long, long ago I bid them all . . .“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu” . . .
Ross Bennett, Patriot
