The Daily Detour

The power of story

Folks, sorry for the delay in putting something up here at TDD. With the holiday festivities and the lingering effects from the Thanksgiving injection of tryptophan, I've been negligent in keeping up with the latest cultural happenings and passing them on to you.

I ran across this commentary by John Harris over at the Politico concerning the power of story, especially as it relates to President Obama. We as people are influenced by stories. From Jesus' parables to the illustrations in a book or speech, we connect with stories. For many people, a person's story reveals points of connection and commonality with those who hear it. (Example: I just finished reading Sarah Palin's autobiography, Going Rogue, and had a spontaneous conversation with a lady at our local coffeshop who emphasized exactly that. In fact, Palin's story is one of the reasons why her book outsold Hillary Clinton's autobiography in just one week.)

Harris insightfully points out that in today's media-saturated age, the politician who gets their story in the minds of the people wins--a feat which the Obama campaign executed with enviable efficiency. (In fact, I'm just starting into David Plouffe's fascinating account of the campain, The Audacity to Win. Plouffe was Obama's campaign manager and one of the chief architects of that historic campaign.)

The interesting thing about people's connection to stories is that people will tend to buy into a well-crafted story--even if that story proves to be more fairy tale than truth. As Harris points out, that is the danger that Obama is running into. A danger that could perhaps be just the creation of the antagonistic opposition, or simply the result of his own making.

Take a look at the Politico's "7 stories Obama doesn't want told" and judge for yourself whether there is merit to them or not. I'm sure that your political persuasion will heavily influence your take on their merit, but they are worth considering regardless. Because the outcome of these storylines can have significant impact no matter which side of the political aisle any of us is on.

UPDATE: Interestingly, the Palin reference above seems to drawn more attention than the main point of the post. Thus, it seems worth noting that HarperCollins reported on Tuesday that Palin's memoir has surpassed the 1 million mark in just two weeks.

Turning up the heat on the global warming theory

The news is spreading about the hacking of the computers at University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit (CRU) in the United Kingdom last week. This represents one of the leading "expert" sources on global warming. Why is this significant? Because the over 3,000 emails and documents that found their way to the web reveal the effort to hide the truth about climate change.

As you might imagine, the nature of the emails has generated considerable interest. And for the gurus of global warming, it has caused understandable concern. Interestingly, someone today pointed out that if the truth about the global warming is that the globe is not warming, those who have continued to sound the alarm should be ecstatic. And yet, they are anything but. Which only makes sense if it turns out that the Goracle & Co. are perpetuating a conspiracy--based on a theory in which they have invested considerable time, energy, and reputation. This latest development does not bode well for their cause, so we'll see...

FOX News outfoxed...

...by incompetence or stupidity--or both? Hard to say without all of the facts. But it's come to light that FOX News used misleading footage this week showing Sarah Palin "at a book signing" with huge crowds when in reality, the crowds shown were actually from a 2008 rally during the presidential campaign. It could have been attributed to honest mix-up, and FOX News has apologized. The only problem is that this is the second time in as many weeks that the news organization has made the same kind of error.

I have always appreciated the attempts by FOX News to share the sides of a story that would never make it into the same story as told through the liberal MSM lens. Though their more conservative bias is hardly hidden, their mantra of being "fair and balanced" can be seen simply by that role they play in providing a counterweight to the MSM.

This is why, in my opinion, these kinds of errors are absolutely unacceptable. For any news organization, the ability to establish trust with your audience should be paramount to all other priorities. If trust is lost, what is left? And for a news organization like FOX News in particular, doctoring footage or stories to present a slant is especially disappointing. More than that, it is gross negligence. FOX already faces daily criticism from the MSM and the increasingly vocal liberal camps. Which is why there is all the more reason to be extra vigilant with the facts, given the fact that the libs are looking for any excuse to fire the deadly salvo which will cripple the FOX juggernaut.

FOX News is certainly not alone is this tendency to utilize footage to do more than report a story. Though there are many who are reluctant to admit it, the MSM has turned it into an art form. And certainly there are the usual liberal antagonists who continually argue that that is what FOX News does all the time anyway. But the advantage that FOX has held (which has jettisoned them to the top of the news reporting heap as they continue to outstrip the competition) is being the more conservative voice to counter-balance the daily dose of liberal bias being promoted on the MSM channels.

The astute news consumer should be one who filters the news from all sources--be it the MSM, FOX News, or whatever internet site one visits regularly. But if FOX begins to make a habit of this kind of lowbrow news reporting, the trust they have built with their audience over the years will erode. And worse yet, they will be no different than those news organizations with whom they are competing for our attention.

The "jobs saved" numbers were inflated?

Not long ago, the Obama adminstration proudly announced the jobs that they said had been saved through the stimulus recovery plan. Now, however, it seems the Obama administration may have over inflated the statistics. And it's got one Democratic heavyweight hoppin' mad. As Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) stated in no uncertain terms:

"The inaccuracies on recovery.gov that have come to light are outrageous and the Administration owes itself, the Congress, and every American a commitment to work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes. Whether the numbers are good news or bad news, I want the honest numbers and I want them now."

Rep. Obey is exactly right. And it is refreshing to see him step beyond the expected partisan bias in order to address the issue straightforwardly. As difficult as hard truth is, we will never determine the road to recovery if we are unwilling to recognize the obstacles in our way. Special thanks to this prominent Democrat for his efforts to do just that. 

Dancing around the Truth

"Okay, enough with the dead horse already, Crane." :) Maybe, but I keep harping on this issue of Truth, because it is so fundamental, especially regarding something as life-altering as terrorist attacks. And it seems others are recognizing it as well.

This excellent article by Michael Goodwin points out how President Obama has been dancing around the harsh realities of the Ft. Hood massacre. (God forbid we call it terrorism.) Furthermore, over at the Culture and Media Institute, Carolyn Plocher and Dan Gainor point out how the MSM has been downplaying the connection between the terrorist act at Ft. Hood and Islam. Can we not call it what it is? How does downplaying the true reality help us in the long run?

This will continue to be a significant issue until the Islamic jihadists decide to lay down their car bombs (which they won't). And with the 9/11 terrorists' trials having been moved from Guantanamo Bay to NYC, the question of Truth will now be put to the test. Amidst the inevitable legal wrangling, let's hope Truth prevails in the end. The families of victims deserve justice, and so does the country. 

One year into the new era of hope and change

The dreams were lofty, the promises plentiful... Such is the nature of any political campaign, but President Obama took the formula to new heights last year in the 2008 presidential election.

Now the campaign is long over and the challenge of governing has been underway. And that challenge is proving more formidable than Obama may have realized, a reality that is posing problems for Obama as his approval rating continues to slip and disillusion sets in.

Last week, a person on the radio posed an interesting question, "If you could vote for Obama today, would you do it?" It seems more and more people would say, "No." What about those of you who voted for Obama--would you vote for him today?

Thank you to our veterans

Utmost respect for those among us who have served in harm's way is a continuing theme here at TDD. This morning, I had the privilege of joining my Mom and Dad at Kingsway Christian School for the Veteran's Day celebration that the children put on. It was a very touching tribute to the 40+ veterans in attendance, from WWII to Iraq and Afghanistan. It was so encouraging to see the children developing the necessary respect for America and the military men and women who has served it so faithfully. (Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your service in Vietnam.)

As I reflect back on the significance of this Veteran's Day, I can only wish that we treated every day as Veteran's day. We have so much to be thankful for, so much that we take for granted. So, thank you to all of you who have sacrifically served all of us.

The post by Jules Crittenden which I linked to back in March of 2007 is worth reading again. Thus, I close with a portion of that TDD post:

...I thank the Lord Almighty for the substitutionary sacrifices of those of you who willingly stand in harm's way on our behalf (and to your families who bear that unseen burden). It is because of you that we enjoy the freedoms we have, even the freedom shared by that forgettable sub-set of our culture who protest your efforts to afford us those freedoms. And I echo the comments of Jules Crittenden who wrote of those who serve, "John Eade and all others, living or dead, where do we get such men? Why do we deserve them?" Why indeed. To those of you who stand courageously against the forces of evil in our world, thank you. We are not worthy of you.

Truth and Islam in light of Ft. Hood

Last week, I talked about the need to examine the tragedy at Ft. Hood in light of the truth, which is proving increasingly difficult in our politically-correct culture. We ignore the true motivation behind the shootings at our peril.

It seems others are drawing similar conclusions. Over at Politics Daily, Jeffrey Weiss writes a very fair-minded assessment of this situation in light of other killings in the name of Islam. Part of his analysis correctly acknowledges that most Muslims could be considering peace-loving people. But as he points out,

And yet, there is that small fraction of Muslims who take another, horrible meaning from their sacred texts and act upon it. Consider that if only one-tenth of one percent of Muslims in the world hold to that violent ideology, that's a million people.

Weiss makes an interesting comparison with the other shooting that happened in Orlando a day after the Ft. Hood massacre.

The other terrible shooting in America last week happened in Orlando. From the details now available, a man named Jason Rodriguez killed one person and wounded five others. In the aftermath of that event, I can find no stories asking Hispanics about any sense of responsibility they might share. Nor, given the statistical probability about the religious beliefs of American Hispanics, have Catholics been asked for a reaction...

And when he started shooting, I can find no account that says he shouted anything about La Raza or Jesus.

But in Fort Hood, the shooter himself introduced his religion into the narrative. That's the difference. And it's a difference that matters.

My point exactly! We can't ignore the difference any more than we can treat cancer like a common cold. If we're dealing with a common cold, then fine. But if the reality is much more serious than a common cold, what good comes from ignoring it? 

"Tear down this wall!"

On June 12, 1987, then-President Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall and famously challenged Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev, "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" In the light of history, those forceful words from President Reagan foreshadowed the eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago today--on Nov. 9, 1989--and ushered in the ultimate demise of the Soviet empire and communism.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a visual symbol of the humanity's universal quest for liberty. And it essentially demonstrated the bankruptcy of the Marxist worldview. In my own brief analysis of the fatal flaw of Marxism (or "Critical Theory" as it is termed in academic circles), I asserted that those who promote the Marxist worldview fail to account for the fallen human condition. This was one of the fundamental ideas I posed in a doctoral essay on the subject:

According to Crotty (2003) the assured hope of Marxist theory is that “the conflict today between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat will lead to the development of a socialist, then communist, world, a classless society born of an emancipatory process and offering true freedom to all.” (p. 119) Such a vision has a certain attraction that would be the envy of any person. Who would not want to live in such a world?

The fulfillment of such a dream, however, appears to be based on the humanistic assumption that humanity, if given true freedom, will choose the good. But, is that an accurate reflection of human nature? Theoretically speaking, for example, what happens when the proletariat overthrows the fetters placed on them by the bourgeoisie? What restraints are there to prevent them from evolving into the new bourgeoisie?

There seems to be an underlying assumption embedded in Critical Theory which suggests that such a reality would never come about, because those who have been oppressed—through classism, racism, sexism and the like—will utilize the lessons learn through their collective experiences to create a better world for all people.

I would concur that the improvement of our world is possible to a degree, and we should all certainly use our experiential understandings about life to pursue such an end. However, is the inherent nature of humanity really bent toward to the good—and therefore, is utopia on earth ever truly possible? In his letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton Lord Acton contends that “All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (Federer, 2000, p. 2) In this statement Lord Acton is not speaking about a particular class of people. Rather, his statement is inclusive in its illumination of the human condition, a condition that cannot be overlooked when considering Marxist theory. Because Marxist theory is based on a theological ideology of atheistic humanism, the efforts at such a communal utopia will always be hindered by the inherent nature of humanity, an obstacle which inevitably begins to erode the very foundation of the theory itself.

Ironically, history has shown the problems with Marxist ideology. And yet, there are those in our own country, who continue to embrace the supposed utopia that Marxism promises to bring. At some point, we must ask ourselves why people are risking their lives, for example, to come from Cuba to the United States, and not the other way around?

Pursuing Truth in the Ft. Hood tragedy

As the investigation into the Ft. Hood massacre continues, it is interesting to note some of the developments. One of the biggest ones to grab the nation's attention is that Major Nidal Malik Hasan was not only a fervent practicing Muslim, but that during the shootings he reportedly uttered the words, "Allahu Akbar!" ("God is great!") in Arabic, the same phrase often used by Islamic jihadists who engage in suicide bombings.

Obviously, the development of this particular angle on the story is raising a number of questions and concerns that require our attention. But unfortunately, it seems that most of the national news coverage is shying away from the Muslim connection in an apparent politically-correct effort to keep the peace (with FOX News being the notable exception).

As I was talking with a good friend of mine this morning about this incident, the subject of Truth came up. I mentioned to him that the tendency in our culture to diminish the idea of absolute Truth has put us all at greater risk. For if we are unwilling to face the Truth of a given situation, then we are unable to identify dangers and seek justice.

The Truth is, Major Hasan's motivation may have nothing to do with his devotion to Islam. And if so, then we can (and should) explore other possibilities. But if, however, his motivation was driven by his Muslim ideology, our unwillingness to acknowledge the Truth of that reality is our fault. And as I've said many times before, we ignore the Truth at our peril.