The biggest problem with America is that the vast majority of Americans want us to be THE world superpower, but are unwilling to do the homework necessary to handle the responsibility. An average American”s knowledge of foreign relations and history comes more from Hollywood than reality, and the former has been particularly biased against Arabs/Moslems. I watch various news programs daily and try to hear as many points of view as possible, because all sources have their shortcomings and spin.
Every day I watch the following: ABC (best mainstream news, but lacks context, and follow- up while deceiving by omission, and runs interference for corporate interests); CNN (unreliable info-tainment, with idiotic talk shows); FOX (propaganda arm of the GOP, amusingly stupid right-wing echo chamber); Democracy Now! (sometimes tedious lefty viewpoint, but in-depth, genuine journalism-A+); Deutsche Velle (good continental source, but too much soccer); BBC (sometimes interesting, but oftentimes timid and predictable); Mosaic/link TV (excellent program featuring broadcasts from all over the Middle East, everything from the state-run Israeli and Iranian stations to Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, which are as good or better than any mainstream American station. The worst station they present is Al-Iraqiya, the American-run Iraqi station that”s 100 percent propaganda. Also worth mentioning is Counterpunch.org, which features some of the best writers in America, like Patrick Cockburn who lives in Iraq and has been sending the most detailed and accurate reports for years.
Another component missing is American history, and everything you need to know is in just two books: “A People”s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn (no quick read, but excellent detail and honesty), and “Killing Hope US military and CIA interventions since World War II”, by William Blum (a handy guide to who hates us and why). Both books should be required reading; if you don”t know the information in them you can”t consider yourself well-informed.
Philip Murphy
Lakeport
