It occurs to me, as a part-time political junkie, and increasingly committed follower of Jesus, flipping through the Cable News Channels, and reading media accounts -- is anyone listening?
Does it even make sense that media outlets selectively choose what part of a 'story' to tell, then ask you an opinion poll question -- often leading -- as 'what do you think'?
We have heard from the pulpit how the next generation of young adults is trained to be skeptical. Forgive my own skepticism, then -- and I sadly am no longer a young adult -- but I wonder if they have been trained not to ask questions, rather to doubt everything. That may be a fine line -- but I think that what we have in play is chronic cynicism, and that is not skepticism. It is tuning out... not listening... putting out a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on one's forehead.
As for the general public? I'd probably be wrong to pretend to know the prevailing attitude -- skepticism, cynicism.... optimism, anyone?
Part of the difficulty is the filter through which we read the world -- our depndency on the media for usable (aka condensed) information -- our often imperfect lens of family history and personal experience. And time. Who has the time to sort this 'stuff' out?
This is just my opinion -- for what it is worth -- but our news media has derailed itself completely. It is increasingly difficult to find the facts, let alone discern the truth. And, not being a conspiracy theorist, it is frustrating -- and angers me greatly -- to see and hear the spin machine so totally out of control.
I listened to both of Reverend Wright's speeches -- one to the NAACP in Detroit, one to the National Press Club. I listened to each in full. What I heard was an eloquent preacher describe his theology -- Liberation, Transformation, and Reconciliation. Remove the voice and the cadence and an occasional choice of words -- and if you can get copies of the actual transcript, read them -- and you might as well be listening to our own pastor.
But that is not what happens here. I seriously doubt that more than a handful of people watched Wright on C-SPAN. So, you are left with commentary disguised as fact, and such an obvious validation of Wright's own complaints about the media. Compare the soundbites to the whole. Compare the talking heads' commentary to what was actually said. Folks, its no contest.
When Bill O'Reilly speaks of "hateful rhetoric", where is the hate? The only hate I hear is Bill's dislike for the truth. I heard none coming from Wright. Not even a 'biteful'.
FOX's Hannity & Colmes headlines "Wright threatens O'Bama". Indeed, the Reverend pointed out, in a Q&A, that should O'Bama become President, he will "come after him, too" [if needed] over US policy that is wrongful. Does the "pithy" tag line belie the intent of the message? I think so.
'Loon" and 'Kook" -- now those are clearly thoughtful, objective terms. Never mind, Bill, who asserted that Reverend Wright said "any criticism of any of his comments is a criticism of black churches."? That is not what was said. and O'Reilly's 'new math' example -- that criticism of Wright = criticism of black churchgoers = racism -- is Bill's words, Bill's logic, and Bill's paranoia. He can spare us.
I could go on -- but what's my point? That we have a tendency not to listen carefully, that we jump to conclusions when we get vested emotionally in issues, that we don't take time to walk in another person's shoes, that we react defensively when honest questions are asked and the stus quo is challenged? Yes. Exactly.
And its not just 'out there', but we are a part of it. Which is why the current sermon series hits so closely, causes discomfort and frustration and pain, and rather not be a part of our dialogue. I just wonder, should the title be "Do U Hear Me Now"?
Rev. Wright (Bill Moyers Journal): "Hermeneutic is an interpretation, it's the window from which you're looking is your hermeneutic. And when you don't realize that this whole thing has been framed through this window, there's another world out here that I'm not looking at or taking into account, it gives you a perspective that-- that is-- that is informed by and limited by your hermeneutic."
and a tad more definition: A hermeneutic is also defined as a specific system or method for interpretation, or a specific theory of interpretation. However, the contemporary philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer has said that hermeneutics is an approach rather than a method.
Essentially, hermeneutics involves cultivating the ability to understand things from somebody else's point of view, and to appreciate the cultural and social forces that may have influenced their outlook. Hermeneutics is the process of applying this understanding to interpreting the meaning of written texts and symbolic artifacts (such as art or sculpture or architecture), which may be either historic or contemporary.
Hermeneutics interest includes also recognition and explanation of parables, metaphors and insinuations.
I learned this concept as something called a perceptual filter in a highschool psych class. It's fascinated me ever since. From an external concept with clients I've worked with, friends I've debated with, and from my own experiences of it helping me, hindering me, and providing growth through.. it's a constant process, I think... I hope. I was excited to hear Rev Wright speak to this idea, I was delighted to see your post.
When I hear or read Jesus say, 'those with ears, hear, those with eyes, see'... this is what I think of... each time ... I sense that God is helping me to clean my filters, encouraging me to let a part go....
I watch PBS Newshour and BBC news now. It's not perfect, but it's not the US mass media, either. I remember watching the news as a kid and getting.. the news... I remember seeing the helicopters in Vietnam, I remember asking my Mom about the Watergate trials that were on tv. I remember my Dad asking me if I thought the news was honest, even back in the late 70's, it was shown to me there was media bias... that is my nutshell understanding of skepticism. I think mass media news has gone far beyond biased now. I don't even think it's news. Just spin and talking points. (that might be cynicism ;)
As for the younger generations... I don't know Eric.. I think in some ways they are far more savvy then I was at the time, but.. they've also seen a lot more BS as well.
Good points, E! I've found the best source of news is the internet, the best place to get all sides in a hurry. We don't watch news on TV, none. We learned many years ago how nearly every story is slanted for a purpose.
This is why I love you guys. You can take an issue and really look at it from all sides in an objective way. The 30 second sound bite can be used to inflame; it takes comments out of context and shapes them to meet the presenters perspective. I fear how my opening sentence could be framed... I can't begin to understand an African-American perspective, I was raised in a white middle class family. I can however understand history and understand the fear that was and is still there for a race of people put into slavery and discriminated against for many, many years. And so why would I take comments and judge the intent or reason. I prefer tolerance and a willingness to have dialogue and be educated. I am amazed that a member of a race so persecuted by his country can consistently speak of pride with this same country and hope for a better future. This is what gives me hope for the future.
It's a crazy world we live in, I read the Sunday paper only and watch TV news for weather and sports, period. Is anyone listening? Is anyone listen to complete sentences?
The mainstream media -- in particular FOX (heretofore, ironically, my cable news channel of choice for being "fair and balanced") -- continues to do its massive hatchet job on Pastor Wright. There is plenty to pick on, but let's put this in perspective -- using Sean Hannity as your moral compass may land you further South than you expect.
Generally, it pays to be well-informed before one shares one's thoughts -- oh, I know, that is so pre-talk-radio and twenty-four hour cable news cycle. When one ventures to attack a man's character, one ought to be prepared to deal with the truth known by others and not just the personal knee-jerk judgements one often indulges in. That, my freind, is just plain old "looking out for you" -- "you" often being our own worst enemy (and not "they").
Or, as Walt Kelly observed through the eyes of Pogo: "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Anyway, Martin E. Marty is a distinguished Lutheran scholar and author associated with the University of Chicago, who has some experience with The Reverend Jeramiah Wright:
Contrast Marty's words -- those of a scholar -- with tthe condescending remarks of a smugly immature Sean Hannity -- describing Wright and his pastoral role at Trinity:
"In the end, however, Jeremiah was the prophet of hope, and that note of hope is what attracts the multiclass membership at Trinity and significant television audiences. Both Jeremiahs gave the people work to do: to advance the missions of social justice and mercy that improve the lot of the suffering. For a sample, read Jeremiah 29, where the prophet's letter to the exiles in Babylon exhorts them to settle down and "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile." Or listen to many a Jeremiah Wright sermon."
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