Below is a topic post I made on the Anti-Hate League Group page. If feel it's blog worthy. There are a lot of ideas here. None of them are necessarily clear; I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Differences define us & persecution galvanizes us. How can you stop or weak the efforts of political (or religious) theater? Can you?
For example, currently several conservative media groups such as Bill Oreilly’s Fox News program suggest there is a currently a liberal war on Christmas. For example, Target & Wal-Mart now use “Happy Holidays” in signage in lieu of “Merry Christmas”. I do not want to debate the relevance or tradition of Christmas nor the “need” to be sensitive to other religious beliefs. Companies are being sensitive in hopes of reaching a greater market share not necessarily out of goodness of their heart. The Market Demands it. But TV political theater such as this war on Christmas conspiracy is also demanded by the market. How can we create civil discourse when political/religious drama is so effective?
Here is where I would like to focus this discussion.
Society’s Values
Corporations pander to the masses thus have the greatest interest in appeasing everyone hence “Happy Holidays”. There is a silver lining to this cold objective calculation. If Corporations focused on the majority it would be “Merry Christmas”. Instead, we get a watered down but more palatable generic season’s greetings. Not everyone is happy but few are unhappy.
Media & Politics
I understand the symbolism & tradition in a “Merry Christmas”. But creating a war on Christmas conspiracy feeds very well into the effective conservative message of a persecuted Christian minority. I don’t care if you agree or disagree with this fringe debate. The point is it works. Perception of persecution galvanizes people. In this case the conservative right, which is in desperate need of support given the president’s latest poll numbers.
Here are questions I feel it raises:
1) Lets assume, Political theater (pitting radical left & right pundits) creates strong TV ratings. Are TV ratings truly a reflection of consumer demands? Will you watch out of outrage & shock? (i.e. Howard Stern)
2) Is there a responsibility placed on the consumer? (You the TV viewer) By watching you support ideals different to your own.
3) If you ignore it & change the channel do we risk loosing the public discourse?
4) Will the growth of online media fracture the mass appeal cable has the way it fractured network TV?
5) Does engaging in a debate lend it credence? (Even a fringe debate) Or at least propagate the idea(s) it has set out?
6) Do you see public funded TV (NPR, PBS or BBC) as a solution?
How I see it:
I personally believe we consume media base on our beliefs (left or right). This only reinforces them. The internet allows us to make our daily news even more selective. We run the risk of alienating ourselves from real debate. On the other hand, those who enjoy vibrant debate (such as this MySpace group) can seek it out. I am hopeful that the ability to share similar ideas & interests will create groups that can stand on their own from leftist socialists to fundamental Christians. It will always be in our best interest to compromise.