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Volume 41, Issue 5
October 28, 2003
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October
28, 2003
Media blamed for Iraq war misconceptions
Daniel
Raven
Mesa Legend
A study released on Oct. 2 indicated that 60 percent of the American
public held at least one of three common misconceptions about the U.S.-
led conflict in Iraq.
The three misconceptions cited were: that the United States found weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq; that clear evidence connects Saddam Hussein
with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and that people in foreign countries
either generally supported, or were evenly split between supporting and
opposing, the war in Iraq.
The study was comprised of seven polls reported between January and September
by the Program on International Policy Attitudes, based at the University
of Maryland, included 9,611 respondents and had a margin of error from
2 to 3.5 percent.
Faculty and students on the MCC campus shared their opinions on where
the blame lies for mistaken impressions about the situation in Iraq.
Sociology professor Jack Peterson placed the blame directly on the shoulders
of the American public, referring to the U.S. populace as “dumb
as a box of rocks.”
However, Peterson also credited the role of the media within the grand
scheme of things for much of the problem.
“I think you have to have more responsible journalism,” Peterson
said, as he called the media biased, and explained that there is also
a problem with elements within the media rushing to judgment and jumping
to false conclusions as they try to one-up each other.
“Let’s not go after conspiracy theories,” Peterson stated.
Although he believes the media is flawed and that “they have as
many mistakes and as many problems as they sometimes solve,” he
said that it is ultimately the public’s responsibility to be informed
consumers of media.
Erin Berry, an MCC student who spent four years in the Navy, believes
the government-controlled media is to blame, not the general public.
“You can’t get an objective point of view from the media because
the government only tells the media what the government wants the people
to know,” said Berry.
Berry explained that informed decisions could come from a population misled
by the media, if views could be easily expressed in academic institutions,
without fear of repercussions.
“Too many instructors across the U.S. are being punished for offering
insight into the situation,” Berry declared.
She added, “The only lesson we learned from Vietnam is not to tell
people what’s really going on.”
Another MCC student, Joaquin Sierra, also blamed the false truths accepted
by the public on the media and the power structure which he believes utilizes
the press as a means of manipulation.
“The people who control the media are the government, the people
in power, the people with money,” Sierra said.
Sierra explained that the misconceptions surrounding the war in Iraq were
in place to entice a reaction from the general population.
“Who else benefits from the reactions of the general populace but
the people in power?” he added.
“The fact that the Bush family are known oil tycoons and that we’re
going after the oil just seems way too convenient,” said Sierra
to explain how he believes those in power are benefiting from mistaken
impressions.
“It’s really sad that we have to question what we’re
hearing from the media, our most basic means of education outside our
personal lives,” he added.
“A very basic level of education would cure those three misconceptions,”
said MCC student William Reisert.
Reisert stated that he would not believe information about Iraq offered
by the media, and said, “I place blame on the general population
of America for being so passive, not realizing the power we have to take
a stand.”
“Our government is all about having the people involved, yet ignorance
is what really drives our population,” he said, and explained that
political apathy is really what allowed the misconceptions regarding the
situation in Iraq to catch hold.
“In all honesty, I would be ashamed to go to another country and
say I’m an American,” Reisert said, explaining that he does
have American pride, but that some American actions are nothing to be
proud of.
Mark Janecek, an Army Specialist, sends students he meets on campus to
recruiters for potential recruitment into the U.S. Army, and will be leaving
for Iraq soon, destined to be there by December.
A combat engineer, Janecek blamed President George W. Bush for the misconceptions,
or any advisers who misled Bush into believing them to be true.
Janecek explained that the people at the top are responsible for feeding
the information to the media.
“There needs to be better information and more facts,” Janecek
said, echoing common sentiment.
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