Friday, May 04, 2007
The Power of the Spoken Word
I frequently read Issac Bailey's blog. Sometimes it is related to what he is discussing in his column and other times he writes about what others are saying. Either way I often find it thought provoking. This week he linked to a report from media researchers at Indiana University about Bill O'Reilly's style of news commentary. Not only do we have to ask some serious questions about O'Reilly's popularity, but also have to realize the power this kind of spoken word currently holds over our culture.
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4 comments:
Surely you don't expect a "fair and balanced" report from a US University. O'Reilly may be abrasive at times, but I think he is trying to address problems that others shy away from because we are trying to be too PC. He tells it like it is, that's why he is so disliked by many.
O'Reilly sometimes makes me want to throw bricks at the temple when he tries to say that there are no bricks and no temples.
Will expound later....pan on fire!
I find this article to be more than about Bill O’Reilly. It reminds me how powerful word usage can be not only by O’Reilly, but also by others media persons and how discerning we need to be. Freedom of press needs to be handled with care and responsibility.
The church is not immune to this kind of manipulation of thought. Political and theological points are often argued with incendiary words, misconstrued information and negative voice. This is not only a leadership matter, but one for members to prayerfully consider, also. How often we use and hear racist, sexist and derogatory comments in conversation with one another?
Jean, thank you for your last comment. You are so very on target. O'Reilly and others who host similar radio talk shows and TV programs are, first and foremost, entertainers. Their primary job is to gain ratings and advertising dollars. Unbiased news reporting would not acieve either of those goals. Sadly, they seem to all feel the best way to entertain the listeners is to be bombastic, caustic, and demeaning. One only needs to listen to how callers with opposing points of view are treated to get a good picture of the intentional style employed.
The truly sad implication is the influence it seems to have on the public. The O'Reillys of the airwaves are motivated to appeal to emotions, not inform the reasoned mind. Too many of us seem to believe that being abrasive and derogatory is now the acceptable form of discourse. And, yes, even church settings are not immune. I argue that it is not polite and certainly not Christian. I believe it has led to fueling feelings of dislike and even hatred in this country for dems, neocons, feminazis, Islamic facists, aliens (legal and illegal), Hispanics, blacks, Jews, Muslims, and any other segment of people anyone can find fault with. I wonder--who is in the position to throw the first stone?
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