Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/thoughts-on-two-recent-uproars

Comment #2115

2010-09-11T20:31:23Z

Yes, the media carries a heavy guilt in this, I agree, though we can't say for sure the grainy youtube video wouldn't have gone underground viral. The media doesn't bear the entire blame, though. The reactions of all directly and indirectly offended parties has been unfortunate, from burning US flags in Pakistan to the OMG squawkachatter online. If someone in Pakistan threatened to spit on a consecrated host just before Christmas, would you let that distract you from Advent and Christmas festivities? Would you go burn a Pakistani flag, or pour vitriol into the cracks of cyberspace?

I think this post dovetails nicely with Salatin's first quote: we're afraid of the fringe. We're afraid of a charismatic guy who, until this all got blown out of proportion, had failed in pretty much all parts of his organisation's name.

Now he's got the "world" part covered, thanks to the world covering him.

Comment #2114

2010-09-10T13:22:56Z

Frustrating. With more and more people using feedreaders, the possibilities for being misunderstood are even greater.

Comment #2113

2010-09-10T12:48:31Z

It's strange that in Bloglines only the first line showed up as italicized. It made it look like the rest were your words. Just thought you'd like to know.

Comment #2112

2010-09-09T15:37:10Z

Okay, he wrote it first, though I didn't read his column until just now. But Mike Thomas agrees with me.

*As much as everyone is blaming [Jones], this is far from his fault. He's just a prop.

I ask you: If a sad little man burns some Qurans in the woods, and the media aren't there to film it, is it news?

Of course not.

We created the Rev. Terry Jones from dust. And in two weeks, to dust he shall return. Then we'll move on to the guys who plan to run over the Quran at their monster-truck pull. Whatever it takes to keep your attention.

We could help head off such future nonsense if we folded up the circus tent and left Jones alone with his blowtorch and 30 followers.

Maybe if Gen. Petraeus told the media that it isn't Rev. Jones who is endangering troops. That it is our coverage of Rev. Jones. That without us, this book burning would be little more than a grainy video on YouTube.

Put the onus on a responsible party and hope it acts responsibly.

Fat chance.*