Wednesday, September 27, 2006
commentary - media
So yes, I'll admit. In the "battle" of Good Morning America and The Today Show, I've entered the GMA zone (but only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
For those that caught this morning's shows, there was quite an interesting report on a recent documentary released about a "Jesus camp." The issue: is it religious fervor or brainwashing?
It started out sounding just like a retreat or revival type camp out in North Dakota. It says that is it for "evangelical Christians," a term used more loosely everyday. Aimed towards children aged from elementary through high school, the camp is more than just your typical Bible camp. The children speak in tongues, crying out into a microphone so the rest of the massively large group can hear. A speaker condemns Harry Potter to hell. A field trip may include a stop at a political protest against abortion or another issue.
One thing GMA did that was commendable was to get all sides of the story. Their guests were Becky Fischer, creator of the camp's organization Kids MInistries International, and Mike Papantonio, radio host of "Ring of Fire" on Air America.
Several good points were made by both individuals on the show this morning, although neither seems to have satisfied the masses (see the GMA message boards here). One of the continuing debates (in the past few hours) has been over Papantonio's statement regarding the age of the Earth (fyi - plenty of Christians are on both sides of the argument, and I don't think either of the views are completely wrong).
Here's the problem with media coverage: the whole shebang covering this documentary took only several minutes. In fact, if you look at the episode summaries of the day, it doesn't even list this as one of the stories. Definitely not on their list of things to cover wholly. The longest clip you actually see from the documentary is only several seconds long. And you can expect that the documentary itself has been cut to suit the director's bias (they all are - unintentional, most likely, but also unavoidable).
In the past year or so in journalism school, that's one thing I've definitely learned. Despite all attempts to be unbiased or objective, it is absolutely impossible unless you have no interest in the issue at all, at which point most journalists (especially students who aren't getting paid for the assignment) wouldn't cover it at all.
There are many things that make sense about a Jesus camp, although maybe not that Jesus camp. Growing up Christian has also taught me that there are many things that don't make sense in the way people, even Christians, interpret the Bible and its teachings. That is one of the drawbacks that makes it difficult to rely on a document that's thousands of years old, but I don't think that negates the accuracy or truthfulness of it at a whole.
Fischer, who created the camp in question, had one very good point to make, however, about the crossover between religion and politics. She said, to paraphrase, that as a Christian, it is inherently impossible to leave her beliefs at the door of the polling place. It reverberates into every part of her life, and as a contributing citizen to society, voting is part of it.
With the ongoing decline of voting in this country, that is something many believers and non-believers alike should take to heart. If you're going to be complaining about the religious right vote, then I expect you to be voting yourself. If not, then you've got nothing to complain about.
Lesson: whatever your thoughts on Christians or Jesus camps, please vote. Midterm elections are this November, so register ASAP (there is usually a deadline of a month of so before an election to register). If you are too lazy to go to the polls, there is an absentee option. No excuses!
For those that caught this morning's shows, there was quite an interesting report on a recent documentary released about a "Jesus camp." The issue: is it religious fervor or brainwashing?
It started out sounding just like a retreat or revival type camp out in North Dakota. It says that is it for "evangelical Christians," a term used more loosely everyday. Aimed towards children aged from elementary through high school, the camp is more than just your typical Bible camp. The children speak in tongues, crying out into a microphone so the rest of the massively large group can hear. A speaker condemns Harry Potter to hell. A field trip may include a stop at a political protest against abortion or another issue.
One thing GMA did that was commendable was to get all sides of the story. Their guests were Becky Fischer, creator of the camp's organization Kids MInistries International, and Mike Papantonio, radio host of "Ring of Fire" on Air America.
Several good points were made by both individuals on the show this morning, although neither seems to have satisfied the masses (see the GMA message boards here). One of the continuing debates (in the past few hours) has been over Papantonio's statement regarding the age of the Earth (fyi - plenty of Christians are on both sides of the argument, and I don't think either of the views are completely wrong).
Here's the problem with media coverage: the whole shebang covering this documentary took only several minutes. In fact, if you look at the episode summaries of the day, it doesn't even list this as one of the stories. Definitely not on their list of things to cover wholly. The longest clip you actually see from the documentary is only several seconds long. And you can expect that the documentary itself has been cut to suit the director's bias (they all are - unintentional, most likely, but also unavoidable).
In the past year or so in journalism school, that's one thing I've definitely learned. Despite all attempts to be unbiased or objective, it is absolutely impossible unless you have no interest in the issue at all, at which point most journalists (especially students who aren't getting paid for the assignment) wouldn't cover it at all.
There are many things that make sense about a Jesus camp, although maybe not that Jesus camp. Growing up Christian has also taught me that there are many things that don't make sense in the way people, even Christians, interpret the Bible and its teachings. That is one of the drawbacks that makes it difficult to rely on a document that's thousands of years old, but I don't think that negates the accuracy or truthfulness of it at a whole.
Fischer, who created the camp in question, had one very good point to make, however, about the crossover between religion and politics. She said, to paraphrase, that as a Christian, it is inherently impossible to leave her beliefs at the door of the polling place. It reverberates into every part of her life, and as a contributing citizen to society, voting is part of it.
With the ongoing decline of voting in this country, that is something many believers and non-believers alike should take to heart. If you're going to be complaining about the religious right vote, then I expect you to be voting yourself. If not, then you've got nothing to complain about.
Lesson: whatever your thoughts on Christians or Jesus camps, please vote. Midterm elections are this November, so register ASAP (there is usually a deadline of a month of so before an election to register). If you are too lazy to go to the polls, there is an absentee option. No excuses!
# posted by ange : 10:46 AM
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