Mike Pouraryan
Journalism: What Should Be vs. What Is
As a emerging commentator and New Media Practitioner, I have continued to assess our world and reflect upon it. I have always felt that our best days are ahead of us and will continue to press this. The courage of those who report the truth drives me ever more on this project. One such courageous reporter is Jane Dutton of Al Jazeera English. She was granted an interview with the President of Eriteria. In her blog, she wrote about how the President of Eriteria calling her "insane". I nearly fell off my chair in laughter when I read her commentary.
I first got to know Eriteria when it was engaged in a bloody war for independence. It finally achieved it. But, I then got to listen to a report done by Al Jazeera about how terrible things are. The so-called President of Eriteria has been found to be one of the worst leaders in
Africa and has probably contributed to a profound sense of instability in the horn of Africa. So, if anyone is insane, it is he who believes that he knows better. He is one of the number of reasons that Africa suffers the reputation of being as backward as it is.
As I read on Jane Dutton's blog, I wrote a brief tribute to her in twitter. I congratulated her on being called insane, because it was a compliment from a man who is indeed insane. I truly hope that the work Al Jazeera does continues. I congratulate the Emir of Qatar for founding this network and for the wonderful gift he has given to the world. He has embraced the First Amendment in a major way and it is very refreshing.
Although America is blessed with the First Amendment, the so-called News Networks in America need to have the courage and open mindness of an Al Jazeera that strives to report the facts and share the perspective. The expose by the Nation Magazine about the Media Lobbying Complex is just one example of the culture of corruption in the Media Today. That is why alternative and new media must strive to be responsible and provide the way ahead to overcome the Corporatist culture that dominates the media today. One should not buy into the dogma. Although an uphill battle, it is the courage of journalists like Jane Dutton, Amy Goodman and many others that gives me hope. I wonder if this optimism is in vain.
I first got to know Eriteria when it was engaged in a bloody war for independence. It finally achieved it. But, I then got to listen to a report done by Al Jazeera about how terrible things are. The so-called President of Eriteria has been found to be one of the worst leaders in
As I read on Jane Dutton's blog, I wrote a brief tribute to her in twitter. I congratulated her on being called insane, because it was a compliment from a man who is indeed insane. I truly hope that the work Al Jazeera does continues. I congratulate the Emir of Qatar for founding this network and for the wonderful gift he has given to the world. He has embraced the First Amendment in a major way and it is very refreshing.
Although America is blessed with the First Amendment, the so-called News Networks in America need to have the courage and open mindness of an Al Jazeera that strives to report the facts and share the perspective. The expose by the Nation Magazine about the Media Lobbying Complex is just one example of the culture of corruption in the Media Today. That is why alternative and new media must strive to be responsible and provide the way ahead to overcome the Corporatist culture that dominates the media today. One should not buy into the dogma. Although an uphill battle, it is the courage of journalists like Jane Dutton, Amy Goodman and many others that gives me hope. I wonder if this optimism is in vain.
She said Eritrea provided military bases to both Israel and Iran within Eritrea and she forecasted that the next battle ground between Israel and Iran will be within Eritrea. Is this not insane? The president said “this is insane and wishful thinking” and he challenged her to come with concrete evidences and offered her to go and check for herself to those alleged military bases but she continued her insane accusations. This is indeed wishful thinking and the purpose of those who manufacture these deliberate lies is to get Eritrea hated by both the supporter the Arabs and Israel.
However this is should not surprise the world. A million Iraqis have perished because deliberately manufactured WMD “evidence” was used as a pretext to invade Iraq.
As for your allegation of creation of instability in horn of Africa, I am just wondering if there is a super power country called Eritrea. The Eritrea that everyone knows is a small country with very small population and very limited resources and therefore not capable of achieving the fantasies of the likes of Jane Dutton.
Let me tell you who has been creating instability in the horn since the end of WW2, it is the Special Interest Groups (SIG) in the US who selfishly and narrowly define the “Interest of the US” in the horn. Believe me we know for we are the victims of this misguided policy and as the result of this policy 300,000 innocent Eritreans have perished since John Foster Dulles arrogantly declared
“From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless, the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea Basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country [Eritrea] be linked with our ally, Ethiopia.”
It is in defiance, against all odds and successive SIG’s conspiracies that Eritrea exists and stands tall today.
As President clearly stated “Eritrea is not for sale, not for Iran, Israel, the United States or anybody” and the West don’t like this because they are used to buying and selling Africans since slavery so what do they do manufacture lies every day to tarnish the image of Eritrea. For them Eritrea is “a threat of good example”.
Abraham