These People, Those People, Them People

Yesterday, I was listening on the radio to Bill O’Reilly’s latest rant about the ‘elite media.’ I heard him say, "These people just hate Bush! They will say anything to make him look bad!"

After hearing that, isn’t it obvious that ‘these people’ and their ideas should be disqualified from consideration by any ‘no spin zone’ disciple?

Later the same day I punished my open mind by listening to Sean Hannity on the radio. While listening to his latest attack on the ‘evil doer’ enemies of his beloved America I heard him say, "Those people hate us because of our freedom! They have no values!"

Thanks for the insight, Sean! Since ‘you report and I decide’, I have decided to hate all of ‘those people’. Since I am supposed to be ‘fair and balanced,’ do I hate all 1.7 billion of ‘them people?’

It reminds me of when I was a child and I was being taught my early lessons in prejudice. While speaking of blacks, a close racist relative said, "Them people just don’t know their place!"

Fortunately, my mind and spirit overcame and I keenly learned to note the attempts at prejudicial influencing.

‘These people’ is not all of the media besides Bill O’Reilly. All ideas, including Bill O’Reilly's, should be considered by an open mind.

‘Those people’ is not all of the 1.7 billion Muslim populations. On 9/11 19 criminals that were supported by an estimated 1000, committed heinous crimes towards America. I know you know that. However, a lot of people don't and that scares me.

We live in a complex, ideological world. Unfortunately, the masses are looking for simple answers. Perhaps it is unintentional, but terms like ‘these people’ creates imagery that can be overstated and damaging.

Consider this:

In 1775, when Great Britain attacked the United States of America for questionable cause, those who responded to the attack of their country were called ‘Patriots’.

In 2003, when the United States of America attacked Iraq for questionable cause, those who responded to the attack of their country are called ‘Insurgents.’

Between ‘Patriot’ and ‘Insurgent’ which creates a more favorable image to you? Is there really any difference between the two?

The people in the media are the historians of the current. The labels that they utiilize create the images that they choose. At times, responsibility is absent from that choice.

Readers might wonder why Rockwell listens to the likes of Bill O'Reilly & Sean Hannity.

For an answer I quote Michael Corleone, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

I do not consider Bill & Sean as 'Them People'. However, I do know that as long as they "Pied Piper" their followers with prejudicial methods, they are enemies of the open minded.