terror scare
So apparently the latest terror suspect to add to our ever-growing list is in our own kitchens. Its dark, its deadly, and its delicious with a bit of curry. Chappati flour. You have Got To Be Kidding Me.That’s how I felt when I saw the free newspapers this week spewing out their latest tale of terror in an effort to make an already anxious nation evermore paranoid. Big bold capitals and the usual mugshots of dubious looking foreigners, the tabloid press never fail to tick every box of sensationalistic reporting when covering these stories. But to what end? As a multi-ethnic and richly diverse nation, such articles can do little to help the relations between the different groups in society. They cannot fail to create suspicion, division and ultimately disunity at a time when unity is among our most powerful weapons against aggressors of any kind.
Yes we know terrorism is one of the greatest trials of our time. Yes we know we must be wary and careful. But is turning the nation into one great Big Brother really the answer? Is encouraging people to develop suspicion towards their neighbours and distrust their friends (especially those of particular ethnic origins) really the solution to the modern dangers we are forced to face? I don’t think so.
At the one hand we are told to unite against terrorism, at the other we are told to distrust everyone and divide. And the danger is we might do just that. Those who work to prevent others from influencing their opinions may feel that the effects of media bias and political brainwashing to be somewhat insignificant. Yet the increasingly apparent trend is that many if not most people are indeed influenced by what they see and hear. Consequently words such as ‘terrorist’ would immediately conjure up particular images in most minds based on the propaganda they have been exposed to.
In true Orwellian style, the politicians and the media are working hard to control our thoughts and to encourage us to believe that we are in perpetual danger. To develop a culture of fear. And a people in fear are a people easy to control. A people who cannot think straight. This creates a comfortable opportunity for those in power to do the thinking for them.
To switch a nation’s basis for unity from an appreciation for diversity to a universal will to fight is hardly a healthy trade of common grounds. And the consequences are undeniable. As a nation it is time we ‘took our power back’. It is time we took the power to think, be reasonable and be united back and protect it from the persistent corrosion of those without our best interests at heart.
posted by dazey @ 12:01 PM
9 Comments:
Well well! Did you write this? Very journalist ish I must say. Very suited to a student of english. Saying that, I think I've become rather unscientific. Hmph. Disgraceful!
But hey, one thing has not changed! I still have no life. When there is a piece of coursework to be handed in I search for methods of procrastination and dicover... that dazey did pay a visit to the blogworld! :) And lol about the chappati flour. ''You have Got To Be Kidding me!'' was my reaction too. Complete with capital letters and all. You see I'm still rather anal about SPG. I foresee a lifetime of instilling such values in little children ahead of me...
xXx
salams deary!
i been thinking of u of late. how u been?
ye i was feeling things were going a bit far so had to bang out on the topic. chappati flour indeed!
xx
o lordy, came to urs for some light and traditionally blonde blogging, but this has far too many syllables and clauses for my mental state at present.
well done tho, moo.
x
o my apologies!
blonde blog to follow shortly;).
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sleepyhead said...
pink should be satisfied with both atia and fudge blogging about shoes.. I like this- it's not ranty and well said :) Are you serious though- are ppl apparently making chappati flour bombs? On non-Sprog-Bashing days??
Young Sunderland A has become a star in your absence! Just ask BSE she'll confirm the news that this is the cry ringing through the city of Mancdom
(I spelt absence wrong and it looked too illiterate- it still doesn't look write though!)
ugh right! not write! Man linguistics has made me one confused unlettered person...
aah yes so i hear! tho she cant and wont replace me i shall hav you all know! (lol, no worries anny u can make ur name :D)
and i was thinking perhaps the blog should take a turn for the non blonde (mostly). brilliant way to practice writing and get feedback (and have hopefully articulate rants). o n the chappati flour thing was true. tho wat makes flour $chappati $flour? thats the dynamics of sociolinguistics for u!
o n zee - linguistics student?! tchah!
hey, now we have net, u must blog. no excuses missy.
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