Editorials & Other Articles

newthinking

(3,982 posts) Wed Jul 1, 2015, 05:36 AM Jul 2015

The New York Times' Orwellian View of Ukraine

The New York Times' Orwellian View of Ukraine
Robert Perry
Posted in Truth-out.org
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/31565-the-new-york-times-orwellian-view-of-ukraine

In its downward spiral into unethical journalism, The New York Times is putting the lives of ourselves, our children and our grandchildren at risk with its reckless reporting on the Ukraine crisis, by setting up an unnecessary confrontation between nuclear-armed powers, the United States and Russia.

In George Orwell’s 1984, the leaders of Oceania presented “Two Minutes Hate” in which the image of an enemy was put on display and loyal Oceanianians expressed their rage, all the better to prepare them for the country’s endless wars and their own surrender of freedom. And, now, in America, you have The New York Times.

Surely the Times is a bit more subtle than the powers-that-be in Orwell’s Oceania, but the point is the same. The “paper of record” decides who our rotating foreign enemy is and depicts its leader as a demon corrupting whatever he touches. The rest of us aren’t supposed to think for ourselves. We’re just supposed to hate.

Continued:

As the Times has degenerated from a relatively decent newspaper into a fount of neocon propaganda, its editors also have descended into the practice of simply inventing a narrative of events that serves an ideological purpose, its own version of “Two Minutes Hate.” Like the leaders of Orwell’s Oceania, the Times has become increasingly heavy-handed in its propaganda.

Excluding alternative explanations of events, even if supported by solid evidence, the Times arrogantly creates its own reality and tells us who to hate.

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/31565-the-new-york-times-orwellian-view-of-ukraine

5 replies

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Highlight:

The New York Times' Orwellian View of Ukraine (Original Post) newthinking Jul 2015 OP

Rotating Foreign Enemy nxylas Jul 2015 #1

it saves having to learn the name of the terrorist group of the month yurbud Jul 2015 #3

"It's whispered very quietly that the Oceanians had planned since 1951 to create a United States of MisterP Jul 2015 #2

And perhaps the war is eternal also because this suits the powers that be. newthinking Jul 2015 #4

there's definitely that aspect, especially at the top of the MIC MisterP Jul 2015 #5

nxylas

(6,440 posts)

1. Rotating Foreign Enemy

Reply to newthinking (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2015, 08:27 AM

Jul 2015

I think I'm going to steal that phrase. RFE for short.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)

3. it saves having to learn the name of the terrorist group of the month

Reply to nxylas (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 1, 2015, 11:34 PM

Jul 2015

al Qaeda, ISIS, the Kardashian Group...I get the feeling they just close their eyes and put their finger on a page of the TV guide.

So next week, we'll be told to be afraid of Shazam and the Alf Group.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)

2. "It's whispered very quietly that the Oceanians had planned since 1951 to create a United States of

Reply to newthinking (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2015, 02:57 PM

Jul 2015

Europe: from Sebastopol to Seville, Arkhangelsk to Aachen the Stars and Bars and the Party's Handshake Flag would be hoisted against "that land so utterly given over to ignorance, superstition, fanaticism, and despotism" ruled by the Red Tsar, Khagan, and Pontiff Kaganovich. Even quieter whispers say this has happened, apparently with the deadline having been something called "the Bicentennial" (bicentennial of what, everyone's already forgotten) but were defeated at Stalingrad and Leningrad and collapsed amid squabbling and overextension"

now in handy pivot table form!

newthinking

(3,982 posts)

4. And perhaps the war is eternal also because this suits the powers that be.

Reply to MisterP (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 2, 2015, 11:59 PM

Jul 2015

"And perhaps the war is eternal also because this suits the powers that be. It provides justification for the totalitarian surveillance state, which polices the very thoughts of its citizens and edits facts to fit its current version of history – all in the name of the greater good: the victory of the collective (at the expense of individual freedom).

The citizens of Airstrip One know that to survive they must obey the state. And the best way to do that, is to believe the lies it tells them. If Big Brother tells you two plus two equals five, then it does...

Or if one of his lieutenants suddenly announces that your enemy is now your ally, and vice versa:"

MisterP

(23,730 posts)

5. there's definitely that aspect, especially at the top of the MIC

Reply to newthinking (Reply #4)

Fri Jul 3, 2015, 12:28 AM

Jul 2015

OTOH I've read a lot of declass stuff and they definitely think only 3 months in advance for everything (and really think every thing they do will succeed--after all, to admit blowback will bring the whole intellectual sugar castle down; Clinton was genuinely excited at Qaddafi's fall, without a thought that it'd go wrong)

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