I've Been Reading War Blogs

I read the article, Blogs of War, co-written by my college instructor, Paul Piper. I agree that blogs (or web logs) are an unprecedented and exciting avenue of expression, communication, and connection to other people and events. Also, as with any thing else, context is important to consider when evaluating the information presented.

Most of the blogs I read seemed to be personable, honest portrayals of the events related. Some seemed to be a soap-box for the political or religious views of the author. Others just seemed like a place to vent.

I looked over the blogs listed in the article and wandered through links before selecting a couple to really read. I decided to read the blogs back-to-front, or first post first, so that I could follow the blog post- to- post as if I'd been reading and following it since it began.

The blog desertdiet@blogspot.com, titled: a Labrat's Journey, is a young U.S. Navy woman's story\journal of her deployment to Iraq. I discovered by reading the archives, that she created this blog to use as a form of communication with her family and friends while deployed to Iraq. Other forms of media would not be useful for this purpose. She is home with her baby and husband now. It's a happy ending( she no longer posts).

The first one I really read was different.

I was lost somewhere wandering through links and started reading a blog that caught my eye. I realized how much I identified with the blogger, their emotions and reactions to their experiences. I kept reading. I started clicking ahead through the archive, and skipping some posts, as I began to feel distressed by the fear the writer describes while others are being hurt and killed around them. Suddenly, I realized that there were no more posts! The posts abruptly end in Nov. 2004. Now, I can't stop wondering if the blogger was killed.

I usually limit the amount of intense human suffering I expose my self to. I get over-whelmed and my general productivity decreases - it kind of like depresses me. I probably won't read anymore blogs of war.

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http://dailywarnews.blogspot.com/

This Blog is About The war and Politics in Iraq

This blog has archives back to June 2003. Postings are frequint. I've been reading this one off and on. It posts new links with, brief descriptions, to current news and articles from a variety of sources. Also, there are maps, and links to other interesting blogs, and other useful or relavent things; like news groups. I like this blog. It is an insight focusing and perspective forming package of internet media on Iraq war. Informative, with resources and lots to explore.

Media Literacy, second edition, W. James Potter: Response to Assigned Reading, p. 85 - 107

The reading was about the processes of jounalism, including the formulas for producing "news" stories. The population depends on journalists to funtion as reporters of the unbiased facts. We are at their mercy to have access to infomation about the happenings in our communities, governments, and in the world. The constraints, pressures, and influences about the the choice of content, fed in by the spin meisters to "hook" the audience obviously are not a environment conducive to unbiased reporting. The shift of the media from a funtion of informing the public to cashing- in on entertaining it is driven by what the public wants, and what we put up with. The studies in W. James Potter's book show that the stuff they give is the stuff we take. That's why the advertisers pay to be on - because we keep watching! "Money makes the world go around!", as I understand it. Does it seem that WE, the people, are ultimately responsible?

People know this stuff and are overwhelmed, it's like if you don't laugh, you'll cry. That's how and why The Daily Show with Jon Stewart makes us laugh.

America (the book): A Citezen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (assigned reading: chapter 7)

The book, formatted to emulate a high school text book, made me laugh out loud. The subject of chapter seven is not funny, but is in fact sad and alarming. I agree strongly with to views expressed. The audience's belief in the trustworthiness of the media compounds the tragedy of the loss of it's accuracy and accountability. The tabloid-like propaganda that is presented as `news' is the reason I have become disenchanted ( and dis-interested). It is a real chore to have to evaluate every aspect of each subject presented. I end up feelin' like I have to take it all in with a large grain of salt because I question the value and accuracy of the presentations

John Stewart's irreverent and comic presentation of these sad, alarming, and even overwhelming state of affairs makes them less painful to think about. . . and thinking about these things is what EVERYONE needs to do.

I'm glad I purchased the book, and I intend to read the whole thing.

I bought a copy from Barnes & Noble ( On sale, 20% discount!)