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Townhall
The
Redskins, Liberalism and Public Opinion:
The Way We Live Now
by Brian Birdnow
Oct 14, 2013
The
current politically correct imbroglio over
the Washington Redskins and owner Daniel Snyder’s stout refusal to
appease the bloodhounds
on his trail by surrendering will probably soon pass, regardless of the
eventual outcome. The demands of the modern 24-hour news cycle
guarantee that
this will not last too long. This mini-controversy does, however, serve
to
illustrate the nature of the manufacturing of public opinion by the
standard
bearers of cultural liberalism and their allies in the mass media,
circa 2013.
Simply put, the Left decides that something is “offensive” and uses its
media
access to declare this object impermissible, or “out of bounds” to use
a
gridiron term. The media then goes to work and, through relentless
pressure,
convinces huge numbers of people that the media view is the only
legitimate
vision, thereby silencing opposition.
Consider
the current controversy over the
Washington Redskins. The political correctness police have been on this
so-called issue for a number of years. Those readers with long memories
can
return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, namely the early 1990s.
The Left
raised a ruckus in those years over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Florida
State
Seminoles and the Atlanta Braves, respectively. Most Americans, with
the
exception of certain craven university administrators, dismissed this
tempest
as a classic example of self-conscious political correctness, complete
with the
requisite dollop of preening moral superiority that characterizes these
exercises. The matter then rested, albeit uneasily, for roughly twenty
years.
Now
interested people can sense an indecisive
NFL commissioner who is susceptible to pressure, and might cave on the
issue.
President Obama got into the act last week and suggested that the
Redskins
should change their nickname because, “…it offends a sizable group of
people.”
Since the Left now has the official sanction of their leader this
becomes a
crusade. The mass media will take up the issue, framing it as a
morality play
with those who insist on the Redskins changing their nickname cast as
the
heroes, and the die-hards who cling to tradition characterized as the
villains.
The media echo chamber will attempt to quell dissenters by hurling
invective
and abuse in their direction, thereby intimidating most people into
silence.
The Left will deal with the last holdouts by isolating them and letting
them no
that they are no longer invited to the party.
For
the rest of this article and more, go to
Townhall
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