This week, you’re
being bombarded.
Not with actual bombs, but with television coverage of them as they fall on Baghdad and Iraqi targets. Twenty-four-hour news stations are drenched with images of burning buildings, tanks rolling through sand, and sundry talking heads attempting to make sense of the chaos that is war for the benefit of the average television viewer.
Many of us are attached to our televisions as if there were an umbilical running from our cable connection directly into our forebrains. Like a train wreck, we seem unable to look away from the screen, and go into withdrawal as soon as we’re away from the coverage running around-the-clock.
My question is simple: why are we fascinated by the war? I can understand the interest of those who have friends or loved ones in the region. What I can’t understand is why the rest of the country seems determined to watch every minute of every day as if somehow their presence in front of the television screen is going to impact the outcome.
To be fair, this type of coverage during a war is a relatively new development. There is an aspect of novelty that will probably appeal to some. And it could be said that had this type of coverage been present during WW II, public opinion could have been swayed regarding our involvement in Europe.
Perhaps I’m cynical, but it seems to me that some media outlets are capitalizing on the hostilities to sell advertising, especially the ones who are cranking up the tension regarding the conflict as much as possible, offering “countdowns” and splashing vivid graphics and bold text flashing portents of destruction on a massive scale.
It should be remembered that television coverage of this war is being very tightly managed by the military. For reasons relating to the security of our troops, this is a necessary thing. But no one should expect to see anything on TV that hasn’t already been sanitized by the armed forces. What you’ll see instead is not raw news, but rather a form of press release, vetted by the assembled wisdom of the chiefs of staff and their media liaisons.
My advice to you is to turn off your television set, and do something else for a while, or at least change the channel. Watch a nice movie, or better yet, pick up a book. Spring arrived in the northern hemisphere this last week – have you been outside to enjoy the fresh air and blooming flowers? Consider using the time you’ll save to volunteer in your community, teaching a child to read or visiting a home-bound senior.
You can get a nice summary of everything of importance that happens in and around Iraq in about five minutes through your usual news outlet. There’s no need to steep yourself in an orgy of destruction.

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