Like you, I occassionally get one of those mass forwarded emails from a relative or acquaintance that is designed to play on fears, perpetuate false rumours, or tear down a political opponent using half-truths or outright lies. Since we're in an election year, and since I live in a state that is pivotal, these emails are multiplying.
So, I decided to send a mass email of my own.
I wasn't trying to promote any one candidate, but rather my goal was to inspire people to do some research before spreading misinformation. The email that inspired me happened to be a long-discredited rumour about Obama, but I would have been equally inspired if I had gotten an email regarding HRC or McCain.
I sent this to relatives from whom I've received such rumour emails as well as all the other recipients of those emails and a few other folks for good measure. Most of these people I don't know, but I'm pretty sure they have different political leanings than I. But I would have done this even if they sent me an email questioning McCain's service to this country (remember that? Beneath contempt.)
Here's what I sent. We'll see what responses I receive... :-)
This is an exciting election year; it's the first time in my 20+ year voting life that Texas has had a say in the nomination process. This fact, along with the annoying habit of TV pundits to cite rumour as fact -- and the annoying habit of people then emailing those rumours to everyone they know and reporting that it is a fact because it was on TV -- means that we will all be bombarded with messages from the candidates, from their supporters, and from their detractors.
So how can we separate fact from fiction?
Whenever you get a forwarded email, please check out its validity on www.snopes.com. If it's false, please let the person who sent it know that they are spreading false information.
Why am I sending this email? Because we all have a responsibility to be thoughtful, educated voters. (Thomas Jefferson warned us that we cannot have a functioning democracy without an educated populace.) And because I recently received one of those emails -- retelling a rumour reported in a magazine that was then reported as fact repeatedly on Fox News (which did absolutely no fact-checking).
I think 24-hour news stations have a lot of time to fill, and journalistic standards easily get tossed out the window when "news" shows consist of a parade of pundits spouting their opinions. Take it all with a grain of salt. And most of all, we all need to do some research before passing a rumour along.
The rumour email that I received tries to perpetuate the completely discredited rumour that Barak Obama is a Muslim. He is not and never has been a Muslim. In fact, he was raised to respect all religions. When he was in his early 20s and working as a community organizer with ministers and church laypeople, he chose to join the United Church of Christ, where he has been involved since the mid 1980s. For the truth behind this particular rumour, please go to http://www.snopes.com/...
Believe me, I would be writing this email if I had received an email rumour questioning McCain's service to this country or any smear against Hillary Clinton. I'm just tired of this kind of politics.
I really appreciate your reading this email. It's going to be an interesting month ahead for Texas. Get out there and work for the candidate of your choice --
Cheers!