Friends, NPR really pissed me off this week. It started this weekend when they were reporting on the tragic killing of the rancher in Arizona. The story, which had contained a good bit of anti-immigrant ranting from people in border areas, closed with a quote from a man who said something to the effect of "Arms yourselves and shoot." and NPR charitably added that the implication of this man's statement was "... before they shoot you". NOW - why be so charitable! I didn't think that was what the man was implying! I thought his sentiments were more like "Shoot them because they don't deserve to be in our country. Shoot them for the crime of daring to set their Mexican foot on my land!" I definitely did NOT get the impression that this man was limiting his warning and encouragement to shoot to just the dangerous ones. So, WHY was NPR feeling so charitable? Because they don't want to live in a world where nice ranchers from Arizona want to kill immigrants for being immigrants? because they don't want to be accused of being soft on drug criminals who kill innocent ranchers? Grow up NPR!
So I was fired up about that and then today - the story on this morning's newscast about financial reform went like this:
Friends, NPR really pissed me off this week. It started this weekend when they were reporting on the tragic killing of the rancher in Arizona. The story, which had contained a good bit of anti-immigrant ranting from people in border areas, closed with a quote from a man who said something to the effect of "Arms yourselves and shoot." and NPR charitably added that the implication of this man's statement was "... before they shoot you". NOW - why be so charitable! I didn't think that was what the man was implying! I thought his sentiments were more like "Shoot them because they don't deserve to be in our country. Shoot them for the crime of daring to set their Mexican foot on my land!" I definitely did NOT get the impression that this man was limiting his warning and encouragement to shoot to just the dangerous ones. So, WHY was NPR feeling so charitable? Because they don't want to live in a world where nice ranchers from Arizona want to kill immigrants for being immigrants? because they don't want to be accused of being soft on drug criminals who kill innocent ranchers? Grow up NPR!
So I was fired up about that and then today - the story on this morning's newscast about financial reform went like this:
"Republicans say that this will lead to more bank bailouts.
Democrats say that Republicans are just protecting Wall Street over Main Street."
THE END
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!? But what do YOU say NPR???!!!! Isn't your job to tell us which side's talking points are the least offensive exaggeration? Or what is wrong with both sets of talking points? Tell us about the damned reform bill! Tell me who Mitch McConnell met with on Wall Street! Tell me how the Dems bill doesn't go far enough! Tell me something I don't know! I've never been so thirsty for facts and news as I was in that moment this morning with a curling iron in my hair getting ready for my day. It was so disruptive to my routine. I usually feel so informed when I listen to NPR.
My darling NPR, if I can't count on you for news, who can I count on? I like a British accent as much as the next person, but BBC on AM radio doesn't come in on my bathroom radio. Please mend your ways!