The media has been known for stirring things up among many known people’s lives. They print, and show on television assumptions that turn into rumors and are sometimes false. These rumors can raise questions of the people who read or watch this news. Other known people who might have an opinion about the issue can also sway the people’s opinions as well.
I do not recall exactly when, but there has been an issue with President Obama’s citizenship. There were a lot of questions that came about and the President tried to ignore them. A well know person, like Donald Trump, brought about questions and made an impact on the opinions of some of the American people.
Some of the people did not think about the fact that you cannot run for presidency if you are not a United States citizen. They also failed to think that by the time the election was over, there was probably some investigation that took place to ensure that all the candidates met the criteria of running. President Obama made it through the elections, so there is a greater possibility that he also met the criteria to run. It kind of makes you wonder where everyone’s common sense went or if this issue was brought up because of other prejudices.
The media did not help things when they would write or show on the television the topic of President Obama’s citizenship. They paid a lot of attention to the issue and also used words to try to persuade the people that what they said is true. Donald Trump also played a big role in trying to persuade the people that these rumors were true. He made it an even bigger issue.
In the Antelope Valley Newspaper, April 28, 2011, President Obama put his long form birth certificate out for the media to show the people who had their doubts, that he is in fact a United States Citizen. He has put a short form out for the media before to show proof of his citizenship. Donald Trump raised the questions of if it was real. This put more doubt into the people’s minds which led to the long form of the birth certificate. The media was used by the President to clear his name. This may not clear the doubt from all the doubters’ minds, but it does show proof for those who will take the birth certificate as proof.
Politics uses the media all the time to accuse one of this or that, to persuade the people into going against one side. We see it all the time during election seasons on the television especially. There is name calling and all sorts of nonsense. We see it in the commercials where they show one candidate doing something the American people would not agree with and play with words to make them think the other candidate wouldn’t do it to gain votes.
The citizenship issue is a good example of how the media affects people’s opinions on political issues. It also shows how the media can be used to raise questions, to make an issue, or to voice an opinion. By using another known name that has an opinion, the people are more likely to listen, even if it is nonsense.
Thank you for sharing this issue with us. It was a while ago but you refreshed my memory on what was going on during this time. It is very true that someone like Donald Trump is so influential on some people, and it is really sad that he uses his power to bring about problems. It was interesting when you mentioned that Obama used the media to clear his name. It makes you wonder whether or not the media is a good thing or not. Today people debate so much about what the media portrays about certain people and things and debate over the influence and power the media has in a society. The thing is, living in today's society, one cannot escape the media and all the opinions raised through the media. You mentioned that during election time the media is used to change and influence opinions everywhere, and this is true, so what do we do?
ReplyDeleteIt all goes back to thinking critically. Yes, the media is everywhere influencing everyone. So we need to take it upon ourselves to actually research our sources, how reliable they are, and what their motives are. By doing this, we can see the true agenda and base our decision of listening to them or not off of this. This process will allow every citizen to have a good, educated, true opinion on issues that the media likes to portray through lies or biases.
To: Ammorua
ReplyDeleteThis is what the media is for, for stirring up controversy, for getting others publicity and for causing ratings to sky rocket through the rough with their hype and stories. I also red some news articles about President Obama’s birth certificate controversy. Most of the articles I read were all for ratings and to catch people attentions. The media made it bigger than it actually was, yes it has been an issue in the beginning of his presidency, but they really want to drill him about where he was born and so this was brought up of course.
Bringing Donald Trump into this madness only brought the celebrity factor into this news story an so it brought the American people more to feed off of.
I agree with the fact that you said it was nonsense, but bringing up others names and their opinions made many listen, maybe if the media did this with other important things in society then there could be a change for the greater good of America, but as long as there is the media and political wordplay in articles there will always be gossip that accompanies it until it blows out of absurd proportion.