Raise the Hammer

It's funny you write that, Kiely, because it was after reading your well-placed comment on building common ground that I decided to commit more universally to maintaining a civil, respectful tone in my comments. - Ryan

Sure Ryan, I should expect to be called out on that one. But there's also a time and place for different approaches. Remaining civil in a debate between posters about ideas/opinions is one thing. Remaining civil in the face of yellow journalism and missing an opportunity to criticize, demand explanation and expose it for what it is because you're overly concerned about being civil with their representatives is another.

I think my posts in this thread demonstrate pretty clearly what I believe. I am no fan of MSM and especially not corporate controlled "local" newspapers and I have good reason to feel this way... I was taught to by a journalist (in the true sense of the word) who spent 20+ years swimming with the sharks that run and control the media.

Mr. Butani may have been out of line saying what he did, but what the Spec and Mr. Dreschel have done is insidious, purposeful and consistent with an on-going pattern of MSM seeking to be the gate-keepers to "legitimate" discussion... especially political. No explanation has been provided as to why Mr. Dreschel cast Mr. Butani in the light he did, (i.e., fringe candidate, not real competition). What they have done is sensationalize the issue (screaming racism usually has that effect), continue to cast Mr. Butani in a negative light and threaten legal action against the "little guys"... which was very bush-league in my opinion.

MSM is dying, (some would say it has been dead for a while and is being kept on life support). In most cities newspapers are struggling to remain relevant, profitable, or both. They fear the new media, the Spec fears RTH, (Why else would they make such a big issue of a letter published only in the new media? Why else would they hint at the possibility of a lawsuit?). The new media has their foot on the throat of MSM (especially newspapers). If you view the MSM as I do (and I can appreciate the fact you may not) it is not the time to seek closer relations with them, it is time to seize every opportunity to expose the way they operate, to demand changes to the way they operate or failing that... to simply usurp them. But this is your forum Ryan and obviously you will do what you feel is right. I respect how you have handled this, but to me you are missing an opportunity to expose something for what it is.

So to succinctly clarify my position on what you have rightfully thrown back in my face... while I have a strong belief in remaining civil amongst us plebs, I have no problem taking the representatives of elitist institutions to the proverbial woodshed for a verbal beat-down now and then.

I'm ready for my dose of down votes now : )