Siege on Capitol shows how crucial it is for Americans to come together despite media biases
Yes, the media is biased. But it cuts both ways. Fox News called the people who stormed the Capitol protesters. CNN labeled them rioters. All networks had announced “a woman has died.” Only Fox News initially reported that it was a Trump supporter (protester). CNN and others have made reports of domestic terrorism from a mob, while Fox only called them rioters after multiple deaths were announced. Black Lives Matter to Fox has regularly been made up of rioters and looters, whereas CNN has consistently referred to them as protesters.
When reporting facts, bias is inherent. It’s not feasible to write without judgment or bias of some kind, because objectivity is impossible. A history or reporting of facts is possible, but the “truth” is really the average of both sides reporting. And these days, words matter more than anything else.
Indeed, the reporting of facts continues to be more objective than someone telling a story or explaining their perspective. Memory is subjective. It is entirely possible — and a fact — that two different people can experience and remember the exact event in completely different ways. This is why eye-witness testimony can be so unreliable and why cases of mistaken identity in court cases are so common (especially for people of color).
The country is divided like no time in recent history, yet we know it was just as divided during the Civil War. The Founders’ original objectives included striving together to make this a more perfect Union. They allowed for amendments and changes to the Constitution. But perfect is not possible, and they would have known the Latin roots of “perfect” means “completed.” And we are not finished until we are dead, and when we die, the next generation will carry on working to make this a more perfect Union.
This is not the greatest country on earth, as politicians like to say ad nauseum, but it is one of the most effective democracies. When the transfer of power occurred peacefully in 1801 after a bitter election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Europe and the rest of the world marveled that it was even possible. It is true the United States serves an important role in helping to maintain peace in the world, and other countries (usually) want to emulate us.
It is crucial in these days ahead that Americans from both sides and the middle come together to continue the work towards a more perfect union. And this includes dialogue conducted in a civil and respectful manner, something that has been missing for years from both liberals and conservatives alike. We cannot hate fellow Americans and consider them our enemy. We are all neighbors and should want to lift each other up so that every person, not just [white] man — as it was written in 1776 — can pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I care deeply about civility in public discourse, and as an international student advisor, I recognize the reality of wildly disparate perspectives. There needs to be room to accept different viewpoints without hate or violence.
Here’s to 2021. I am hopeful.
