Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Rule

I read this morning that in California, my very own state, the police are killing each other on the streets. Near Santa Barbara one officer supposedly committed the crime of having a relationship with a 17 year old girl. He resisted arrest. Now he is dead. In Oakland, near San Francisco, more than 200 protesters attempt to occupy the disused convention center and are arrested. They are protesting against the impoverishment of the nation. The mayor says property rights must be protected so throws them in jail.

From reading the reports you get the message that no one at the news services, the newspapers, or magazines, internet sites, thinks anything unusual is happening. No one thinks that comment might be required, on the order of, why don't we do something about poverty? About police killing each other in the open on public streets?

What can one do? We're all powerless. But we aren't, not completely. By your purchase or mere visit you have given the news deliverers profit. If you don't like that idea, take back the profit. Ridicule the journalist and journal by name for their complicity in inhumanity by neglecting to respond like human beings to the news they convey. You can do it. It's easy.

The rule:

Every time you read, watch, visit any newspaper, magazine, internet site, TV broadcast, cable show, Youtube video balance your consumption with production.

That is an abstract way of saying use your social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Blogs to cancel the reward you have just given the media by your consumption. Ridicule them. Call them to justice. Tell them off.

Give it a try. You might like it.

P.S. Associated Press: it's your turn this time.