This picture, from a protester's sign in Egypt, proclaims "We Shall Overcome," a slogan that was frequently used by Civil Rights activists in the 1960s.
In the American Culture and Politics of the 1960s class that I took last semester, we discussed the role the media played in changing the views American citizens held on civil rights.
Specifically during the Freedom Rides, participants felt that despite the dangers involved, it was important for them to be involved because of how the public would react. The more violent a protest became, the more likely the media would be there broadcasting events on television. Americans who would normally turn a blind eye to the injustices would be forced to react to what they were seeing. The involvement of the media put pressure on the government to enforce the segregation laws that were already in existence, and essentially enabled things to move a lot more quickly.
Though America in the 1960s does not have so much to do with Egypt in 2011, the way the media is being utilized is pretty comparable. And though the road will be bumpy, perhaps they too shall overcome.
I agree that the media is easily able to influence our views on the world around us. In the picture posted from Egypt, it is clear that the media is able to take something and either take it out of porportion or do the opposite. The Washington Post shows images (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2011/02/13/GA2011021302155.html?sid=ST2011021404206#photo=15) in which the riots are shown out of control, and obviously against the government. Do you think those in Egypt are feeling the same as we are due to their lack of public media at the moment?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am misunderstanding your comment, but I do not really know what you're asking.
ReplyDeleteI was just trying to make a comparison between Egypt today and America in the 1960s through the usage of the phrase, "We shall overcome."
I don't really know what Egyptians are feeling now, but my guess is that they're more anxious about the future of their government than they are about their lack of public media (are you referring to the way the government shut down the internet? Or are you saying that they are no longer the focus in the media-- I'm guessing not because they're still on the front page of most newspapers?)
I apologize if I am misunderstanding what you're asking.