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BreakPoint Cultural commentary with Prison Fellowship's Chuck Colson http://www.breakpoint.org October 11, 2004 Skewed Language - The Media's 'Pet Cause' Read carefully this lead sentence from an Associated Press news item on October 1: "The House emphatically rejected a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage yesterday, the latest in a string of conservative pet causes advocated by Republican leaders in the run-up to election day." Most of us would assume that the words emphatically rejected mean a lopsided vote against the proposal. In this case, it does not. The House voted 227 to 186 in favor of the amendment: 55 percent for, 45 percent against. (And, by the way, thank you for your calls, which again jammed the switchboard at the Capitol.) As a body, the House did not reject the proposition at all. It significantly affirmed it, with a 55 percent majority. * * * * * * * * * * * * ADVERTISEMENT * * * * * * * * * * * Uphold Marriage God's Way The National Preaching Initiative provides pastors, preachers, and lay leaders with the resources needed to preach, teach and discuss God's plan for marriage. Visit this site for the support you need to promote marriage, God's way. http://l.salemweb.net/bp092704/101104/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The reporter might argue that because a constitutional amendment requires two-thirds approval, the measure did not pass. That's true. It fell short by forty-nine votes. That's a clear victory for the anti-amendment forces, but made possible not by popular rejection, but by the very stringent rules governing the passage of amendments-and that, over time, we are going to overcome. What we find here is flagrant spin, a revealing glimpse into the sympathies of the reporter. He wants us to view the motion as unpopular and out of the mainstream. In skewed language he continues to color the issue negatively. The same spin is evident in calling the Federal Marriage Amendment "the latest in a string of conservative pet causes." A pet cause is something valued by its owner, but not by many others. It's personal, subjective, emotional, and maybe irrational. Now, both liberal and conservative pundits use the phrase to disparage the other side's agenda. But when editorial phrases like that are incorporated into reporting, it's a not-so-obvious attempt-in a very sneaky way-to taint an entire political movement. In a similar vein, on September 26, 2003 , the New York Times published a story describing the genocide in Sudan as a "pet cause of many American religious conservatives." Scholar Allen Hertzke asks, "Would the Times have similarly described the plight of Soviet Jewry as a 'pet cause' of American Jews or apartheid a 'pet cause' of African-Americans?" The obvious answer is: Of course not. Hertzke correctly describes such journalism as "patronizing." In fact, state marriage amendment referendum votes have garnered huge majorities-much more than two-thirds. And though the amendment did not pass the House, the vote was not a defeat. We're in a great position to bring this up in the next session. Besides, every member of the House and Senate is on record as being for or against a constitutional amendment that will protect marriage. That's an important thing to remember when you go to the polls next month. Democracy depends on a well-informed public making wise judgments based on facts, evidence, and insight. Biased media don't just fail to inform. They mislead the mind and plant prejudice in the heart. Read or watch the news with your mind actively engaged in order to unwrap the packaging and analyze the worldview inside. Visit the Breakpoint website at http://www.breakpoint.org ____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________ * This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. To unsubscribe from this newsletter immediately, simply click on the link below. If this link is not clickable, simply cut and paste it into the address bar of your browser. http://www.salememail.com/unsub/25/1698058.aspx * Copyright � 2004 Salem Web Network and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. 1698058 ____________________________________________________________ TRINITY COLLEGE & SEMINARY OFF CAMPUS & ONLINE Experience Personal & Ministry Growth Through Bible-Focused Degree Programs Associate and Bachelor of Arts Master of Arts, M.Div., Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Ministry http://l.salemweb.net/tcs2003tr/footer/ ____________________________________________________________ Questions or comments can be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
