The M Word
Article written by Bill Markin in "The American Thinker":
The word “media” no longer communicates anything useful. We need a new term for our foes.
During
his Tuesday, April 14th show, Russ Limbaugh discussed his discomfort
with the term “Media.” In a time when the vast majority of the so-called
mainstream media no longer even maintain a façade of objectivity and
honest reporting of the facts, he hesitated to apply the term media to
such a biased, dishonest source of unapologetic distortion and
propaganda.
This
problem does not only apply to newsrooms (perhaps “viewsrooms” would be
a more accurate nomenclature) but seemingly extends to everything from
late-night “comedians” (sorry, but it is really is hard to write about
this hypocrisy without using a lot of parenthesis and quotations marks)
to movies and television dramas as well. (Two leading contrary examples
are the quickly stifled Rosanne character and Tim Allen’s brilliant but
largely-overlooked comedy, “Last Man Standing.”)
And
in movies and shows, when Big Corporations are portrayed, it is almost
always as inhumane and uncaring paragons of evil and greed whose only
value is the bottom line. Similarly, the military is generally (pun
intended) portrayed as immoral and unscrupulous war mongers, only held
in check by a virtuous liberal president.
So,
like Mr. Limbaugh, I have often struggled with referring to this
soulless conglomeration of so-called reporters, talking heads, grossly
overpaid actors and would-be comedians as “The Media.”
For
many years, I was content to simply refer to them as “The Mediopoly,”
reflecting their near stranglehold on public discourse. Since then,
thankfully, such newcomers as Fox News, talk radio, and a multitude of
excellent websites reflecting reasoned conservative thought have
impinged upon the left’s historic monopoly on mass communication.
The
problem remains, however, of how to refer to these declining -- yet
still adamant -- adherents to the ideals and perceived virtues of the
old guard Mediopoly.
While
the term “drive-by media” has become a common way to refer to the
shallow, substance-less but politically-correct drivel that passes for
journalism these days, I would like to humbly suggest my own
alternative.
The Mediocrats.
First
of all, it encompasses that fact that this segment of our society has
become the voice of – if not the driver of – the modern Democrat Party
and its policies.
More important, however, it also embodies connotations of two very distinct words that relate closely to this group.
It
is reminiscent of the term aristocrat, which seems to be a proper
designation for the self-important elitists who comprise the pampered
celebrities that inhabit everything from network news to what passes as
entertainment. After all, why else would the likes of Jim Carey or Kathy
Griffin or Joy Behar think their opinions are worth enough that we
should be humbled that they deem to share them with us?
Finally,
it begins the same as the word mediocre, which is an apt description of
the level to which modern journalism and entertainment has sunk.
The Mediocrats.
I like it.
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