Life has its ups and downs, lows and highs, happy days and sad moments... As a middle aged, common man busy in his daily life balancing the home work and office pressures, I don't really get time to, or rather the liberty, to think and select sides, make an opinion reading the facts. And it is this makes me think over whether the majority of us really want whatever is happening in the country...
It has been long coming, too many news channels fighting over a piece of news in a country where the youth are able but unemployed, looking to be part of an action, waiting for an opportunity to prove their worth. It is here where the media is developing a habit of striking the emotional chords of the public. I don't remember any news on a private channel showing just the facts and debates without taking a side. It has always been biased. Even the debates on television have been favoured for or against the motion by the host.
But they get away with the fact that they show what public wants to see. Take for example the recent Beef issue. I have not seen a single television channel actually explaining what the law is and what it will mean. I myself read through some articles online to get a view of the issue. And when I did already a student was beaten up in IIT Madras over the issue. This isn't something new, the moment the news spread there were two sets of stories in the media one stating that the person beaten up was the victim and the other where in the person was allegedly beaten as he was forcing beef in a Jain mess. Kerala organised tons of such fests the day after the law was passed and there were supporters against the law but I don't see a good enough piece of information on what implications this has and why are they opposing the law. Just when this issue was there we had a high court judge saying why Peacock is our national bird and the whole country went crazy! His opinion is a moo point (quoting Friends series). But they were the breaking news for the day and rippled till the next day!
There were days when debates discussed GDP, Growth rate, it's rise it's fall which was not gathering as much attention as it was but it was news rather than just a prime time serial.
I don't care for the news these days, and I wish the times change. I fear for the generation growing up now, who from their young age will be developing opinions based on these channels. Those who will feel the divide of religion before they make friends, those who will make the opinions not based on both sides of coin but because they will not be knowing that there is another right side. And it is this extremism which is creating all the chaos today in minorities and will do so with the majority if things keep going this way.
I hope this is the low we are seeing and the Highs will be coming.
It has been long coming, too many news channels fighting over a piece of news in a country where the youth are able but unemployed, looking to be part of an action, waiting for an opportunity to prove their worth. It is here where the media is developing a habit of striking the emotional chords of the public. I don't remember any news on a private channel showing just the facts and debates without taking a side. It has always been biased. Even the debates on television have been favoured for or against the motion by the host.
But they get away with the fact that they show what public wants to see. Take for example the recent Beef issue. I have not seen a single television channel actually explaining what the law is and what it will mean. I myself read through some articles online to get a view of the issue. And when I did already a student was beaten up in IIT Madras over the issue. This isn't something new, the moment the news spread there were two sets of stories in the media one stating that the person beaten up was the victim and the other where in the person was allegedly beaten as he was forcing beef in a Jain mess. Kerala organised tons of such fests the day after the law was passed and there were supporters against the law but I don't see a good enough piece of information on what implications this has and why are they opposing the law. Just when this issue was there we had a high court judge saying why Peacock is our national bird and the whole country went crazy! His opinion is a moo point (quoting Friends series). But they were the breaking news for the day and rippled till the next day!
There were days when debates discussed GDP, Growth rate, it's rise it's fall which was not gathering as much attention as it was but it was news rather than just a prime time serial.
I don't care for the news these days, and I wish the times change. I fear for the generation growing up now, who from their young age will be developing opinions based on these channels. Those who will feel the divide of religion before they make friends, those who will make the opinions not based on both sides of coin but because they will not be knowing that there is another right side. And it is this extremism which is creating all the chaos today in minorities and will do so with the majority if things keep going this way.
I hope this is the low we are seeing and the Highs will be coming.
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