Can your speech be silenced?

Muzzled book cover

Not too long ago, a liberal radio personality on NPR was fired for discussing his own social prejudices, saying those in Muslim garb on airplanes trigger something in him that makes him uncomfortable (“worried” and “nervous,” he states).

Was this an inappropriate firing? He was, after all, sharing his opinion on another network. And, also, in the full context of the interview (view a discussion on CNN of it here), his argument included a discussion of the dangers of using religion to label someone as dangerous?

You won’t get an argument from us about if it was right or wrong, but you can read Juan’s take on it. His book, Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate, discusses his firing and the effect it had on his career. He also discusses what it implied to the modern media and the implications it has towards others who wish to express opinions and/or honest feelings that might not be of the most popular opinion.

So check it out, currently on our new books shelf, and see for yourself.

Book of the Day: Post-Election

Stare, see, take in, grasp
Comprehend, assimilate, behold your reflection

Its framing – gold plated lies
The canvas – hurting souls caught and weaved
The artist – the human dream
Incinerated, devoured, deceived

-Meshuggah, “Combustion” from Obzen

I was once convinced the band Meshuggah were afraid of robots (Cylons specifically), but I think what they’re really afraid of is the idea that people ingest what they hear and become complacent or accepting of it without questioning the source.  This election has engrossed me, and I’ve always been cognisant of the fact that I’ve watched it primarily on MSNBC.  Sometimes, I tuned into Fox, and occasionally, Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer (what a name!) would join me from CNN.

Why? Because like Meshuggah, I have to remind myself that everything I see is tinted by a point of view.  That processing what the media gives me means understanding the filters my information has been put through.  Today’s book, Media Literacy: Keys to Interpreting Media Messages applies to news, advertisements, print, electronic, online, on television: everything.  This book by Art Silverblatt examines the weight and influence leveraged by what we are shown, what we aren’t, and how it is presented to us. The book gives media students and enthusiasts a framework for analysis as well as a guide for specific media outlets and how to properly scrutinize sources of information.

…This doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about Cylons…