Be heard above the crowd

By Connell Gallagher

The protections offered by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States give Lou Dobbs the right to express his opinions. CNN, on the other hand, has no such obligation. In my opinion, Dobbs’ departure is a good thing, as it brings CNN back into the news business.

News coverage as we often think about it has many basic staples - crime, politics, world events and the economy. The media – newspapers, radio, TV, Internet, etc – provides many types of communications. They offer entertainment such as drama, sports and music. News is a form of entertainment, which we usually presume to be ‘fact’ based.

It is very difficult to define when news coverage becomes opinion. Most people who follow the rants offered by commentators on the left and the right do so because it reinforces their personal beliefs. The freedom to express such opinions is one of the things that makes America great.

Fox news network and the many right wing opinion dominated radio stations are not in the news business. I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is them pretending to be news stations.

With the proliferation of right wing anti-immigrant and anti-just-about-anything commentators, it needs to be noted that what they do better than most is that they are heard above the crowd.

Being a member of the silent majority does not mean squat if a few ‘loud mouths’ can sway the opinion of policy makers and undermine your rights.

There are policies currently being decided that will have a very long term effect on the future of the United States of America. Just about every American will be affected by the decisions that will be made by our leaders, on the future of health care and immigration reform, in addition to the war in Afghanistan.

Every single resident in the US has the same right as Lou Dobbs to express their opinion. Lou Dobbs was heard because he expressed his opinion loud and clear. Don’t cower and allow bullies who are giving a pulpit to dictate your future. It is your obligation to express your opinion on matters that affect you.

Write to your congressional representative. Write to this or any other news outlet. Become active in whatever cause you believe in.

But that’s just my opinion…..