Blog Post #6 Anti-War

Mainstream News vs. Anti-War

The United States of America has been a force to reckon with for as long as we can remember. Voices have been silenced and censored since even before World War I jumpstarted the Progressive Era. In this specific instance, it was the anti-war voices that were being pushed away. Now, looking at today with the military operations that our government is waging all over the globe, it makes you wonder. What are we being told? What do we not know? 

Out of habit, and possible laziness, we are all guilty of just looking at what is in front of us and believing whatever that says. Instead of delving deep into sources that we do not immediately have and searching for the information that is not presented on mainstream news. Channels such as CNN, Fox News, USA Today, and so on are considered mainstream news channels. This means that these channels only focus on what the majority of people consider to be "normal". The reporters choose mainstream views that are conventional and easy for viewers to digest. On the other hand, these channels will inform you of what is happening in our world, but it may be surface level content and they will not give you explanations from both sides of the issue. 

After taking a look at websites such as Antiwar.com and The American Conservative is it evident that many voices, opinions, and facts are silenced in the creation of our mass media. After reading through various articles, the reader can see that the writers on both of these sites are strong anti-war voices that are censored on large news outlets and popular media apps such as Instagram. Why are these voices censored? To jump back to World War I and the Progressive Era, those that spoke out and voiced an opinion against "the norm", they would be prosecuted for it and treated as a criminal for speaking their mind. During wartime, the most important right that all Americans enjoy and exercised each day was "to discuss in an orderly way, frankly and publicly and without fear, from the platform and through the press, every important phase of this war."

 The First Amendment came into play so heavily during this time and still today. However, though free speech is a basic American right, during WWI this was practically taken away and we can see signs of this even now in our modern age. There are accounts being banned, stories withheld from being published, and people punished for speaking out against the government and voicing their opinion. Those that take the time to voice their opinion and look into the detailed facts of situations, are silenced because the government is worried that them sharing this knowledge may prompt others to start disagreeing and cause an uprise. 

Most people will never hear of websites like the ones I mentioned above. I know that I was not aware these existed until completing this assignment. Originally, I would have never thought to look beyond the main news channels. Now, reading through the strong voices of these authors, I see how important it is to not settle for what is on the surface. You have to seek out websites such as these because that is what the media wants to give you: surface level information. If all you are given is brief information without all of the facts, you are more likely to just fall in line and accept what you are being told. To hear strong anti-war voices, you have to search deep into the Internet because they get buried and nowadays many people still have a fear of speaking out because of the backlash they may receive from the public as well as the government. 

The role of dissent and the role of The First Amendment protecting it, is vital to the freedom of the United States of America. These websites show that it is our right to disagree and criticize the government, or change will never happen. It is just a matter of if the government and the public is willing to listen and accept your opinion.