Child Asks Obama:"Why Do People Hate You?"

                                                In the early years of news on American television, 1950s and 1960s, legendary journalists Ed Murrow and Walter Cronkite reported the news with dignity and accuracy. There was some interpretation (Murrow's opposition to McCarthy's withchunt) but generally it was left to the viewer to make up their minds about the issues of the day. Since the advent of "TALK RADIO" and Fox News, the political discourse in the United States has become more polarised and even toxic.

Why is it not possible to disagree with someone's views but not demonise the individual and their character? From his first days President Obama was a transformational figure but he was walled in by the hatred of extreme rightwing commentators on Fox News, the far-right gun lobby, the NRA and plain old fashioned bigots and racists. 

This media of hate spread rumors that he was not born in the USA, that he was a sleeper agent for enemies of  America, that he could not be trusted to defend the USA. When the Navy Seals located and killed Osama Bin Laden, Fox News and other right wing commentators praised the Navy Seals while ignoring the fact that it was President Obama who gave the order and deserved some of the credit for the successful military operation (though I personally wish they had arrested the terrorist and put him on trial for his crimes).



I watch some programmes on CNN, never Fox News and I love the BBC's "HardTalk" and "Talking Books".