March 26, 2003

Changing Your Media Environment

Hi David,

I've been listening to a radio interview with Rumsfeld. The interviewer pitches some soft balls and Rumsfeld knocks them out of the park. He warns the Iraqis they must follow the Geneva convention with regard to treatment of pows just as we do, and that using chemical weapons would be a war crime.

Wolf has the attentive, respectful tone of a novice questioning a sage and Rumsfeld answers seriously, gravely. Afterwards, I guess, he and Wolf giggle together. I wonder if Wolf has mastered the Nancy Reagan uptilted look of rapt adoration.

Seven or eight years ago we gave away our tv and it has been a liberating experience. When I occasionally see a tv at a friend's house it seems even dumber than I remember and I can't stand to watch it. Like someone who's quit smoking I may be just over-sensitive or perhaps it really has become worse.

There's only one consistent message which is "Buy" They are selling a world-view and the products and services you need to get ahead, stay afloat, or compensate for your inadequacies. We do a lot more reading and, amazing to relate, my wife and I actually have conversations.

The only thing I miss is the ability to watch movies on videotape. So when I want a diversion from the "intolerable selfhood" (Huxley's term) - off to the library for more books.

I too enjoy the protest marches. They are almost daily here, it seems. Last week Thursday, Friday, Saturday andSunday this week the same. Saturday 3/15 was a downpour, 3inches of rain, but the march was as big or bigger than the one on 2/15. I haven't seen so many umbrellas since I lived in London. We're part of a neigbourhood group Neighbors For Peace and Justice which started in one of the suburbs and now has twenty vigils throughout LA. (There are another 60+ such groups doing the same thing) We normally meet at a heavily trafficked intersection on Friday evenings 5-7pm and have 100 to 140 participants carrying signs,flags, candles.

Last Sunday with the move-on.org call for a candlelight vigil we had 500 people show up. Friday 3/21 with the war underway we had well over 100, so numbers haven't diminished. Nor has commuter response of honking for peace. Russian military experts and journalists have a website iraqwar.ru its english translation is at .aeronautics.ru for the first one then /news070.htm etc. Very detailed and with accurate predictions. Conflicts between Gen.meyers and Frank from intercepted radio signals. New postings daily at around 3pm PST.

All the Best

Jonathan

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