Bulgaria has been democratizing itself since the fall of communism in 1989. For almost 20 years of democracy in Bulgaria "many things happened but nothing changed" or "many things changed but nothing happened."
For these 20 years, Bulgaria was governed by the Socialist Party (the former Communist Party), the Union of Democratic Forces, the party of the former Tsar Simeon II, and a coalition among the former communists, the tsar, and the Turkish party. No matter who is in power though, the media have always been kind to the party of power. The reason for this is that for over 10 years after the collapse of communism the main and the only television station was controlled by the party that is in power. However, currently there are 4 national channels and countless cable televisions but still the ones that criticize governments and parties are very few.
The reason for this is that everybody - members of ruling parties, members of opposition parties, reporters, respected journalists - used to be members and agents of the old Communist Party. They are friends, they play the same game. When the files of the Communist Party were opened it became known that famous journalists (Koritarov, Garelov) were agents of the Communist Party. The prime-minister is a former communist and his girlfriend is supposedly one of the best investigative journalists in Bulgaria. Coincidence!?
Now when a politician is about to be interviewed by a respected political journalist, it is clear to everyone that two agents are going to discuss the agency. Isn't that a circus...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Assign. # 14 "US Democracy"
"American democracy is not the Italian democracy" post touches upon the meaning of the word "democracy" and the different meanings it has been given in different places during different times.
Western world has 'accepted' that the "American" form of democracy is the best type of democracy to have. Based on this perception, Bush and other presidents in the past have led a number of wars aiming the "spread of democracy." The ultimate goal of wars such as the war in Korea or the Vietnam War was to defeat the commies and spread its alternative - democracy. The ultimate goal of wars such as the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq is to defeat the Talibans or the evil dictator and "spread democracy." As a result, currently, as everybody knows, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq are the most advanced and hailed democracies in the world.
What? Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq are NOT the most advanced and hailed democracies in the world. So, America did not spread its democracy in these countries! What a shame...or is it really a shame?
The USA is a democratic country with a two-party system. But two-party system is supposed to mean that there are currently just two elected parties, not that there are only two major political parties in the entire political life of a country. Unfortunately, this is the case in America. And to make things even worse, there is not a clear difference between those two parties. To an American political science professor the two parties may appear entirely different, to a regular American citizen the two parties might be somewhat different, to the rest of the world - they are the same.
The bottom line is that the American democracy is a two-party system which in actuality is a democracy with one party system. Is that a democracy?
"They've already built communism." ~ Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, after his visit in the USA.
Western world has 'accepted' that the "American" form of democracy is the best type of democracy to have. Based on this perception, Bush and other presidents in the past have led a number of wars aiming the "spread of democracy." The ultimate goal of wars such as the war in Korea or the Vietnam War was to defeat the commies and spread its alternative - democracy. The ultimate goal of wars such as the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq is to defeat the Talibans or the evil dictator and "spread democracy." As a result, currently, as everybody knows, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq are the most advanced and hailed democracies in the world.
What? Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq are NOT the most advanced and hailed democracies in the world. So, America did not spread its democracy in these countries! What a shame...or is it really a shame?
The USA is a democratic country with a two-party system. But two-party system is supposed to mean that there are currently just two elected parties, not that there are only two major political parties in the entire political life of a country. Unfortunately, this is the case in America. And to make things even worse, there is not a clear difference between those two parties. To an American political science professor the two parties may appear entirely different, to a regular American citizen the two parties might be somewhat different, to the rest of the world - they are the same.
The bottom line is that the American democracy is a two-party system which in actuality is a democracy with one party system. Is that a democracy?
"They've already built communism." ~ Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, after his visit in the USA.
Assign. # 2 Fox News vs. CNN
The news aired on April 27, 2009 on Fox Channel and CNN was literally the same. Fox Channel aired the conference of the Homeland Security Secretary live from Washington, D.C. regarding the spread of Swine Flu around the country and what measures the American citizens should take. Fox Channel also covered the cases of Swine Flu in California and neighboring Mexico. The other major pieces of news of Fox Channel were connected to the Swine Flu outbreak too. For instance, the oil price dropped because of the Swine Flu outbreak.
CNN's main information for the day was the Swine Flu as well. The channel showed Homeland Security Secretary's press conference live from Washington, D.C. CNN commented on the flu outbreak in Mexico. Unlike, Fox, however, CNN referred to other news besides the Swine Flu outbreak. For instance, CNN informed about a tornado in Oklahoma and pointed out that Wednesday will be the 100th day of President Obama in office.
To me there is no big difference between CNN and Fox. Actually, on that particular day, there was literally no difference on the way they covered the Swine Flu at all. Even though CNN could be hardly referred to as an objective medium, especially after its coverage on the gas crisis in Bulgaria, it produced more diverse news on that particular day, while Fox was constantly informing only about the flu outbreak. In general, I, personally, do not see any big differences among the news of Fox, CNN, ABC, or NBC. They are all practicing "pack journalism" and their braking news reportages follow the same stories all the time.
CNN's main information for the day was the Swine Flu as well. The channel showed Homeland Security Secretary's press conference live from Washington, D.C. CNN commented on the flu outbreak in Mexico. Unlike, Fox, however, CNN referred to other news besides the Swine Flu outbreak. For instance, CNN informed about a tornado in Oklahoma and pointed out that Wednesday will be the 100th day of President Obama in office.
To me there is no big difference between CNN and Fox. Actually, on that particular day, there was literally no difference on the way they covered the Swine Flu at all. Even though CNN could be hardly referred to as an objective medium, especially after its coverage on the gas crisis in Bulgaria, it produced more diverse news on that particular day, while Fox was constantly informing only about the flu outbreak. In general, I, personally, do not see any big differences among the news of Fox, CNN, ABC, or NBC. They are all practicing "pack journalism" and their braking news reportages follow the same stories all the time.
Assign. # 7 "The Girls Next Door"
I have never watched "The Girls Next Door" before and I will never watch it again. It is a waste of time. In the show I watched, one of the girls in the Hugh Hefner's mansion was very proud of her new boobs. The three girls went to New Orleans for charity because of hurricane Katherina.
All the girls are blond, posh, beautiful,...annoying, dumb, and fake. It is the worst reality tv show I have ever seen. It is extremely boring, stupid, and annoying. I can't imagine that someone would watch such a thing. Aside from this, the show may have a very negative effect and influence over young teenage girls. The show teaches them that if they are young, good looking blonds they could find an older man who could take care of them which is disgusting. This is immoral and irresponsible because the life lesson of the show for young girls is - be a whore.
The show portraits that it is fine three young girls to be in the company of an eighty year-old man and call him "honey." And the producers probably say "that's OK."
It could be OK for American girls, but if I have a girl one day, she will never watch such shows.
All the girls are blond, posh, beautiful,...annoying, dumb, and fake. It is the worst reality tv show I have ever seen. It is extremely boring, stupid, and annoying. I can't imagine that someone would watch such a thing. Aside from this, the show may have a very negative effect and influence over young teenage girls. The show teaches them that if they are young, good looking blonds they could find an older man who could take care of them which is disgusting. This is immoral and irresponsible because the life lesson of the show for young girls is - be a whore.
The show portraits that it is fine three young girls to be in the company of an eighty year-old man and call him "honey." And the producers probably say "that's OK."
It could be OK for American girls, but if I have a girl one day, she will never watch such shows.
Assign. # 8 Hannity
Hannity is one hour political show hosted by Sean Hannity. The main theme discussed in the show on April 27, 2009 was the Swine Flu outbreak. There are 20 dead cases in Mexico and 45 people are sick in the USA. Another discussed topic was if Nancy Pelosi knew about the waterboarding or not. The show also provided analysis of the media's behavior towards President Obama. It turns out that media have been extremely positive towards him compared to Bush and other presidents.
In the "Great American Panel" part of the show, Hannity and his guests discussed the Swine Flu outbreak and the waterboarding issue once again. Hannity showed a video of a very low flying plane over skyscrapers in New York City which bothered many of the people who witnessed it. At the end of the show, in "One-On-One Interview" guest was Kim Kardashian who talked about what is like to be a celebrity. I have never heard of Ms. Kardashian... therefore what kind of celebrity is she?
Overall, the show is not bad, but at the same time it is not something that is worth to watch every day. Guests like Kardashian are one big minus to Hannity Show, because it should be either a political show or an entertainment show, not both.
In the "Great American Panel" part of the show, Hannity and his guests discussed the Swine Flu outbreak and the waterboarding issue once again. Hannity showed a video of a very low flying plane over skyscrapers in New York City which bothered many of the people who witnessed it. At the end of the show, in "One-On-One Interview" guest was Kim Kardashian who talked about what is like to be a celebrity. I have never heard of Ms. Kardashian... therefore what kind of celebrity is she?
Overall, the show is not bad, but at the same time it is not something that is worth to watch every day. Guests like Kardashian are one big minus to Hannity Show, because it should be either a political show or an entertainment show, not both.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Assign. # 9 Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh is a conservative American who is a host of a radio talk show. During one of his programs he expressed his negative opinion towards the immigrants in the United States of America.
According to Rush Limbaugh immigrants should speak English. They have to be professionals if they want to work in the USA, and no unskilled labor should be tolerated. There should be no bilingual school programs. No government business should be done in a mother tongue different than English. Foreigners do not and should not have the right to vote and occupy political offices. People should come to the USA if they are going to invest in the country. Immigrants cannot get welfare and buy land.
Rush Limbaugh also states that foreigners should not be allowed to protest, demonstrate, or wave their national flags. Immigrants should not speak against the government and the president. Foreigners are also not supposed to have political organizations. Everyone who is illegal must be sent to jail.
All of these rules and regulations might appear a bit harsh, but according to Limbaugh these should be the laws that apply towards foreigners in the USA since there are so many illegal immigrants in the country. I agree with most of them but they need to apply only towards the illegal immigrants, not to foreigners who are legally in the country or the ones who have become American citizens.
According to Rush Limbaugh immigrants should speak English. They have to be professionals if they want to work in the USA, and no unskilled labor should be tolerated. There should be no bilingual school programs. No government business should be done in a mother tongue different than English. Foreigners do not and should not have the right to vote and occupy political offices. People should come to the USA if they are going to invest in the country. Immigrants cannot get welfare and buy land.
Rush Limbaugh also states that foreigners should not be allowed to protest, demonstrate, or wave their national flags. Immigrants should not speak against the government and the president. Foreigners are also not supposed to have political organizations. Everyone who is illegal must be sent to jail.
All of these rules and regulations might appear a bit harsh, but according to Limbaugh these should be the laws that apply towards foreigners in the USA since there are so many illegal immigrants in the country. I agree with most of them but they need to apply only towards the illegal immigrants, not to foreigners who are legally in the country or the ones who have become American citizens.
Assign. # 1 CBS 6:30pm News
The 6:30pm news show on CBS hosted by Katie Couric reveals mainly national and international news. However, the news show aired on April 21, 2009 contained more domestic news and less news related to international issues.
The top story was the eventual investigation of the previous administration on the issue if prisoners were tortured. Another leading news was the suspicion that bailout money might have been stolen because of public corruption. It was also reported that there is a security breach regarding the way F-35 planes are constructed. The officials suspect that Chinese might be responsible, because they want to build similar planes. A murderer who stalked women through Craigslist was arrested.
The top news towards the end of the news show was the fact that a Somalian pirate was arrested and he is going to be sued in New York. This is the first time that someone is going to be sued for being a pirate in the United States for the last hundred years. In another story, the case of a girl suing her high school for a strip drug search reached the Supreme Court.
I think that the news stories were ordered fine by importance, but on the other hand they appear very neutral which means that they could have been ordered in a reverse way and still seem that they are presented correctly. The one thing which is very annoying about American news shows is that they are constantly interrupted by commercials.
The top story was the eventual investigation of the previous administration on the issue if prisoners were tortured. Another leading news was the suspicion that bailout money might have been stolen because of public corruption. It was also reported that there is a security breach regarding the way F-35 planes are constructed. The officials suspect that Chinese might be responsible, because they want to build similar planes. A murderer who stalked women through Craigslist was arrested.
The top news towards the end of the news show was the fact that a Somalian pirate was arrested and he is going to be sued in New York. This is the first time that someone is going to be sued for being a pirate in the United States for the last hundred years. In another story, the case of a girl suing her high school for a strip drug search reached the Supreme Court.
I think that the news stories were ordered fine by importance, but on the other hand they appear very neutral which means that they could have been ordered in a reverse way and still seem that they are presented correctly. The one thing which is very annoying about American news shows is that they are constantly interrupted by commercials.
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