It's hard for anyone to look at a war in a positive light when you think of all the innocent people dying. Hints why presidents never vocalize the lives that will be lost when introducing the decision to go to war. Bush made it seem like it was "our" duty to help those who are oppressed and defend our nation. Bush used the word "our" twenty times within this five-minute speech. By framing the war as a community contribution, it helps people be supportive of the war.
Of course the longer a war goes on, popular opinion changes as media starts to change. Media slowly starts to focus on all the things that are actually happening while at war, which includes lots of people losing their life's. When media starts to show mission camps being bombed or little innocence children losing their life's, people naturally start to question things. This is where media agenda come in. This is up for debate, but maybe the best part of democracy is the ability to have an agenda and the choice to choose what you want your agenda to be. Many oppressed, government regulated countries, don't get to chose their own agendas. If the man in power has decided on war then that is what the country will support. Hitler didn't show his troops freezing to death as they attempted to invade Russia. Of course the less popular a president becomes, the bigger media target her or she will become. Popular opinion is really important because it paves the medias agenda and gives them power.
Hi Taylor -- thank you for the post, though please keep in mind that late submissions do not count toward the "5." If you have questions about this or if the existing deadline (Noon the day before class) it difficult for you due to work or other conflicts, please see me immediately so we can work something out for you before it's too late.
ReplyDelete