We're not analyzing the media on Mars or in the eighteenth century or something like that. We're dealing with real human beings who are suffering and dying and being tortured and starving because of policies that we are involved in, we as citizens of democratic societies are directly involved in and are responsible for, and what the media are doing is ensuring that we do not act on our responsibilities, and that the interests of power are served, not the needs of the suffering people, and not even the needs of the American people who would be horrified if they realized the blood that's dripping from their hands because of the way they are allowing themselves to be deluded and manipulated by the system.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Chomsky argues that media in democratic societies manipulates citizens to ignore their responsibility for suffering caused by state policies.
- In plain terms
- Media stops people in democracies from realizing they are responsible for suffering abroad.
- What can you take from it?
- Media often obscures citizens' responsibility for state violence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does media shape your view of responsibility?
- What are you responsible for as a citizen?
Another view
The claim assumes all citizens can easily identify and change state policies.
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