Staged freedom of speech

by B. R. GOWANI

VIDEO/C-SPAN/Youtube
VIDEO/C-SPAN/Youtube

mostly every year, since 1921, WHCA dinners have been held

president, when present at an annual dinner, mocks himself

the entertainer present there then roasts the US president

there are also parties, red carpet arrivals, and so on

and as John Oliver points it has people who doesn’t belong there

one wonders why do presidents have to mock themselves?

what purpose is served by entertainers roasting the US presidents?

few laughs, cozy intermingling, socializing, dinner & drinking

it doesn’t prove that the corporate owned press speaks truth

if such was the case, we wouldn’t have gone to unlimited wars

destroying countries & people; creating orphans & widows

all of the wars have been waged on false pretext/s

the news media have most of the times gone along with lies

but the media would like to believe otherwise, i.e., they’re doing great work

not all corporate owned media reporters are toothless and gutless

but their number is low

2022 entertainer was Trevor Noah

“The reason we’re here is to honor and celebrate the Fourth Estate and what you stand for — what you stand for. An additional check and balance that holds power to account and gives voice to those who otherwise wouldn’t have one. I am not just talking about like CNN or Fox or any of the other major organizations [but am] talking about everyone you know young journalists we saw today. Intrepid journalists who aren’t even in this room. In Flint, Michigan or that daring reporter at the Des Moines Register or the unflinching local newscaster in El Paso, Texas.

“Every single one of you, whether you like it or not, is a bastion of democracy. And if you ever begin to doubt your responsibilities, if you ever begin to doubt, how meaningful it is, look no further than what’s happening in Ukraine. Look, what’s happening there. Journalists are risking and even losing their lives to show the world what’s really happening.

“You realize, how amazing it is in America you have the right to seek the truth and speak the truth even if makes the people in power uncomfortable. Even if it makes your viewers or your readers uncomfortable. Understand how amazing that is. I stood here tonight and made fun of the president of the United States. And I am gonna be fine. I am gonna be fine, right? Do you really understand what a blessing it is?

“May be it’s happened for so long that it might get slip [out of] your mind. It’s a blessing. In fact, ask yourself this question, honestly, ask yourself this question, if Russian journalists who are losing their livelihood as you were talking about and their freedom for daring to report on what their own government is doing. If they had the freedom to write any word, show any story, or to ask any question if they had basically what you have would they be using it in the same way that you do. Ask yourself that question everyday because you have one of the most important roles in the world.”

most of what Trevor Noah is saying is pure bullshit

the gathering has reporters from the corporate media

where are the reporters like John Pilger or Chris Hedges or …

or for that matter Julian Assange — the founder of WikiLeaks

Assange, an Australian, is rotting in British jail wanted by the US

Assange’s crime? reporting the US war and other crimes

yes, you have the right to write anything in the US

but if the people in power gives no shit then your words are powerless

the corporate owned media is not hard on corporate funded politicians

Noah says the news media & the reporters give voice to the powerless

what voice has the powerless gotten?

12 million children live with hunger in the US

did Noah asked President Joe Biden why is it so?

Noah could have asked why 2.3 million people are in the US jails

Noah could have asked why send weapons to Ukraine & inflame the war

Noah could have asked why the US bombing victim is denied help

one could go on and on

Noah wasn’t going to ask such questions was the reason he was invited

besides, Noah called Biden “America’s new Dad” when he became president

Dad is a heartless dude: a friend of billionaires & an enemy of poor

B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com