Politics, News & Issues >
Political & Economic Theory
RSS FeedIs it possible for politicials to tell the truth?
Results so far:
Votes are still being tallied.
Join the Debate now.
No
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesTelevision Pundit, Bill O'Reilly, doesn't know who Dolores Huerta is
By Joe Olvera
So, Bill O'Reilly of the O'Reilly Factor doesn't know who Dolores Huerta is, huh? He said as much during a recent program where he had two guests who were angry at Huerta because she had said at a Tucson High School that: "Republicans hate Latinos." Then she had the students in the audience repeat her words, which they did. I guess what Huerta should've done is to tell why she thinks Republicans "hate" Latinos. But, she didn't. Maybe next time, but O'Reilly committed a faux pas that's not easily forgiven.
O'Reilly basically said: "I don't know this woman, I've never heard of her." And, I was shocked. Not know who Dolores Huerta is? She's only one of the strongest icons in our lexicon of heroes. Yet, O'Reilly, who calls himself a journalist, doesn't know who she is? Actually, what shocked me the most is that he didn't even bother, as a self-proclaimed journalist/reporter, to do research on this strong and fearless Chicana leader.
Come on, Bill, even a freshman journalism student would know that the first act of a reporter who doesn't know his subject, is to conduct research to find out who the person is. That's the most basic rule of Journalism, and Bill didn't know that? And, he calls himself a journalist? Come on, Bill, surely, you can do better than that.
Well, if you don't know who Dolores Huerta is, then let me tell you. Even Eva Longoria the beautiful and intelligent star of the t.v. show Desperate Housewives - knows who she is. Longoria, who is also the Chair of the Dolores Huerta Foundation Honorary Committee said this about her:
"Seventy-five years ago on April 10th, a force for change came into this world.Whether you know her for organizing with farm workers and Cesar Chavez to change the conditions in the fields, for including all of us in the movement for justice, for inspiring women to reclaim their power in the home and in the halls of government, whether you know her as a mother, leader, sister in the struggle, friend, or icon: this year we celebrate 50 years of organizing and 75 years of the life of Dolores Huerta. After 50 years of fighting for justice, Dolores continues to work as a tireless advocate for women, youth, farm workers, immigrants, workers, and poor communities."
Okay, Bill, heard enough? Well, sit back. There's more. Longoria isn't the only person who extols Huerta's virtues. I do, as well. Did you know, Bill, that Huerta is a co-founder of the United Farm Workers one of the most successful and respected labor movement leaders in the 20th Century? Did you know that Ms. Magazine honored her as one of the women of the year in 1998? The magazine said about her: "For Huerta, every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world."
Other honors she has received, include the Outstanding Labor Leader Award by the State of California; in 1993 she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, she co-chaired the California delegation to the Democratic Convention in 1972, and she has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from such schools as the New College of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, Cal State University, the SUNY School of Law, and many honors too numerous to mention here.
Her clarion call is helping Hispanic youth achieve success in America. And, she said this about her efforts: "I quit (teaching school) because I couldn't stand seeing kids come to class hungry and needing shoes. I thought I could do more by organizing farm workers than by trying to teach their hungry children."
Now, do you know who Dolores Huerta is, Bill? If you want to learn more about this amazing woman, then, do the research, man. After all, you are a journalist, are you not? Then, behave like one. And don't put our people down, just because you don't know who they are, Bill. Just remember the first rule of Journalism, and you'll do fine. Trust me, I'm a journalist.
Sin Fin
Learn more about this author, Joe Olvera.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Yes
Yes, I do believe politicians can tell the truth if we demand it. But , are there really any truths when it comes to politics? A truly gifted politician can reveal truth in any position they wish to take. A little bit of spin can fix any foul-up that's made ; does anyone really believe Mrs. Clinton only misspoke when claiming she dodged sniper fire in Bosnia ? We have to remember that politics is a business not an ideal, and politicians are business people not movement leaders. Not anymore anyway. It's not even their fault either. Like any other business, if the market, which is the American voter, were to create a demand for the truth, then politicians would be forced to comply . But truth is not in demand. Truth means that there is a right and a wrong, or put another way, someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong. Declaring someone's point of view to be wrong in this country, in these times, is just not politically correct . Besides ,one person's truth may not be another person's truth . Sad huh ? And confusing. Since truth isn't in demand , then where is the reward for telling the truth? Answer : there is none. There isn't any punishment for lying either . That's been shown over and over.
So, what's caused our present circumstance? I believe , for one , that we as a people no longer believe in absolute truth . In fact , we rebel against it. We even ostracize people who live their lives by them . An absolute truth would be one that is always true . There's no changing them because they are indisputable. Often people who believe in absolute truths are seen as religious kooks or right- wingers. We have become accustomed to seeing the world in shades of grey, making choices with no real compass to guide us other than what feels good or makes us feel good about ourselves. Seeing issues in black and white,with a definite right and wrong, is thought too confrontational or closed-minded for our progressive culture. Even when confronted with regimes around the world that are so despotic ,that the only word to accurately define them would be evil, we still waffle. We try to turn the mirror back on ourselves to find what it is about us that makes them not like us. In a world without absolutes, the line between good and evil does not exist , in this world the U.S. looks no different from a place where a woman is stoned to death for showing her face in public. A shocking thought. I'm sure that even some people who might read this would say " Well the U.S. isn't perfect, how can you be so bigoted?" All I can really say to this is WAKE UP. Of course were not perfect. But there is a huge chasm between "not perfect" and a regime that performs genocide on it's citizens. Then again that may be a truth that most people don't want to think about. Believe this though, there is a straight path from where we are to where they are. That path is paved with lying politicians. Until we stand up and acknowledge that there is a right way and we are not afraid to define that way, then we are going to keep getting the same sorry results from our leaders. In fact, without accepting absolutes, there is no clear way for a leader to take us. We must recreate a market for telling the truth and hold severely accountable any politicians who would lie their way to the top.
Learn more about this author, David Norris.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Political & Economic Theory
- Does the Federal Reserve control the US economy?
- Should the electoral college be abolished?
- Should lawmakers free us from market forces by controlling gas prices?
- The Amero: Should the US support a North American-wide currency like the Euro?
- Is government secrecy compatible with democracy?
- Should we replace some of FICA and SE taxes with a 7% sales tax?
