SUMMARY OF THE NY
TIMES 11/22/05 FRONT
PAGE NEWS
Test your emotional IQ by checking your visceral response to the body language depicted on today's NY Times front page. If a picture truly does speak a thousand words, it should be easy to match each picture with one word, such as: remorse, hostility, or conviction, depending on how you interpret the message being sent. I admit that I'm a little frightened by the look on Dick Cheney's face this morning; how do you read his body language?
But first, front-center is Rick Wagoner, Chief Executive of General Motors, looking quite remorseful about making the announcement that GM will be laying off 5,000 more American workers as part of a three-year plan that will include the closing of a dozen facilities. For excellent in-depth coverage, see the related story on p. C-1 (NY Times Business Section) to read about the reactions of GM employees in Lansing, MI, along with a more detailed analysis of GM's long-range plan to cut 30,000 jobs in North America. It is no wonder that Mr. Wagoner does not look happy. The man is responsible for telling thousands of American families that they have no longer have a source of income. I wonder if anyone will ask how his personal income will be affected.
The second most prominent news story on the front page
today features side-by-side photos of Congressman John P. Murtha and Vice President Dick Cheney expressing, well, conviction and hostility (you decide which is which). The word, "revisionism" stands out in the headline, as well as throughout the article, which basically outlines Mr. Cheney's rebuttal of Murtha's charge that this administration lied to the American
people to justify the invasion of Iraq, a charge believed by over half of all Americans.
Now, let's look at the attempt to turn public opinion with the use of this one heavily loaded word. First, Senator Murtha accuses the administration of "manipulating intelligence" (sounds like revisionism to me…). Next, Vice President Cheney takes this accusation and quickly spins it around so fast that perhaps it spins our heads as well,
creating an unfavorable, if foggy, impression - with no real evidence - that the senators have re-written or revised anything. Yes, it's confusing, but this article is worth reading to the end, where you'll find parallels between Mr. Cheney's remarks and other recent speeches on terrorism, and press secretary Scott McClellan's declaration that Congressman Murtha endorses the policy positions of Michael Moore, a statement that was later revised (no!) by administration officials.
In other news, Sunni and Shiite Iraqis are making a unified call for withdrawal of US troops on a specified timetable. 100 Iraqi leaders signed the memorandum on Monday in preparation for a larger conference scheduled for February. Iraq's interior minister, Bayan Jabr, said that the US should be out of Iraq by the end of next year.
Elsewhere on the front page it is reported that people in Louisiana are concerned that the federal
government has lost interest in their plight. Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco says the people of her state feel forgotten, but a liaison for the reconstruction effort counters that our president is still committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast. A town planner from just north of New Orleans put it best when he said that at times like these, people want government to speak with one voice.
On a lighter note, today's front page article in the Making Artists series is about the emergence of the
video gaming culture in mainstream academia. Video game design has apparently become a legitimate academic discipline, with degrees available to video gamers at universities across North America. At first glance, it may not seem that impressive, but the more than 100 game-related programs now offered (up from 12) reflects an 800%+ increase in just five years. Creating video games involves the combined expertise of several disciplines, including art, computeraphic design, literature, music and film, and lest those more conventionally educated assume that video game designers lack formal intellectual training, it should be noted that the creative director at Cryptic Studios in Los Gatos, CA, who has helped design games such as City of Heroes and City of Villains, holds a Master's degree in ancient Mediterranean history from University of Chicago and has studied Greek and Latin at Ohio State University.
(Wow. Perhaps it's not such a light note, after all. It seems to me that some of the people creating video games might be better educated that some of the people creating rules we live by in real life.)
Last but certainly not least is a disturbing story about the persecution of Muslims in Russia at a time when religious freedom and tolerance is most needed. It appears that the government has resurrected its Soviet-era system of keeping official lists of people who have committed no crimes. One citizen speaks for many, saying that he believes the government does not like Islam because its members cannot be easily controlled.
Finally, don't forget to visit the Op-Ed section for today's opinion brought to you by a major corporation. If you're wondering why there's plenty of room for paid advertisements in Op-Ed, check out the glossy new Times Select online magazine, and have your credit card ready.
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