From the Salmon

There are some nights when I really should just step away from the computer. This is probably one of those nights. But I just… it’s… I… well, you’ll see.

John Gibson, the host of FoxNews’ The Big Story with John Gibson, does a bit every show called “My Word.” It’s half opinion piece, half rant, and in the case of Gibson’s segment from July 8, wholly offensive....

I am going to say something now that amounts to complete and total heresy in this world. It makes me completely and totally apostate, a low-life, pond scum. But I’m going to say it anyway.

What’s the obsession with Africa?

I mean, here’s the day after the Brits big day of terror. Fifty dead, 700 wounded. The ancient and regal city reduced to walking home because of guys with backpack bombs set on timers and at least one guy who blew himself up along with his victims.

So here’s Friday — what amounts to 9/12, the day after 9/11 — what is Tony Blair doing? Talking about Africa — debt relief, AIDS relief, starvation relief.

[...]

Can you imagine this in America?

“Hi, I’m George Bush. We got bombed yesterday and I want to talk about aid to the third world.”

Mr. President, put a sock in it. What about the bombing? Caught the terrorists yet? Are you yanking out their fingernails yet?

Look, Mr. Gibson, it’s not my intent to diminish last week’s tragic loss in any way, but on a day that terrorists killed 50 people in London, easily treatable diseases like malaria and diarrhea killed 30,000 children, many of them in Africa. In fact, in the short time that it took you to finish your tasteless rant, 15 more children died.

You think we’re foolishly obsessed with Africa. I don’t think we’re obsessed enough.

Let’s take FoxNews for example, Mr. Gibson. In the month of June, here’s a breakdown of a few of the topics your network covered:

Segments discussing the “Runaway Bride”: 98
Segments discussing Tom Cruise: 213
Segments discussing Michael Jackson: 1,753
Segments discussing Sudan: 41

What was it we were obsessed with, again?

But you already know this. In fact, you seem almost proud of the fact that Americans aren’t focused on Africa. I think that’s sad. I think that part of the reason that people in the US wildly overestimate the amount of money we spend in foreign aid is because they hear people like you making irresponsible statements like this, solely for their shock value. I have no idea what your viewership is, but if you turned even a fraction of them off to the idea that they could become part of the solution for extreme global poverty, then you should be truly ashamed.

Mr. Gibson, despite your prompting, I don’t think you’re “a low-life” or “pond scum.” Those are dehumanizing terms that I wouldn’t use to describe anyone. I can think of others though. Like, um, how about Hack Provocateur?

That’s My Word.

Postscript: By the way, if you’d like to make your voice heard about priorities in media coverage, particularly regarding the ongoing genocide in Sudan, follow the link above to BeAWitness and send an email message to the major news networks. (via Hilzoy at Obsidian Wings)