Awake

All of your perceptions are belong to us

Taking a trip -- even a relatively short trip -- to a country like India (for example) really gives a person perspective. A person like me (for example).

One thing I've become even more acutely aware of is the "hijack routine" the media and the ruling administration pulls on the local presses. What I'd like to know is, who makes up the schedule that determines which cause, person, politcal party or reality TV show gets the limelight at any given time? And where are they getting the information that informs their decision?

Take for example this issue of licensing gay civil unions. What happened here? I admit, I didn't read the paper much while I was away, but why is this (and anything even remotely related to gays, homosexuality, marriage, religion, "sacred unions" or any combination of the above) all of sudden crowding the local press stage? Why is the religious right even wasting it's time on this? So that they can demonstrate their uncanny ability to color anything black and white? Or maybe it's to show off their genius communication strategy that practically guarantees that what they have to say will be misperceived by just about anyone who listens. (Not that I have a strong opionion on this.) If Oregon wants to license gay civil unions and further increase the state's divorce rate, fine. But it seems to me like a waste of resources.

Right now in this state, there are three very boring, very "blah," very unsensational, very downright pathetic issues plaguing our population: hunger, poverty, and education. We are the hungriest state in the country. Did you know that? [See notes 1, 2, 3 at the bottom of this entry.] Poverty in Oregon is largely unseen because most of the poor in Oregon are the working poor. [4, 5] And education? You have to have lived under a rock the past 10 years not to see how Oregon's education system has plummeted (much to the chagrin of the teachers, students, parents, community members, and many others!)

Now some may feel that the debate surrounding "gay marriages" is centered around a question of morality and religious values. On the other hand, issues in the arenas of poverty, hunger, and education are in fact "social questions" that really have no moral or religious implications. So to compare them or to pit them against each other as I am doing is really just presenting a false alternative. And, in fact, (you might be thinking) "we must, we must object strenuously to licenscing gay marriages" because of the moral implications.

I beg to differ. And I'm not alone.

A group of "likely voters" and a mix of Republicans and Democrats were asked, "The question of values is sure to be important to many voters this November. As you decide your vote for president of the United States, which of the following would be more important to you: hearing a candidate's position on gay marriage or hearing a candidate's plan for fighting poverty?"

The results? 78% of respondants indicated they would rather hear a candidate's plan for fighting poverty as opposed to the 15% who would rather hear a candidate's position on gay marriage. [6]

Maybe you've been blocking out all the debate, hoopla, and news media craziness surrounding the "gay marriage debate." Maybe you've heard enough. Maybe you're sick of it and really don't want to hear another word about it. Maybe you couldn't care less. Maybe you would just like everyone to just shut up about it, thank you very much. Yes, you would be very happy about that.

So let me ask you this: What do think should take its place in the limelight? If you were Big Brother out there devising the limelight schedule...if you could decide what the local media reported on the evening news...what would be worthy of your attention? Would ending hunger in Oregon be a worthy enough cause for you? What about ending poverty? Or how about improving education for students and teachers state-wide? Or upon hearing about these things, would you think to yourself, or remark to your buddy over coffee, "I've heard enough."

I trust this is not the case with you. With that trust in mind, I've pasted in a few links referenced in this entry that you might find useful in your (newfound?) journey control the headlines (in your mind, at any rate).

[1] Why does Oregon have the highest rate of hunger in America? (PDF)

[2] Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force

[3] Food Insecurity and Hunger in Oregon: A New Look (PDF)

[4] Working poor dominate poverty rolls

[5] A Portrait of Poverty in Oregon

[6] Values and the 2004 election