In this day and age of constant media coverage and breaking news, it is often easy for certain events to slip under the radar. However, when it comes to the President of the United States attacking the free speech rights of an individual, one would expect it to be front page news. Sadly, this was not the case with the recent attack by Donald Trump on Palestinian-American activist, Mahmoud Khalil.
For those who may not be familiar with the incident, allow me to provide a brief summary. Mahmoud Khalil, an active member of the Palestinian community in the United States, was scheduled to speak at a peace conference organized by the Arab American Institute. The conference aimed to discuss and find solutions to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. However, just a few hours before Khalil’s scheduled speech, the event was abruptly cancelled due to pressure from the Trump administration.
This attack on free speech by the President of the United States is not only alarming but also deeply concerning. Yet, it barely made a blip on the mainstream media’s radar. One would think that such a blatant violation of an individual’s rights would be met with outrage and condemnation from the press. However, sadly, this was not the case.
This brings us to another shocking incident that occurred this week – the capitulation of corporate media to Trump’s demands. The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, Jimmy Kimmel, who has been a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, recently came under fire for a political joke he made on his show. This prompted the President to call for a boycott of Kimmel’s show and demand an apology. And what was the response from the corporate media? Dead silence.
It is perplexing to see how a late-night talk show host’s joke has garnered more attention and criticism than the President’s attack on free speech. This is a stark reminder of the unfortunate reality of the mainstream media – it is heavily influenced by corporate interests and is more concerned with maintaining their ratings than reporting on important issues.
One would expect the media, which is often hailed as the fourth pillar of democracy, to hold those in power accountable for their actions. Instead, they chose to turn a blind eye to a blatant attack on an individual’s rights, all for the sake of political expediency.
As a society, we must demand better from our media. It is their responsibility to shine a light on such issues and hold those in power accountable for their actions. We cannot afford to have a media that is more concerned with ratings and profit than the fundamental principles of democracy.
Fortunately, amidst all of this, there are still independent and unbiased media outlets that strive to bring the truth to the forefront. One such outlet is The Intercept, which has been tirelessly exposing the wrongdoings of those in power, regardless of their political affiliation. The fact that they have covered the attack on Khalil’s free speech rights, while the mainstream media remained silent, is a testament to their commitment to journalism and the truth.
In a time where the media is constantly under attack and labeled as “fake news,” it is more important than ever to support independent media outlets like The Intercept. They provide an alternative perspective and hold the powerful accountable, without any influence from corporate interests.
In conclusion, the lack of coverage on Trump’s attack on Mahmoud Khalil’s free speech rights by the mainstream media is not only disappointing but also a stark reminder of the state of our media today. It is high time we demand better from the outlets that claim to be the gatekeepers of information. And it is also crucial for us to support independent media outlets that strive for the truth and hold those in power accountable for their actions. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It’s time for us to be the change and demand a free and unbiased media for a truly democratic society.
