Afghan Whigs: Democracy takes root, Big Media yawn

[Exile_In_SJ]

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=45487

Afghan Whigs:
Democracy takes root, Big Media yawn



SINCE THE British relinquished control of Afghanistan in 1919, the remote, mountainous nation has been ruled by kings, Soviet puppets and Islamist tyrants. On Saturday its residents cast ballots, unharmed, for a new kind of government — one chosen and operated by the people.

Faced with the prospect of attacks at polling places, the people showed up anyway. They were undeterred, and perhaps their bravery disheartened the would-be terrorists lurking in the shadows. United Nations observers contradicted the claims of opposition presidential candidates who said the elections were compromised by irregularities. Those candidates have since dropped their unsubstantiated charges.

As England's Whigs joined together to empower Parliament at the expense of the king, so Afghanistan's people have taken to the polls to weaken the remnants of totalitarianism.

Saturday's peaceful election was an important historical event, made even more important by the lack of widespread violence. Too bad the Big Media have decided that a successful exercise of democracy in al-Qaida's former hideout is hardly worth covering.

[Exile_In_SJ]

The main reason the Media doesn'tcover it, is because it doesn't cast a negative light on Bush. If the elections were rough and bad you bet they'd have been all over the front page.

A similar situation can be observed in the Austra;ian elections. If John Howard had lost, the papers would have gone nuts over a US ally pulling a Spain.

I think this will put any idea that there isn't media bias to rest.

[azbronco]

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=45487

Afghan Whigs:
Democracy takes root, Big Media yawn



SINCE THE British relinquished control of Afghanistan in 1919, the remote, mountainous nation has been ruled by kings, Soviet puppets and Islamist tyrants. On Saturday its residents cast ballots, unharmed, for a new kind of government — one chosen and operated by the people.

Faced with the prospect of attacks at polling places, the people showed up anyway. They were undeterred, and perhaps their bravery disheartened the would-be terrorists lurking in the shadows. United Nations observers contradicted the claims of opposition presidential candidates who said the elections were compromised by irregularities. Those candidates have since dropped their unsubstantiated charges.

As England's Whigs joined together to empower Parliament at the expense of the king, so Afghanistan's people have taken to the polls to weaken the remnants of totalitarianism.

Saturday's peaceful election was an important historical event, made even more important by the lack of widespread violence. Too bad the Big Media have decided that a successful exercise of democracy in al-Qaida's former hideout is hardly worth covering.

As Bush reported in his local speech yesterday, "The first person to vote in the election was a 19 year old girl."
This is "raising the roof" fantastic. But, nary a word in the national press, or from dems.

[Exile_In_SJ]

Like I said, the only way the mainstream media covers this is if it was a failure. They'd be happy if hundreds were killed during the voting. Then they could slam Bush.

[bendog]

????????? I've consistently heard pieces on this on NPR. I don't watch much news tv, though cause my kid is usually listening.

There have been links on yahoo.com news every day.

One thing I have not heard or seen is how reforms for women are going in the hinterlands, eg whether girls in the southern mountains are going to school and whether women can access doctors.

[Rohirrim]

Yeah. They held an election - and elected a new president of Kabul.

And as long as our special forces are there, he'll stay alive.

[bendog]

Well, from what I've seen voting was widespread. In some areas women were forced to vote in "blocks" by the village leaders, but other places women have been voicing their opinions, and Karazi seems to be their favorite.

However, I was wondering what is happening in the south which is still controled by the Taliban or at best their sympathizers. I have not see that.

But in general the success of the election is a defeat for the taliban. However, as much as the neocon types would like to analogize this to Iraq, I'm not buying that.

[enjolras]

I'm very excited about this. Hats off to the Bush administration for what they've done in Afghanistan. I hope these people come out of this much better off.. they deserve it.

[bendog]

Anybody read michener's old book "Caravans?"

[azbronco]

Nope, what's it about?