I have always been intrigued with the news. That is why I studied for and completed my master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. I think if I hadn’t met my husband, I might have gone on for a PhD and taught journalism on the college level. Although I never did that, I did teach high school journalism for a number of years.
One aspect always fascinated me, how people in power, who were trying to take control, would twist and torture the news to make it fit their reality, even so far as to remove people from photographs, even though there were other copies of the same photos. They would think their copy would be the one in control.
My personal copy of David King’s book.
In 1997 a book was published called, The Commissar Vanishes. Written by David King, it discussed in text and photos how Stalin and his cronies distorted history by doctoring photos. They removed from sight those people who had been removed from power, who had been eliminated, who had been murdered. It is quite the book. Almost 200 pages of photos showing the demented attempts of Stalin and his peers to eliminate people by removing them from the archives.
But it did not work. Stalin fell. The photos and art were uncovered. The truth came out.
Thus when a doctored video was presented by the White House, one that we can see step by step with the original, I thought immediately of the book about Stalin era Russia/Soviet Union. It is not a big change, just enough to make one think, “What really happened?” But when you play them side by side, you can see that the doctored one shows a much more aggressive encounter, and it eliminates the sound, “Pardon me.”
Part of me wanted to laugh. But the other part of me wanted to cry. I never expected in my United States I would see the day that such a video would be released by someone in the White House. It is enough that the White House claims that all news is fake news; trying to discredit the media/press, which is given freedom to discover the truth of what is happening in the First Amendment of our Constitution.
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Condemning all the media as fake alone is obviously against all that our Constitution holds dear. But to then blatantly change the facts with a faked video, amazes me. Would they believe no one would notice?
It really has to stop. Our Congress needs to act to keep America great and not to destroy the office of the president, the trust of the people in the Congress, and to allow our people to mend their differences.
Sharing a link from a source known for producing truly faked videos and news is beyond contempt. Trying to justify taking someone’s press credentials and slandering that person because they do not like the questions he asks, is inappropriate.
I love my country. I also believe a free and independent media is one of the major checks and balances that keeps us a democratic nation. We have seen countries where the media is decimated, which leads to the rise of dictators and the end of freedoms. See what is happening in Turkey, what happened in the Soviet Union, what happened in Venezuela.
Protect the media. Protect the First Amendment. Keep the First Amendment rights of Free Press/Media, Free Speech, Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Religion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Commissar_Vanishes
zicharonot 
It is among the scariest things that Trump has been doing—attacking and demeaning the role of the press. That people cannot see the dangers in this is mind-boggling to me. The free press and free speech are two of the things that distinguish this country from so many in the world—including so-called Western type democracies. Combined with his attempts to de-legitimize the courts and use Congress as a weapon, he is truly acting like a dictator. But his base refuses to see it, and the Republicans are too afraid to challenge him. It is shameful, frightening, sickening.
Thanks for writing this.
Absolutely. I am praying that with the Democrats in control of the House some things will change. But to be honest I am disgusted with both sides.
As am I. But there are lots of new faces coming in—-young, female, gay—people who may add lots of new ideas and new energy. On the other hand, as long as the White House, Senate, and Supreme Court are controlled by the right, there isn’t much hope for the House to accomplish very much.
All true.