Article Reflection No. 6 (5/1/2022)

Article #6: How Tucker Carlson Stoked White Fear to Conquer Cable

Reflection:

Freedom. A two-syllable word that withholds the meaning of dozens of books, marches, papers, organizations, and people. A beautiful word. A dangerous one. A peaceful word. A word that instigates conflict. Freedom.

The first few paragraphs of the article “How Tucker Carlson Stoked White Fear to Conquer Cable” baffled me. Viewing Tucker Carlson’s actions as inhumane and incredulous, I read of the various ways he wielded publicity into a weapon that deceived many Americans. For example, although Carlson claimed he didn’t “ ‘judge [people] on their race [or group],’ ” he had previously blamed incoming meagerly-supplied immigrants for “making America dirty” (Confessore 1). He also proceeded to claim that Black Lives Matter protests were “ ‘criminal mobs’ ” (Confessore 1). How can Carlson be so unfeeling as to publicly declare that people who are forced to escape from their homelands and push through perilous, long journeys make America less better than before? Personally, I believe that having a more open mindset towards immigrants and considering their perspectives makes America more admirable and respectable, not the other way around. And how is standing up for justice a criminalizing act? According to the U.S. Constitution, the government must establish justice and provide for the common people. This document also includes the First Amendment, which emphasizes freedom of speech. Although deliberately violent protests should be condemned, these Black Lives Matter protesters are implementing their own freedom of speech as well as their beliefs that justice is necessary, and must be delivered to the common people.

Although I sometimes believe in second chances and understand that people are vulnerable to change their mind, this is not one of those occasions. These incessant, rampant moments of false unjustified degradation should be no more.