I clicked on CNN International this morning and watched in horror the crackdown on the citizens of Burma. The people, led by the Saffron robed monks who are revered as the moral authority of Burma, were peacefully demonstrating when the military began firing into the crowd. Many were dragged away and beaten. The monasteries around Burma were raided during the night and many monks were taken away. The rest were looked into their monasteries. Eyewitnesses were calling CNN International and relating the facts and begging for help from the world community. It reminded me of the student protests in Tiananmen Square, China, where many died also. And the world watched on CNN worldwide as witnesses to the brutal government crackdown.

After watching for 30 minutes or more, I switched to CNN (the American version) to see their take on the subject. Escaped Gorilla was the first story, 100 Cosmo girls appearing bikini-clad on Bondi Beach in Australia to beat a Guinness World Record. 30 minutes later, not one word about what was happening in Burma.

Maybe that was the most horrifying part for me. The rest of the world is shown, and chooses to watch, real news, the United States is watching Entertainment Tonight masquerading as real news. When did this diversion take place? When did the population of the United States agree to watch pablum over hard hitting news? As Rome burns...

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive