US official may sue rightwing blogger
Shirley Sherrod threatens action against Andrew Breitbart over edited video that led to race row.
In an amazing article from Guardian UK, a blogger BigGovernment.com, posts edited video from an unnamed source, which seems to indicate that Shirley Sherrod, a black woman and US federal head of rural development for the agriculture department in Georgia at the White House, was accused of making racist comments against white farmers. She was fired by the White House, and then the full video was listened to by the Powers-That-Be and they realized their mistake. Her speech had contained a parable that was edited by someone, the blogger claims 'not me', that was misinterpreted. President Obama apologized.
Lessons learned-the takeaway message...
- In this day and age of blogging, we must be accountable. I would sue him...
- Perhaps the White House should be given a course on choosing reliable sources,
- in checking 3 sources (which is what I always counselled my students when doing research),
- and the corruption of power of some who make choices.
  | Video: USDA official resigns amid racism claims 2 days ago www.msnbc.msn.com |
At least the White House corrected the mistake. Interesting editorial blogs (by 'real' journalists) who wonder at the people behind this story. This reminds me of the chaos around the distortion of the truth about Canadian medicare, twisted to suit extreme, white wing Americans trying to fight President Obama's universal health care. At the time, many Americans were asking me, through my Ontario Seniors' Health Care blog, for the truth around our system. I had spotted some bloggers who were citing private health information (illegal in Canada) about a particular patient, which was reprinted verbatim in many blogs. I follow Ontario health news particularly! Lies and gossip about senior health care
I am always amazed with the information people pass on to one another!
Canadian Health Care System - part I
I was asked to write about our system in Canada, as there is much misinformation in American news about our weird ways. They even videotaped a woman who was distorting her truth about her Canadian health care experiences. What criminal action this is, to bash away at our health care. Where does truth lie? Somewhere in the middle. Read with a critical mind. Reflect and research. All may not be as it seems.
