When Al Jazeera began, it was dubbed the Arab world's version of CNN.

Thank goodness nothing like that actually came to pass. While CNN wasted electrons all last week soaking Americans in all things Whitney Houston, Al Jazeera had bigger fish to cook. Much bigger fish.

In fact, if you are looking for good old fashioned hard journalism these days, you are far more likely to find it on Al Jazeera than on CNN, Fox or MSNBC.

Two pieces in particular appeared this week on Al Jazeera that caught my eye. Each story was cosmically more important than the death of another glitzy, spoiled, dysfunctional American entertainer. (Below, I provide links to each of these intelligent, well-written pieces of genuine journalism.)

My, my, how far we've fallen since the days Walter Cronkite was the "most trusted man in America." Even as the world is clearly entering what historians call a "super-cycle," of change and upheaval, our main media outlets strive to become less like Cronkite and more like TMZ.

Americans like to talk about "fair and balanced" news. But we draw a line when it comes to news that demands serious introspection and self-examination. We prefer to think of ourselves in global terms as virtually indestructible and morally superior.

Which is why any perspectives that challenge that self-serving self-image are rationalized away as "anti-American." Some are just that, and nothing more. Then again, some are simply a mirror being held up to us, the image reflected so upsetting we refuse to even consider the possibilities. Blissful ignorance.

Well here's a dose of the stuff didn't get from Fox or CNN or MSNBC or the Wall Street Journal. Instead it was in Al Jazeera. Good for them. Shame on our own media who, to paraphrase the Bible, can see the speck in the eyes of others, but not the log in our own.

Have a nice Monday

Steve

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newsforreal.com



About author Stephen Pizzo is the author of numerous books, including "Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans," which was nominated for a Pulitzer. His web site is Stephen Pizzo is the author of numerous books, including "Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans," which was nominated for a Pulitzer. His web site is News For Real