May 31 2008
What role do you believe the media should pay in interfaith dialogue?
A question I was facing on my internship app
Media is a powerful medium. Plato describes the elements of media such as images and music best in the Republic when he uses it to influence the masses and suppress individualism to create a peaceful and stable society.
Plato is political theory and this is reality; yes, media can be used to create a peace and stability but in the most everlasting way. The only way is entrusting humanity through education and empowerment since by default and the nature of our existence, we already have the trust and power.
So through artificial and super-supplementary means media can elevate communication of the human experience and introduce a greater comprehension. Introducing a narrative, not to be argued over (unlike dogma) but to be considered and to enlighten and widen the horizon of human understanding.
Like all technology, the media has the potential to do great good or great harm. Clearly we’ve leaned toward harm doing. It has facilitated the world becoming less civil, civilized, and educated when theoretically it could have done the opposite.
If it would just get beyond generally identifying Islam with terrorism that would help. Also if it wouldn’t submit to being a pawn of the adminstration, although obviously it’s way too late for that in terms of beating the war drums for Iraq.