Ran into these guys at the comicon.  They’ll be at Anime Central too.  Absolutely the cutest ears & tails I’ve ever seen.  My daughter got a pair of the fox ears, and both the lady and I instantly went “Awwwww!” as soon as she put them on.  Darling!

I just heard about this campaign recently.  This is how they state their goal:

We don’t have to let Fox’s attempts to stoke fear and hate shape our country’s politics and culture. It’s easy to turn off Fox News in our own homes — but when TVs in public places are tuned to Fox, that also spreads fear, division, and misinformation. Turn Off Fox is about ordinary people and small businesses working together to reduce Fox’s influence in their own communities and across the country.

Fox’s race-baiting and fear-mongering is more than just deceptive and offensive — it’s bad for the country, it’s dangerous, and it can result in violence. If we want a political culture rooted in factual information and free from violence and racial animosity, now is the time to stand up against Fox.

By organizing businesses and other public places to stop playing Fox News— the cable news network, not local affiliates — we will reduce Fox’s ability to poison our political conversations and divide our country. And we will send a powerful message: that this country will support media that informs us, sheds light on the problems we face, and inspires us to solve them together — not deceptive propaganda that plays on fear and paranoia, spreads confusion and falsehoods, exploits our divisions, and pits us against each other.

I feel a little conflicted about this. I am amazed at the amount of people I personally know that religiously watch Fox news.  I am also distressed at the current state of journalism as a whole.  AP & NPR have kept their head above water for the most part, but general “news” sources are a pitiful thing to behold now a days.  On the other-hand, I strongly support the freedom of speech (even when what is being stated is ludicrous and hateful).

This campaign, while claiming the side of angels, is walking on the fence.  I wonder how much “education” it really could do.  Businesses that play Fox probably either like it on, or think their customers do, or both.  I don’t know that getting a letter about how “wrong” Fox news is, would necessarily have any impact in changing the mindset of those establishments that like to have it on.  I think the only businesses this would really affect are those that have the station on because they think their customers like it, and, being presented with a group of patrons that decidedly don’t, may then decide to flip the channel.  I don’t see how that really makes this the hearts & minds groundswell that the campaign is looking for.

When you support freedom of speech, it means you support the freedom of all speech.  In order for the best to shine, you must allow for the worst to as well.  This is often a very difficult position.  I feel the need to protect Fox’s ability to present its viewpoints, just as much as protecting TurnOffFox’s ability to slam those viewpoints & highlight where Fox is so wrong.

US law is riddled with examples of the freedom of speech being hampered.  We have also had extremely dark periods where the freedom of speech was stamped down quite oppressively.  That’s why a group like the ACLU (love em’ or hate em’) is so important.  They are watch dogs to help avoid the trampling of such an important element to a free society.

Ideally, the best ideas win.  This does not always happen.  When it does, it can take years or even generations.  If you feel that a letter writing campaign will help you spread your ideas, go for it- but be careful.  When speaking your mind about what you feel is just & true, don’t advocate for everyone who disagrees with you to be shut out of the conversation. If you loathe the ideas promoted on Fox News, I suggest you speak out with reason, counterpoints, and evidence.  Show why your ideas are better.  Demonstrate how other news sources are the way to go.  If you are successful, businesses & individuals will indeed choose to turn to other news programs & eventually the market share of subscribers to the Glenn Becks, Rush Limbaughs, etc. of the world will significantly shrink.