ABC’s 20/20’s awfully mute!

One of the roles of the media is to bring fairness and justice on issues it investigates at a given community be it here or the US mainland.

ABC’s 20/20 was here twice to expose perceived sweatshop conditions as though we didn’t know the obvious query: whose standard are we supposed to follow–ABC’s, OSHA’S or just any Tom, Dick and Harry who wants to earn an unearned journalistic award from some media organization.

Indeed, Brian Ross went after prostitution at the hotel district in Garapan as though it’s a national plague. I quiz the comically incoherent agenda of bypassing brothels between New York, California and Hawaii. If his agenda is to right a wrong against women who had to use the world’s oldest profession, then Mr. Ross should head to Mabine in the Philippines, Tokyo and Osaka, Bangkog, Australia, Indonesia, Paris, and other big cities.

If such an agenda involves a principle–keeping the entire global village morality straight–then Mr. Ross has missed the boat completely. He should have zeroed-in on brothels closest to ABC’s headquarters in New York, 14K Street in Washington, Waikiki in Honolulu. The basis for coming to the islands should be premised on his success rate in closing brothels in all these places.

A good investigative piece would be California’s recent efforts to clamp down on sweatshops that are very difficult to police for purposes of compliance. It should read up on all available materials to determine how it wishes to approach it. That it hasn’t done so is a tale that perhaps Mr. Ross is fearful of his life what with labor unions known for its well honed skills in arm twisting. Well, may I welcome Mr. Ross to the “Ethics Hall of Shame”, sir!

At least it’s clear that you too had an agenda–personal glory–at the expense of the image and reputation of the people of these isles. Si Yuus Maase` for being a part of White House/Interior Department Ruination Squad. The people of these isles are very forgiving but it doesn’t mean we necessarily forget the pain and fully propped-up orchestration to ruin our livelihood. The basic question is: would ABC’s 20/20 be around to dish out cash and other basic assistance if the apparel industry that now supports the local economy is forced to shut down? It’s the economy, stupid!

Loss of credibility of US Media

Your pre-conceived agenda of news coverage is the very basis that the US media has lost its credibility among the reading public. This shameful setback was born by the vicious struggle for ratings. In the process, the basic tenets of journalism is compromised in favor of ratings. It’s analogous to President Clinton reviewing what the polls said before answering questions in the Monica Lewinsky affair.

It isn’t surprising at all that minorities throughout the land have fought for opportunities in the Fourth Estate that plays a key role in the formulation of policies involving international, national, state and insular issues. You see, this whitish arrogance hasn’t gained universal acceptance given that there’s a gulf of misrepresentation from the white-dominated media.

If you recall, you made a big thing about fenced living quarters in the islands. Well, now Mr. Ross, common sense dictates that if you have hundreds of women living at a certain place, you (as an employer) must ensure their safety, right? But this was never discussed in your assessment of why living quarters had to be fenced-in, true? Obviously, the fence augurs well with your mission to wrongly portray enslavement of employees living in these quarters. Isn’t this the same as the fortifiation of military bases, and an all girls school dormitories? This is what I mean by perceptual misrepresentation, sir! Well, welcome to the “Ethics Hall of Shame!”