The Control Room- Megan McGee

The documentary “The Control Room” was an eye opening film that pointed out the flat out lack of objectivity in the media all over the world.  I remember watching the news on the war in Iraq and seeing footage of American soldiers being shot at and the people of Iraq rioting in the streets destroying the city. I had thought that these people who were killing American citizens were monsters and how could they not let us help them. How could they be killing our people with no respect to humanity what so ever?

However, after watching this film, my thoughts have completely changed. The way we perceive the news is through funneled and biased opinions. The news stations in the Middle East were showing horrific pictures of dead children, citizens, and American troops. They made the American soldiers look as though they were monsters killing innocent victims. This enraged the people of Iraq just like it enraged us Americans. It made us feel hatred toward each other. The American media portrays the Middle East as vicious monsters with no regard for human life. The Middle East portrays the U.S. as a power hungry nation who wants to control them and their oil. Either way, everyone has their own opinion.

I never really thought to look at the war from their perspective. Just like Americans, their people were being killed too. It was thought provoking to hear the soldier admit that when he saw footage of dead Iraqi citizens, he was able to go about his day and not think twice about it. Then, the next night he saw footage of dead U.S. troops and it made him sick to his stomach. It also made him feel awful about not being that affected the night before. Whether American or Iraqi we are all human.

It also made me think if objectivity in the media can even exist. We saw bias news on both sides of the spectrum. Is it possible to get the full story without it being twisted or manipulated in any way to fit the audience?