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Manufacturing the Enemy: The Media War Against Cuba

Efrain Powell

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Manufacturing the Enemy: The Media War Against Cuba

by Keith Bolender

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1246 KB
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Print length	:	250 pages

For decades, Cuba has been a target of relentless media vilification. The island nation has been portrayed as a repressive dictatorship, a haven for terrorists, and a threat to the United States. This negative portrayal has played a significant role in shaping public opinion about Cuba and has been used to justify economic sanctions, political isolation, and even military intervention.

But how accurate is this media narrative? A closer examination reveals that it is based on a foundation of biases, distortions, and omissions. The media has consistently ignored Cuba's achievements in areas such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. It has also given disproportionate attention to negative events, such as human rights abuses and economic hardships. And it has often failed to provide context for these events, making it difficult for the public to understand their causes and complexities.

This media war against Cuba is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a larger pattern of media bias against developing countries, particularly those that are critical of U.S. foreign policy. The goal of this bias is to manufacture consent for the U.S. government's policies by creating a negative image of these countries and their leaders.

In the case of Cuba, the media war has been particularly effective. It has helped to create a climate of hostility toward Cuba that has made it difficult for the U.S. government to normalize relations with the island nation. It has also made it difficult for the Cuban people to tell their own story and to challenge the negative stereotypes that have been created about them.

The Roots of Media Bias

The media's bias against Cuba has a number of roots. One root is the Cold War. During the Cold War, Cuba was a close ally of the Soviet Union, and the U.S. government saw it as a threat to its security. This led to a decades-long campaign of economic sanctions, political isolation, and military threats against Cuba.

The media played a major role in this campaign. It portrayed Cuba as a communist dictatorship that was a threat to the United States. It also ignored Cuba's achievements in areas such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. This negative portrayal of Cuba helped to justify the U.S. government's policies toward the island nation.

Another root of media bias against Cuba is the Cuban exile community in the United States. This community is composed of Cubans who fled Cuba after the revolution in 1959. Many of these exiles are strongly anti-communist and have a vested interest in portraying Cuba in a negative light.

The Cuban exile community has a significant influence on the media. Many Cuban exiles work as journalists, editors, and producers. They often use their positions to promote a negative image of Cuba. They also have close ties to anti-Castro politicians in the United States, who use the media to spread their message.

Finally, the media's bias against Cuba is also rooted in the way that journalists are trained. Many journalists are taught to view the world through a Western lens, which can lead them to misunderstand and misrepresent developing countries. They are also often under pressure to produce sensational stories that will sell newspapers or generate clicks. This can lead them to focus on negative events and to ignore more positive stories.

The Consequences of Media Bias

The media's bias against Cuba has had a number of negative consequences. One consequence is that it has made it difficult for the U.S. government to normalize relations with Cuba. The negative portrayal of Cuba in the media has created a climate of hostility toward Cuba that has made it difficult for the U.S. government to take steps to improve relations with the island nation.

Another consequence of media bias is that it has made it difficult for the Cuban people to tell their own story. The negative portrayal of Cuba in the media has made it difficult for Cubans to challenge the stereotypes that have been created about them. It has also made it difficult for them to get their own stories out to the world.

Finally, media bias against Cuba has had a negative impact on the way that the U

Manufacturing the Enemy: The Media War Against Cuba

by Keith Bolender

5 out of 5