Broadcast Television Makes It Clear: It's a Man's World

During this election season, I had the opportunity to listen to 'talking heads' on television outlets talk about what former Secretary Clinton did wrong. Never did we hear about what she has accomplished and how her career has changed lives. When General Collin Powell left his job as the Secretary of State, we heard crickets. Even when Condoleezza Rice left the Secretary of State's Office; there was no scrutiny, no backroom discussions, and no investigations into the torture issue under the Bush Administration.

It just seems that the women really get a kick in the knees when they want to go further in their careers. Former HP (Hewlett-Packard) CEO, Carly Fiorina was highly criticized by her staff, and by folks that wanted to run against her in the 2016 election. One of the men had the audacity to make reference to her looks as a measuring stick in which we should vote for her. It was totally insulting and abusive. In my opinion, her biggest mistake was running as a Republican for President.

The polls that are coming out in favor of former Secretary Hillary Clinton; yet they are skewed and can't be trusted. We don't know if they are trying to give actual numbers, or are they using any scientific data? I never hear who they're collecting the data from, or what demographic are they using to determine if Donald J. Trump is ahead or Clinton is winning. It's a mystery show!

This is the problem that each political party is facing. If they don't support former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, you have elected a man (Trump) who has no experience whatsoever, (except giving money for access) and has no moral compass for human beings or for human rights... and ties to Russian oligarchs.

If Hillary Clinton is elected, you are seemingly supporting someone whose judgment or ethical lines are skewed. The opposition has painted the Clinton Foundation as a money pit. Let's be clear. There has been no investigation into the Clinton Foundation doing anything wrong. There have been no outright criminal investigations that would suggest the need to shut the Clinton Foundation down; as they did the Trump Foundation in New York.

Nonetheless, going back to my original point, the men are not as scrutinized as the women when they aspire to higher offices (like Senator or President) or higher post in the workplace? I see a lot of one-sided reporting on television; especially the early morning shows, who shall remain nameless for now. The saddest phenomenon is: these are television shows that are sponsored by men, coordinated by men, tailored by men, produced by men, and financially subsidized by men. It's sickening.

If women are ever going to have a fair system of reporting; then women have to produce their own television shows during prime time. Women have to become a force to reckon with in the digital broadcast media conglomerate. Furthermore, the world has such an online presence; women need to be as strong on the web as they are anywhere.

Lately, the polls are finally taking notice that women are running for more Senate offices and Congressional seats in Washington D.C., and women may very well take over the Congress and Senate eventually. Three women did win Senatorial Seats on Tuesday night; Kamala Harris of Maryland, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire. Women do have the momentum. But I want to see women become fairly reported about in the news as well. That has not happened. I want to see women discussing issues about women and discussing the plight of our children on serious news shows.

So, we are not just sitting as a token female that is being disrespected. I'm sick of seeing a woman talking on the show and a male host who continually speaks over her, and drowns her out while she's reading the facts. Nor do I appreciate a woman being called names, while men refer to them as 'obsessed with sex,' just because she is raising the issue of sexual assault. Any assault on women and children is a horrible crime and it needs attention in this election cycle and discussions on-going beyond the election season!

Our current news broadcast formula has to change and change soon. Or else, women, we can just continue to believe and tell our daughters; it's a man's world and nothing will change that perspective. No matter how many cracks in the glass ceiling there are.

Tracy T. Brittain, is a professional commentarial with over thirty-years of experience.
Next, her education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Master's Degree in Organizational Management, and currently taking coursework toward a second Master's in English with a concentration in Creative Writing/nonfiction. Brittain's knowledge extends into writing essays, opinions, politics, health & fitness, self-improvement, business travel, relationships, news and current events society writer. Furthermore, she loves to comment, and write thought provoking topics about current events, she often writes about lighter subjects for people with open hearts and open minds. In the past, she has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Sun-Times, and other local newspapers and a frequent contributor to Ezine.com. Some of the most read articles are: "The Implosion of the Republican Party," "The Whistleblower Effect On Police Departments," and "Feminist Are People Too, My Friends." In the future, there may be a radio show on YouTube coming before the end of the year... TBD. Thank you for reading.
Email: tbwriter2016@gmail.com

Five Christmas Annoyances That You Cannot Avoid

The irksome Presidential election is finally over, so Americans should be relieved to get back to normal. Unfortunately, another long annoyance is upon us now, the annual pains that come along with Christmas.

I am not referring to the task of shopping in crowded stores, nor the chore of wrapping gifts, nor the inevitable broadcast of Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life or the non stop airing of Darren McGavin in A Christmas Story on cable channel TBS. Every one of those nuisances can be avoided with the Internet, gift bags from the local department store, and a TV remote.

What cannot be avoided at this time of the year, however, are the nearly half dozen annoyances that follow.

1. Unavoidable is the colleague or fellow citizen who insists on wearing her Christmas sweaters, usually in some combination of red and or green with a gaudy, tacky symbol on the front.

2. Too many self-righteous church goers will spend the month lamenting that the bagger at the local grocery store wished them "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" or complaining about how the abbreviation "X-mas" sinfully takes Christ out of the holiday.

3. Unthoughtful folks will force us against our will to look at those irritating fake reindeer antlers sprouting on their cars, or worse yet, on their heads.

4. As early as the day after Halloween smiling local TV weather analysts will start predicting the odds for a white Christmas, as if people who cannot even give us an accurate forecast for tomorrow can somehow tell what kind of and how much precipitation will fall a full seven weeks from now.

5. Someone at the office or in the barber shop or grocery store will reminisce about how much better the season was back in the day, regurgitating the stale old comment about how businesses have commercialized Christmas and taken out the true spirit of the holiday.

I consider myself among the likes of neither Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol nor the Abominable Snowman from the classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer film. I am simply a regular guy who is only begging for just a short break between the annoyances of a Presidential election and the irritations that come along with the Christmas season. Perhaps I might be happier spending the holidays on the Island of Misfit Toys that Rudolph visited with his elf friend who wanted to grow up to be a dentist.

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