Here is an example of media and educational overload screwing up the minds of the people they are supposed to be informing. Without a doubt, in any objective view, Diana's death should not even rank in the top ten. She was not in line for ascendancy. She was no longer a "royal" by nature of her divorce from the family. She was not a political figure, elected or otherwise, charged with the defense of the country and its principles. She was not even killed in an attempt to defend her own principles (unless you count avoiding the media as a 'principle')
No, Diana was a public figure, popular with both the media and the people, whose death, while tragic, is more well known for its publicity than any impact it may have had policy or history.
The key here is that she was a media figure. And the media, particularly in England, is failing in its secondary role of educating the people. But then, so are the schools, although they are probably better off there than they are in the Untied States, where I would imagine that they could get the same result here, if they asked the right people. The ensuing media circus surrounding her death and burial has placed in the minds of the population an undue measure of importance. Rather than putting the events in their proper perspective, the media chose sensationalism and aggrandizement.
So you get the results you have here. The people have this tragedy burned into their psyche night after night for weeks, and then are reminded of it every time they turn around. And the people, when asked to recall historic events, remember this as if it were important. THen people run around shocked, wondering why?
While my knowledge of English history is somewhat lacking, as I do not live there and I am not concerned with their day to day events, I can assume that in the past 100 years, there have been more significant events that warrant greater importance than the Death of Diana. I would imagine that many of the events surrounding WWII fit that description. And I also know that if pressed, the people in England would honestly agree with that. There are other events just as important historically, I am sure. But you will not hear that from the people, because they are not thinking about it, they are feeling about it, and that is what the media wants.
I hope they do this again in a year, and the results are different - because if the people consider Diana to be the single most important historical figure in their minds, they are not doing well as a people.
No, Diana was a public figure, popular with both the media and the people, whose death, while tragic, is more well known for its publicity than any impact it may have had policy or history.
The key here is that she was a media figure. And the media, particularly in England, is failing in its secondary role of educating the people. But then, so are the schools, although they are probably better off there than they are in the Untied States, where I would imagine that they could get the same result here, if they asked the right people. The ensuing media circus surrounding her death and burial has placed in the minds of the population an undue measure of importance. Rather than putting the events in their proper perspective, the media chose sensationalism and aggrandizement.
So you get the results you have here. The people have this tragedy burned into their psyche night after night for weeks, and then are reminded of it every time they turn around. And the people, when asked to recall historic events, remember this as if it were important. THen people run around shocked, wondering why?
While my knowledge of English history is somewhat lacking, as I do not live there and I am not concerned with their day to day events, I can assume that in the past 100 years, there have been more significant events that warrant greater importance than the Death of Diana. I would imagine that many of the events surrounding WWII fit that description. And I also know that if pressed, the people in England would honestly agree with that. There are other events just as important historically, I am sure. But you will not hear that from the people, because they are not thinking about it, they are feeling about it, and that is what the media wants.
I hope they do this again in a year, and the results are different - because if the people consider Diana to be the single most important historical figure in their minds, they are not doing well as a people.
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