My Journey Away from the Propaganda Machine: Awakening to the Dangers of Fox News
Once upon a time, I was a dutiful soldier in the army of Christian nationalism, with Fox News as my navigational guide to the world, a world seen through lenses of hate, fear, and conspiracies. Today, as a Satanist who values empathy, compassion, and human dignity, I recoil at the sight of the headlines flashing on Fox News' screens. I am now starkly aware that they are laced with untruths, distortions, and terror tactics geared towards upholding a far-right christo-fascist agenda. An agenda that I once zealously embraced.
Fox News plays a monumental role in shaping narratives aimed at furthering a Christian nationalist agenda. Framing illegal immigrants as a menace with underlying stigmatization, as one recent headline insinuated: "Blue haven hiding illegal immigrants from public view as election nears, official claims," is nothing short of demagogic hate-mongering. It propagates the damaging stereotype of immigrants as dangerous, thus providing justification for punitive immigration policies and alienation of a group of people who only seek a better life in the land of the brave.
The station's portrayal of Trump as some sort of folk hero, as seen in: "Woman served by former President Trump at McDonald's reveals details behind viral exchange," and the uncritical adoration of pro-Trump actors, are cleverly veiled tactics to lionize a man who, during his presidency, showed remarkable contempt for democratic principles and consistent support for a white, Christian, and heteronormative America. These headlines serve not only to distract from his multitude of failings but are dangerously aimed at establishing a personality cult with the goal of creating a theocracy under his dominion, marginalizing LGBTQ individuals and other perceived enemies of the proposed theocratic state.
Fox News' alignment with this powerful, fear-based narrative is no more evident than in the constant echo of 'us versus them', as seen in the headline about a union worker turning to Trump. The article simplistically paints a picture of 'ordinary Americans' rejected by Democrats who are, presumably, supportive of elitism and successive immigrants. This divisive and prejudiced narrative fuels a hostile dichotomy, instead of encouraging unity, inclusivity, and understanding between all citizens.
These are not just harmless news articles; they are a chilling blueprint for a dangerous theocracy, where the rich control the narrative, civil liberties are trampled upon, and diversity, equality, and inclusivity are seen as threats to the 'pure' American fabric. This is a world I do not wish for my children or for any American.
It is essential to remember that the media is a formidable power that can dictate the course of a nation. It can craft untruths into 'truths’, incite fear over rational discourse, and stereotype people to make hatred seem reasonable. I am grateful for my transformation, which allowed me to see past the veil of Fox News propaganda and understand the dreadful future it heralds for America. I implore every American to question the narrative they are presented with and be advocates for empathy, compassion, inclusivity, and truth.