The knight in the big world of American TV series

Chapter 2092: Finally getting better! (Please give me a monthly ticket to celebrate!)

Chapter 2092: Finally getting better! (Please give me a monthly ticket to celebrate!)

Iris really likes her job, even though she is just a photo editor and not a real reporter. In fact, Iris never thought about becoming a reporter a long time ago.

The United States is a very counterintuitive country.

Many people say that the United States is an open country, but from some perspectives, the United States is a very conservative country! Not every woman wants to have a career.

In fact, most girls’ plan for life is to find someone to marry and then concentrate on being housewives!

At least that's what Iris used to think!

The United States always gives people an image of being young, open and progressive.

Over the past two decades, the Internet has become the main tool for communication and public opinion for the younger generation around the world, which has further strengthened this stereotype. Minority rights, women's rights, LGBTQ and environmental protection, almost every social movement with a progressive label is inevitably linked to major cities on the east and west coasts such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, New York and Boston.

But the reality is that no matter how much fun progressives and liberals have online, and no matter how much resources Silicon Valley Internet companies devote to cheering for them, it only conceals the fact that the United States is essentially a conservative country.

Maybe most Chinese people have the impression that the United States is an open country, but in fact, compared with continental Europe, the United States is a particularly conservative Protestant country. Not to mention that in red states (states dominated by conservatives), there are still a lot of places where child marriage is legal, abortion is illegal, and premarital sex is considered immoral. For the general public, if you look younger, you have to show your ID card if you want to buy alcohol (it is illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18), and you can only drink in special drinking places. So some Americans were shocked when they came to China and saw a lot of beer, red wine and white wine on the supermarket shelves, and some people were drinking in the park and on the roadside. I have seen several such videos on YouTube, which were specially shot in Chinese supermarkets.

Americans will also have a great cultural shock when they go to Europe. They feel that Europe is really open-minded. For example, France and Italy do not take cheating seriously, which does not conform to the American value of being loyal and loving the family after marriage (you can watch the drama "Emily in Paris", which is a bit exaggerated, but it also reflects reality). Why is Woody Allen always rated as the most "European" American director? Not only do his films have many European themes, but his overall values ​​are also very European. And why is the LGBT movement in the United States so big? Many people think that homosexuality is ostentatious. In fact, part of the reason is that some conservative believers are really homophobic and will even attack them (there have been shootings in the past).

So why do most people think that the United States is very open? Because California, where the cultural center Hollywood and the technology center Silicon Valley are located, is a blue state, and the economic center New York is also a blue state (dominated by liberals), and their minds are very open. Most people's impression of the United States actually comes from these two places, and this is the misunderstanding that culture has exported to you.

In many European and American movies and TV series, we can feel that the American people, who live far away on the northern shore of the Arctic Ocean, are extroverted, enthusiastic, straightforward, informal, and love freedom. They yearn for a free life and pursue sexual openness. However, these are just the American people we know from movies and TV series. In fact, this is a misunderstanding of the American people. In the United States, most people are loyal Christians. According to Christian teachings, premarital sex is prohibited.

The United States and Europe, one is the New World and the other is the Old World. Most people certainly think that the United States is more open and Europe is more conservative. But in fact, in modern times, European ideas are more radical, but Americans are more conservative, especially the southern United States, which is known for its conservatism. These areas are called the "Bible Belt". Although the United States was founded by Protestants, Protestants are also more loyal to religion. Christian churches in the United States are also very common, but compared with the cathedrals in Europe, American churches are very small, so they are not eye-catching. At present, there are many Christian denominations in the United States, and the more influential ones are: Southern Baptist Convention, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal Church, etc. These denominations have a great influence on American society and are also very keen on missionary work. For example, in the late Qing Dynasty, the United States was the country that sent the most missionaries to China, and many universities in China were also church universities founded by American churches. To this day, the US president still has to hold the Bible and take the oath at the inauguration ceremony, which shows that Americans still value Christianity.

American conservatism tends to focus on family, religion, and community ties, believing that these are the basis of social stability and individual responsibility. Conservatives advocate the traditional marriage system, resist radical gender and sexual orientation policies, and support the role of religion in public life. They believe that the collapse of family and religion will lead to the decline of social morality and order, so policies should be adopted to support the continuation of family structure and religious beliefs.

American society also has its own positioning for women.

In its external propaganda slogans, the United States often claims that it is a country born free and democratic, but is this really the case? From the perspective of American women's rights, this statement is completely "bullshit."

When the United States was founded, it was still a standard patriarchal society, just like traditional European countries. Social opinion required women to be good housewives, gentle wives in the eyes of men, and kind mothers in the eyes of children. Assisting the husband in daily life, allowing him to work hard outside without worries, educating children well, and becoming a useful person to society are the only things women should do in their lives, otherwise they are "unfaithful to women". Even in family relationships, out of the need for women to rely on men, married women in the United States are required not to own any private property, and all property belongs to the male owner of the family. It is also because of this that for a long time, American women were refused to participate in any social public affairs on the grounds that "this is what men should do" and could not enjoy the social power "voting rights" that are a symbol of modern "democracy".

When men shouted "democracy" but selectively ignored the rights of women, whose population ratio was not much different from theirs, women officially raised their voices of "dissatisfaction" around the 19th century, and the movement for women's suffrage began to sprout. But it took a hundred years of struggle before women finally got the right to vote!

What is even more shocking is that the original US Constitution, which was all about the US political structure, did not contain any provisions on gender equality. Nor did the constitutional amendments reflect gender equality.

Amendments are like patches that continuously improve the "Constitution" which was originally just a big framework. This is why there is no view on the Internet in recent years that "the US Constitution will not be amended for hundreds of years", because Chinese netizens are getting harder and harder to fool. So far, 27 constitutional amendments have been passed. From the "Bill of Rights" approved and implemented in 1791 to the "prohibition of arbitrary changes in the salaries of members of parliament" approved and implemented in 1791, it covers all aspects such as civil rights, carrying weapons, and jury rights. It should be pointed out that the 1992th Amendment passed in 1870 stipulates that citizens "shall not deny or abridge the right of citizens of the United States on the grounds of race, color, or previous status as a slave", and there is an obvious loophole in it: that is gender. The implication is that citizens can still be subject to restrictions on voting rights due to gender. So half a century later, the 15th Amendment was passed in 1920, which states that citizens' voting rights are not restricted by gender. But this is only the right to vote, and other rights of women are not mentioned in the 19 amendments.

There was an amendment to the Equal Rights Act for men and women, but it was not passed.

The Equal Rights Amendment for Men and Women was proposed in 1975 and passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but it was abandoned because it was not passed by more than three-quarters of the states within the prescribed time. In the history of the U.S. Constitution, 27 amendments have been passed, and 7 have not been passed. The probability of failure is much smaller than that of passing. Is it really that difficult to achieve equal rights for men and women?

Women are actually subject to invisible restrictions and discrimination in many aspects.

In the past, Iris always thought that she would have fun for a few years and then find an honest man to marry!

It was not until she started her own 'career' that she began to come into contact with more information and realized that women do not have to live for those things, they can also live for themselves!

It is very important for women to have their own careers, not only for economic independence, but also for personal growth and social recognition. First of all, having your own career can bring economic independence and a sense of security. Economic independence allows women to be more confident and confident when facing various challenges in life, and they will not rely on others because of economic problems. This independence not only allows women to be more emotionally relaxed, but also avoids becoming "slaves of emotions" and thus maintains a peaceful state of mind. Secondly, career plays an important role in women's social recognition and personal growth. Career is not only a reflection of personal social identity, but also brings social recognition and a sense of achievement. Through career, women can make more high-quality friends, broaden their social circles, and enhance their social skills and influence. In addition, career can keep women fresh and energetic. Having a career can make life more colorful, and new challenges and opportunities will continue to emerge, thus maintaining the vitality and freshness of life. This state of continuous progress will also make people around feel the charm and vitality of women. Finally, career also has a positive impact on women's mental health and emotional life. Economic independence allows women to be more autonomous in their emotions, and they will not feel pressured by economic problems, so they will be more calm and confident in their relationships.

Of course, more importantly, she fell in love with the profession of journalist!

In the past, she actually didn’t think that journalists were anything special! Nowadays, information is everywhere. Public screens, big and small accounts, and social platforms are not only the distribution centers for obtaining information, but also the forums for colliding ideas. Some people therefore say that in the new media era, “everyone has a microphone” and “everyone is a journalist.”

At least that's what she thought when she first started reporting on The Flash online. Being a reporter... can't anyone do it? What's so great about that?

Is it really?

With the development of information technology, the ecological environment of social communication has undergone subversive changes. We are in an era where everyone can break news, tell stories, and comment. Everyone will form an information network centered on themselves and filter information according to their own preferences. This not only makes the information dissemination process more free and flexible, but also gives everyone the possibility to create, publish, select, filter and receive information. This also makes the boundaries between the sender and the receiver increasingly blurred, as if everyone is a reporter. "Everyone is a reporter" should strictly speaking mean "everyone is a recorder", because a recorder is not equal to a reporter. So what exactly is a reporter?

A seeker of truth.

The life of news lies in truth, and seeking the truth is the journalist's duty. In the current situation where traffic is the most important thing, journalists who pursue the truth are extremely valuable. In people's eyes, journalists are busy all day, writing tirelessly, working day and night, all year round. In the era of omnimedia, it is normal for journalists to be on duty 24 hours a day and on call 365 days a year. With their professional qualities and strong sense of mission, they go deep into the core of the incident, fearless of difficulties and obstacles, and get to the bottom of the matter, just to get to the truth and present the most realistic appearance to the public.

A voice for justice.

On the road of investigation and reporting, at the scene of emergencies, journalists shoulder their responsibilities and use their pens and cameras to speak up for the weak and cry out for justice, allowing the ignored voices to be spread and letting facts and truth demonstrate their power.

The teller of the story.

"The most beautiful scenery is on the way to the interview, and the most interesting stories are at the news scene." They use vivid language and delicate brushstrokes to record those ordinary yet great people and events, showing people the spiritual world and the warmth of humanity.

They strive to spread a three-dimensional, comprehensive and colorful world to further places in a popular and eloquent way.

From "paper and pen" and "lead and fire" to "light and electricity" and "numbers and the Internet", technological changes have shaped a new communication ecology. Especially in the past decade, media integration has risen from industry exploration to national deployment, from "addition" to "integration", and from "integration" to "deep integration". Journalists have always screened, sorted and interpreted massive amounts of information with professionalism, leaving behind historical manuscripts.

There is no need to avoid the fact that in a context where traffic is king, hot searches keep changing, and self-media surges, the function of professional journalists is believed to be weakening; with the advent of big models and the booming AI technology, journalists don’t even need to be “people” at the moment, and the identity of “journalism practitioner” seems to be becoming “dispensable.”

So, why are journalists still needed today?

Cold algorithms cannot replace the resonance of human nature.

Truth is the life of news. For "recent events", we must first make a correct "factual judgment". However, the "staged" and "novel" stories that are popular for a while make it difficult for people to distinguish the truth from the falsehood of the stories "seen with their own eyes"; the daily "hot search" traffic is surging, but it is full of trivialities, which makes the truly valuable and warm information ignored and covered up. Attention is a scarce resource in the information age, but algorithm-driven often misleads the audience's "value judgment". The overall grasp of a news event requires emotional communication and resonance, which is impossible for algorithms to achieve. Reporters on the front line can not only describe the overall context of the event in a three-dimensional way, but also discover "hidden corners" and listen to "silent voices", thus presenting a more diverse and more "humane" perspective, thereby helping people break the monopoly of "algorithms" and the "cocoon" of information.

The noisy voices of the crowd cannot replace rational thinking.

This is an era of information explosion. You can know what is happening in the world without leaving home. However, the gathering of massive amounts of information is inevitably mixed with good and bad. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the authenticity of information, and some opinions are biased. The more complex the information sources are, the more we need professional forces to watch and persist, and the more we need journalists to stand up and write about the ins and outs of reality, the right and wrong of cause and effect, so as to break through the fog of information and see the truth of the incident.

At least that's what the senior told Iris.

She had never felt how great journalists were before.

But since she knew this, she felt that she had an extra responsibility.

And this responsibility makes her feel very important! Not a dispensable person, she is herself, not Joe's daughter, not Barry's sister, and not someone's girlfriend or wife!

Today I was finally discharged from the intensive care unit and transferred to the general ward to see if I need long-term dialysis.