Daily Fix
A New Gilligan's Island?
T. SHER SINGH
Looks like we’ve entered a brave new era of media coverage … a hitherto unexplored territory, with infinite potential.
What I’m referring to, of course, is the fascinating coverage by the world media, but especially by CNN, of the sad tale of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Here’s the ground-breaking work being done by the media: for the first time they‘ve dared to run with a story with virtually no facts, no information, no developments.
Yet, they’ve courageously plodded along and somehow managed to give us 24-hour coverage for the last 13 days now, and the story remains unabated.
And we remain breathless.
Each day begins with a new theory put forth by yet another ‘expert’ who has crawled out of the woodwork from some nook or cranny somewhere on earth. He or she spells out the scenario in excruciating detail, then a panel of 8 other ‘experts’ discuss the possibilities -- four pro, four con.
Then, the rest of the afternoon is taken up in shooting down the theory. With final conclusion at the end of the day … which is: we can’t say much one way or the other, because we don’t know what happened!
Then, on to another new media day ... and another new theory.
Therefore, I’m sure you will not mind if I entertain myself with a humble submission of my own, will you?
I’ve tried to imagine that I’m a dictator -- [God forbid!] -- poised to take over a neighbouring country, which is sitting, weak and impotent, simply there for the taking.
I know that it’ll create some self-righteous rage from some quarters, and a lot of hoopla. I don’t like too much background noise when I’m working. So, here’s what I could do:
I’ll get one of my ‘intelligence’ teams, or a distant ally who is willing to bend over backwards anytime for a few dollars, to hijack a plane and hide it, aircraft and passsengers and crew and all, for a prolonged period. And keep a total lid on how it was done, or where it is now.
Nothing. Not a peep, not a squeak. That's all that the plan requires. Total blackout.
That should keep the world totally distracted while I go about annexing my neighbour’s territory. The world won't know what to do, or whether it's coming or going.
What do you think?
You think it could work?
I’m not sure …
But, admit it, it would make a great reality show, wouldn’t it?
We could reprise the Gilligan’s Island scripts from the good ol' TV days of yore.
It would be such a hoot!
March 19, 2014
Conversation about this article
1: Jean Bethany (Peterbrough, Ontario, Canada), March 19, 2014, 5:28 PM.
Love it! Hope something like this is true and the passengers and crew are all safe. But I agree entirely with your assessment of the disappointing, no, distressing media coverage.
2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 19, 2014, 8:45 PM.
Brilliant... Arthur Conan Doyle would have been proud! The world's media circus needs stories like these, to inflate their ratings! With the advent of the internet and ppv tv it would not be beyond some unscrupulous individuals to make this up even with hundreds of lives involved! Let us hope that the passengers did not suffer ... we pray for sarbat da bhalla.