The Fake Arrogance Of Our Times
The two words that headline this article have been used in plenty over the past year or so, especially where I live, in Washington D.C. But not too long ago these words had real meaning. I guess the word “fake” meant denying the existence of something completely and the word “arrogance” meant conceited or pompous. Now, I have been in D.C. for a decade to see how these two words have evolved or some would say loose their importance. I am going to try to list few facts and see if I can explain why we are here.

FACT #1. Not everyone in America is Liberal — It’s hard to believe right? Especially, to someone in my home country, India. Yes, not everyone in the U.S. is liberal. Everyone in the U.S. is socially civil, (although some may argue that is fast changing now) aware of their history and their stature in the World and they understand how the World sees them but not everyone is liberal. So, it was shocking for me to see CNN and Fox trade places post November 8th, 2016. When I moved to the U.S. I thought I understood the word media but here I got acquainted with new words like“Liberal media and Conservative media” and now its “alt this”, “shift that” and “delete that” media! It’s crazy! Media should be just that, media. The fact that CNN battled out Donald Trump’s run for more than 11 months to characterize him as a demagogue, fake (yes they called him that first!) and an incompetent candidate, is plain baffling. Even a CNN executive later admitted that they could have toned down putting Trump or Trump related News on air (opinions, fact checks, stump speeches and any unnecessary air time). But the question is why ? Why could CNN not understand that everyone in America is not liberal and that Trump movement and his supporters were in fact very real. Even the print media refrained from reality and chose not write articles on why Trump’s candidacy was a raging success. It is no secret that Obama after 8 years in office left the nation far more divided than what he inherited . Was it that difficult to see and report ? Or was the divide “Fake” and Trump and his supporters “Arrogant” ?

FACT#2. The Media was/is Arrogant- And this applies to all of them. They all have been. If they were not, they would have reported the rise of a new conservative movement that Donald Trump was riding on. This movement has now has been conveniently branded as “alt-right” to the extent that it seems a fancy word for the infamous Hillary Clinton- “basket of deplorables” . After the mainstream Republican candidates could not hold it together in the primaries, with only 3 months to go to the election, Fox news mended it ways to accept Mr. Trump as the Presidential candidate. The fact is there there was no one left on the podium except him. Even Fox news had a tough time in toning down their arrogance. And CNN, well all I can say is if you saw the election night results on CNN, you could see their arrogance, first at it’s peak till 11:00 PM, then slowly their arrogance shattering at around 12:00 AM and then finally turning that arrogance into a infinite anger because not Hillary Clinton, but their arrogance lost on November 8th. And now 7 months later, with so many questions over the Trump administration, FOX news is still basking in the arrogance that, “its all good”. and CNN is faking their arrogance in saying, “everything at the White House is a scandal”. Fox and CNN are just examples, does any independent/free media exist anymore ?
FACT#3. We are all Fake & Arrogant (at some point) ! — Yes we all are. Hence it is very easy for us to believe these words and anything that is associated with them. Fake news did not start in 2016, it is just that someone decided to call it out. Name a Politician who is/was not arrogant ? Even if Obama was a fair President to many, can you forget or deny his arrogance when he repeatedly said “You can keep your doctor” ? It’s just that the current occupant of the White House knows his place in the pecking order as opposed to the media and is not shy in showing off that arrogance or calling out the media like they are not used to. But what is more surprising and shocking is the divide that these two words have caused. No one and I mean no one can watch Television News these days. Let me give you an example. Let’s say President Trump decides to take a Walk to the Capitol Hill — Just that. This is how the Media based on their interests, will report the News;
- Pres Trump walking to the Capitol to convince House to drop the Russia Investigations
- Pres. Trump meets with his supporters on a walk to the Hill !
- Pres. Trump booed by pedestrians on Pennsylvania Avenue
- Secret Service refuses to drive President to Capitol amid his twitter rampage on funds used by them
And here are some late night comics depicting the same news;
- “Trump forgets, he is the President ! It’s good for the country!”
- “Keep walking Mr. President only 270 miles more to New York and Do not come back.”
- “Mr. President your are not Forrest Gump, what’s next you are going to start running? Oh you well may, you have been running away from your responsibilities since Day 1. Does not surprise us that you need a smoke break ! and use that smoke to cover up Russia and House investigations.”

And if these brought a little chuckle or smile on your face, you would agree with me that it is a sad state. Why should we just single out a Media outlet or Politicians as Fake and arrogant. It is the sad reality of our times that we are all some how responsible for where we are. I love John Oliver’s show but was he this critical of President Obama’s second term ? I dislike CNN but they keep a check on the administration. I have no opinion on Fox News but they are Number #1 cable news channel in the U.S. Every day, I remind myself that one person or one media outlet cannot be responsible for this. We are all at times arrogant in defending our choices and fake in rejecting opinions of others.
And thus, we live in the Times of Fake Arrogance!
