Recently, I wrote a research paper on the mainstream media’s opinion of Chelsea Manning and its influence around LGBT individuals within the U.S. military. My findings were that it will never matter what major news corporations think of Manning. She is a unicorn among those who have, or still, serve their country.
The Williams Institute estimated that nearly 150,000 transgender individuals either have served or are currently serving in all levels of the U.S. military. With progress made toward including the LGBTQ community in systemic practices over the past few decades, people continue to serve their country in secrecy.
Manning took a different path after making the difficult decision to release droves of files to any journalistic organization willing to alert the world of possible U.S. war crimes in 2010. That organization ended up being Wikileaks, but only after Manning attempted to have The New York Times or The Washington Post take up the challenge. The fact Manning attempted either of those publications and got rejected speaks volumes to the status-quo mentality of major U.S. news companies.
Mainstream media will always maintain a foothold on the idea of American Imperialism. Without American foreign policy playing the role it does in the world today, the U.S. news community wouldn’t have much to discuss. The media continually sells voters what to think, and has even gone as far as selling wars for politicians.
With Freedom of the Press being, a core issue at the founding of this country, those in power somehow still believe that to maintain order there are unsaid obligations needing adherence. Their status-quo requires reporters not throwing the entirety of the state and military departments under the bus. This type of action can illicit descriptions such as sedition or espionage against those who speak truth to power. Truth-seekers can momentarily control the narrative and assert themselves in the face of the corrupt Military-Industrial-Complex but this can only delay violence against them. An ally to Manning, Snowden, and others; Julian Assange is allegedly about to experience charges of espionage for releasing the evidence of war crimes.
Currently, Manning is in jail for contempt of a grand jury hearing on charges allegedly relating to former Wikileaks editor Julian Assange. Assange is also in jail in England, awaiting possible extradition to the U.S. This current confinement is the second from grand jury contempt Manning has endured over the past year.
During confinement, donations are welcome for Manning’s apartment and living expenses to @anarchakelly (Venmo), or $anarchakelly (Ca$h).
Also, writing letters of support to Manning is available: Chelsea Elizabeth Manning A0181426 William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center 2001 Mill Road Alexandria, VA 22314 For more information on how to write Chelsea, please visit https://xychelsea.is/.
