Television not only transmits visual images, television transmits ideas and feelings, it reproduces a common thread of connection through light waves and sound. Our shared history reflects the monumental impact television has in shaping how events are perceived. American white families, watching dogs attack Black people, watching fire hoses crush Black children, watching the charred remains of a church after a racist bomber blew up a place of worship, killing four little Black girls, watching these terrifying events made the civil rights movement more real, as injustice was reflected on televisions in households across the country. The broadcasting of the Apollo 11 moon landing captured the attention of the entire nation, and that of the world, as televisions around the globe delivered stunning images. Television made the moon landing real. Citizens of Earth were glued to their televisions, as NASA launched and landed humans on the moon, making a thing of science fiction, a thing of fact.
Books are powerful when well written, characters jump off the pages, transplanting readers with every word. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was praised by critics, winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961, and is mandatory reading in numerous school districts. Yet, it was the film, To Kill a Mockingbird, that impacted people even more. Watching Gregory Peck breathe the humanity of life into the character, Atticus Finch, further shaped America’s perspective on race. It did not take anything away from the book, it did not diminish the value of Harper Lee’s words, the big screen amplified the voice of every character. Watching, To Kill a Mockingbird, on television today, still carries visual and emotional impact.
Robert Mueller, previously expressed, that the Mueller Report speaks for itself, and that he had no need to speak publicly. Yet, on July 17, Robert Mueller will testify in public, before Congress. Americans will watch Robert Mueller speak on the aptly titled, Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, the truth of Russian interference, and Russian attacks on American democracy, will receive a voice on live television. Perhaps ratings for the Mueller testimony will surpass the ratings of Dallas, when masses of people tuned in to discover, who shot J.R. One can only hope Americans tune in to watch Robert Mueller at the rate they tuned in to watch Game of Thrones. Mueller is must see T.V.