CBS Downplays Mayan Child Sacrifice, Media Bias Under Scrutiny

Discovery of Mayan Altar

• 💡 Archaeologists have discovered an altar in Guatemala, dating back to the Tewakan culture, which was used for child sacrifice.
• 📌 Remains of three children, no older than four years old, were found around the altar.
• 🎯 This practice was common among the Aztec, Maya, and other indigenous peoples prior to European conquest.

CBS News' Controversial Framing

• 🔍 A CBS News article about the discovery included a quote from an archaeologist stating the practice was, "not that they were violent. It was their way of connecting with the celestial bodies."
• ⚠️ This framing has drawn criticism for downplaying the brutality of child sacrifice and has been compared to the media's characterization of riots as "mostly peaceful."
• 🗣️ Critics, including politicians and commentators, argue this highlights a perceived bias in mainstream media, which they believe is softer on indigenous brutality than on Western historical figures.

Media Trust and Bias Concerns

• 🧠 The incident is seen by some as an example of why many, particularly conservatives, have lost faith in the media's objectivity.
• ⚖️ The discussion contrasts the media's approach to indigenous practices with its calls to remove statues of historical figures deemed problematic.
• 💬 The hosts debate the relative damage caused by the archaeologist's comment versus a sitting congressman's controversial tweets and retweets.

Broader Historical Context and Media Criticism

• 🌍 The conversation touches on the historical reality of atrocities among various cultures before modern times and the reduction of violence globally.
• 🧐 It critiques the romanticized view of indigenous peoples as "noble savages" and contrasts it with the reality of widespread historical violence.
• 📈 The hosts also discuss the role of media outlets like Fox News and talk radio in deliberately discrediting mainstream media to shield politicians from criticism.
• 📊 The importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticism and bad-faith attacks on the media is also raised.