Don’t Mess With Big Bird

10/5/2012

In this opinion piece from The New York Times, the author discusses the controversy surrounding Big Bird during the 2012 United States presidential campaign. The article explores how Big Bird, a character from the children's television show Sesame Street, became a symbol for the debate over government funding for public broadcasting. The author argues that attacking Big Bird was a distraction from more important issues and criticizes politicians for using the character as a political tool. The article emphasizes the importance of investing in education and cultural programs for children, and highlights the positive impact that Sesame Street has had on generations of viewers.

advocacy ꞏ public figure ꞏ presidential debate ꞏ public support ꞏ iconic tv shows ꞏ educational value ꞏ internet memes ꞏ political rhetoric ꞏ campaign issues ꞏ nostalgia ꞏ children's education ꞏ cultural impact ꞏ iconic characters ꞏ public broadcasting ꞏ big bird ꞏ media literacy ꞏ political targeting ꞏ media coverage ꞏ educational programming ꞏ children's television ꞏ media influence ꞏ media bias ꞏ political satire ꞏ social responsibility ꞏ media campaigns ꞏ media manipulation ꞏ campaign strategies ꞏ television personalities ꞏ puppetry ꞏ social media ꞏ 2012 election ꞏ public opinion ꞏ government spending ꞏ sesame street ꞏ children's entertainment ꞏ popular culture ꞏ budget priorities ꞏ comedic activism ꞏ grassroots movements ꞏ political commentary ꞏ cultural criticism ꞏ political theater ꞏ childhood memories ꞏ funding cuts