I am greatly opposed to the American Media. It’s just really a big circus that doesn’t allow anyone to sleep easy. The things they choose to cover are arbitrary. For example, wasn’t Imus racist and loud about it before the Rutgers Team lost the championship? The answer is yes. But for some reason, “Nappy Headed Ho” is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Far worse things are said about other people on TV, but Imus lost his job and the masses rejoiced (except for the racists who don’t see why he should be fired – or those who cite precedent of previous comments – or fans I suppose). I didn’t even know who he was until this blew up – so I’m not really a good source on Imus. But the media is now going to forget about him – he’s no longer the “bad guy.”
The media has now moved on to a greater, more compelling story. The Virginia Tech Shooting was a great tragedy, but it’s not being treated as such. It’s become a parade of insensitive assholes showing up on campus and interviewing any person that walks by. It’s a ratings grabber and people networks will work on getting exclusive footage and accounts. NBC received a package and handed it to the FBI, but not before making copies to display on the news. Now, those images circulate the net and printed news. It didn’t need to be publicized. They could have respect for the dead, but it’s money in the bank.
Media now swarm the Virginia Tech campus, and people will be stopped on the street to be asked questions. Of course, people want to be on television, and the mere act of being on that campus on Monday will make you a prime candidate to talk on the subject. You don’t need to be a survivor, a relative or witness – you just need to be there. With 25,000 kids on campus – there’s no doubt someone will fuel this media circus.
The gunman’s identity is also coming to light. We know his name, and now we are familiar with his face. People are asking VT students – what was he like? Does this surprise you? Did you know it was him before you knew who it was? “Yes, he was creepy – now that you mention it he was a little anti-social. I’m not surprised.” Hindsight is 20/20. If the campus was flooded with media before this happened – and someone was asked who was capable of being a killer – would his name have come up as often as it does? Do these interviews prompt people to say what the reporter wants to hear? It’s ridiculous to assume people on the street who met him once would know he was troubled.
He is demonized by the media. His picture appears everywhere. There are no shots of him and his family. There are no pictures of him smiling. What we are conditioned to forget was that he was human, and that he did have problems that may have been resolvable. It didn’t have to come to this, but it did. Now, he is survived by his family who must see their relative’s picture everywhere. His mother and father must tire of seeing their son like this, and my prayers go out to them - along with the families of the victims – but they’re victims too. His family is suffering, but no one mentions and respects them. Their son was a murderer, and for this, they will pay a heavy price. They are free of guilt, but from Monday until their last breath, they will carry the burden of their son’s actions. Coverage is important, but respect should be the top priority.
JJRC
