15 February, 2008

7 Dead In N. Illinois University Massacre

This "news" article was sent to me along with several others, and the liberal retired journalist on the list made a comment about the statement made by the original sender of the article.
"I understand your argument about election year. But what's your point when you write, 'Of course the students were sitting ducks in a no-gun zone in a state that doesn't allow concealed carry.'"
I called him on it thusly:
His point is obvious and all of us have read, over MANY years, these types of articles, and exactly what pabulum most journalists will print.

Example:

"A gunman opened fire on a geology class at Northern Illinois University Thursday afternoon, killing six people before taking his own life on stage as panicked students ran and ducked for cover."

Honest print would have read:

"A madman shot several students and killed six at a Northern Illinois University geology class Thursday afternoon. Many students wisely sought any cover for protection instead of shooting him dead as it is illegal for them to carry a firearm on campus, or in this state, without having a badge or other special government permission. This is due to the professional Victim Disarmament groups such as the Violence Policy Center and the Brady Campaign along with willing journalists who did not honestly report the facts. They were further assisted by many who make their living off of the public trough and swore an oath to "Serve and Protect" by willingly trotting themselves out for photo and video-ops. Now, on top of those mentioned so far are the power hungry politicians who have legislated each citizen into a subject in direct contravention to our political and social charter, the Constitution and Bill of Rights- specifically, the Second Amendment.

Though he took his own life, we know the madman's family will ever feel the disgrace and shame brought upon them by his crime. And though not quite as culpable, each individual who worked to create these victims slaughtered by this criminal madman (whose name we refuse to immortalize) turned them into sitting ducks to be picked off at his will. The question that screams for an answer is, just how long will we continue to absolve them? Those who actively created these and so many other disarmed victims."
I was further informed by him that the above "is too wordy with too many adjectives" and he further stated, "Take that off the op-ed page, put it on page one and likely get your ass sued off for a couple of opinions posing as news."

I say horse-shit. His attitude is why "journalism" today is such a load of crap, and has been for more than forty years. Speak the truth, as I did above, quit "writing" for idiots and demand that they learn, but then again, from what profession am I asking this of?

WP

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