Because apparently the Anna Nicole Smith coverage wasn't enough to push me over the edge, I am now thoroughly disgusted with the American newsmedia.
Good Morning America just had a compelling segment on as a part of their coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre, featuring forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner M.D., who offered an impassioned plea directed at the newsmedia in general (I'm no stenographer, but this is close:)
"If we care about the victims, if we care about our children, stop showing this video now. Take it off the internet. This is a social catastrophe... you cannot saturate the American public with this kind of message. This is a crime for immortality, and we cannot give that to him. ...
It's not an issue of blame, it's an appeal. We can stop now and dismiss it. If we can get Don Imus off the air, we can stop from giving this guy his own morning show. ...
We don't learn anything from this. This is not who he was, this is what he WANTS you to see. ... I have studied these people, interviewed mass killers who say they have watched Natural Born Killers 20 times ... We have to send this message to alienated people ... do not follow this man's way, he is perverted. He did this to achieve immortality, we can stop giving him that and we can do it NOW."
Robin Roberts (I think?) was doing the interview, and it actually opened a discussion that we SHOULD be having as a country. Why are we immortalizing all these people? It was compelling, and thought provoking, and ABC had a chance to take the high ground: to say, "You know what?
you're right. And we're going to take a stand. So the potential copycats out there will not be encouraged."
But, no.
They went to commercial.
And then, upon return, they spent almost an equivalent amount of time talking about the fact that Sanjaya was voted off American Idol (complete with swanky video montage).
And then, another commercial.
And then, more photos and quotes from the messages sent by the Virginia Tech killer (whose name I refuse to print here). More unintentional glorification, more 15 minutes of fame for other young, alienated, disturbed souls to strive for. This is the media equivalent of 70 virgins for martyrs...
I feel physically ill. Who will stand up and say "we don't have to take this?"
Where is our "Let's Roll" equivalent?
Where is our collective outrage that our media is encouraging mass-killers of the future?
Where is the discussion of shortage of funding for mental illness intervention and treatment in our schools?
A society is measured by how we treat our people on the fringes, the margins. And we are failing, miserably. Right up until they go over the edge and snap, and then we have no limit of time and energy to spend on them.
Good for you, Dr. Welner. Thank you for being brave enough to speak out.
Your words resonated with me. Your message: clear and compelling and educated.
I wanted to take action, to send an outraged letter supporting your views to all of the newsmedia outlets, and (let's be honest) - the advertisers.
But then... did you know? SANJAYA was voted off American Idol...
Is there an emoticon for 'hanging my head in shame'?
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