Journalists are different from you and me. They have protected constitutional status and a duty, a duty mind you, to stay aloof and above the petty concerns of mortals.
This is why it is a publicly espoused journalistic value to let US troops walk into an ambush. It is also why the story of Woodruff is gaining such attention. The deaths or wounds of mere common folks, of mere volunteers, these are as the death of insects. No, I'm too harsh. To journalists the loss of a member of the military is more like the death of, say, a pet dog, or a useful farm animal. But even that loss will do to beat Bush with, to disparage the United States with.
Now the wounding of a journalist, THAT'S a horse of a different color! Some pompous newsie delivered himself of the opinion that Woodruff's wounding, "brought it all home" to him. The clear implication is that he doesn't live where you and I live. He makes his home where nobody ever votes Republican, stays faithful to one and only one spouse as long as they both shall live, or decides that having a parent around 24/7 for the kids is more important than self-fulfillment at the expense of the kids' health and safety. They live where one puts oneself in harm's way not to defend one's country, but in hopes of finding material with which to condemn one's country, whille puling down a nice salary, incredible perks, and lots of face time with the TV camera
They are different from you, they are better than me. We are lucky they deign to soil their hands with the task of telling us what to think. We should be grateful and shut up.
Tune in next week, when I tell you why hookers, excuse me, I meant sex workers, are more moral and sophisticated than you are.
They are different from you, they are better than me. We are lucky they deign to soil their hands with the task of telling us what to think. We should be grateful and shut up.
We should take a second look at their protected Constitutional status. They are not doing their duty to report facts without bias; rather, they are using that protection to become an unelected 'branch' of government.
I worked in a television newsroom for years and found the photographers to be the best journalists. They essentially let the sound and pictures tell the story. It was only when some producer or editor got his or her hands on the report that it would turn from truth to something else entirely.
Good post, Mad Dawg.