I watched a 1937 movie this morning called "They Won't Forget." It stars Claude Rains - one of the best underrated actors ever - as the district attorney who wants to make a name for himself and Allyn Joslyn as a rabid reporter who used prejudice and sensationalism to incite a town and eventually even the nation. It's a good movie featuring a very young and pretty Lana Turner.
It is pretty right on for what is happening in the media today with this young black male being killed in Sanford, Florida. Now that we have news 24/7, there is a lot of time to use up. I believe that the media is trying cases before they ever come to trial.
At St. Patricks parish we - Vern and I - belonged to a group called CEW, Christian Experience Weekend. It was sort of a mini Cursillo on a parish level. A series of talks made up the weekend and often someone would tell of a family crisis and how that trauma brought them closer to the Lord. One time one of the talks was about a murder and I commented to Vern that you could see where that catastrophe would make a difference in one's life. Vern said: "We are just hearing one side of the story, before we pass judgement, we should hear the other person's story." That has stayed with me. Before I condemn someone, let me hear both sides. (Although I have to admit as judgemental as I am, sometimes it's a stretch to see both sides of the coin)
Before the media, as in white haired, blue eyed Anderson, whose keeping them honest? and the obnoxious Nancy Grace who is just annoying (I told you I was judgemental, and there are not two sides to either of them) and the other CNN personnel, Wolf with the bad toupee and all of them who drum up drummed up stories, let them hear and report both sides. We deserve to hear the whole story whether it's a murder case or our Presidential Elections. I am worried about a country where most young people get their news from Jon Stewart. Oh, for the days of Uncle Walter C, who was as liberal as Jon Stewart, but more palatable and nicer.
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