The Power of the Media

Every now and then, it is a good thing to engage in a bit of social analysis and commentary. Christians are “in this world, but not of it.” We need to be discerning about our culture, striving always to view everything in it in light of Biblical principles and truths. My brother Ben is our family’s political and social commentator! Below are his thoughts on a recent news story.

Posted by Benjamin

“WE WANT JUSTICE! JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON! WE WANT JUSTICE! JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON! “

Such was the cry I heard from the small TV in my grandparents' dining room. While on vacation, I heard of a case that had taken the nation by storm. A 28-year-old Hispanic had been accused of killing a 17-year-black male in Sanford, Florida.

I sat down with my dad and grandpa at the table to watch as a group of black men on TV shouted the chant above. They were dressed in hoodies and carried signs demanding George Zimmerman’s (the alleged shooter) arrest. I saw members of the press asking protesters questions about their opinion on the shooting. One woman stated, “It was wrong for Zimmerman to kill this innocent boy!”

At this point, this protester had no proof of this teenager’s innocence. She had no proof that he did not attack Zimmerman first. She had no proof that he was not up to something wrong or illegal. Yet she pronounced him innocent, and Zimmerman guilty. And the media aired her opinion on national television.

When I returned home from vacation, I did some further study on this case, and compared it to the Rodney King trial which started the 1992 Los Angeles riots. On one of the Zimmerman articles, I found this photo:

Do you notice anything deceitful about these pictures? Read on…

The Media’s Opinion

At first glance, these photos made me furious at Zimmerman. “What kind of thug would kill such a young, baby-faced boy?” I thought. But I had not seen the whole story, from both sides. As I watched news video on the case, more photos of Trayvon flashed across the screen: Trayvon holding a baby; Trayvon hugging his mother, Trayvon dressing up for a prom. By all appearances, the media had chosen to put its focus—and the focus of its viewers--on special memories of young Trayvon.

Then I watched a “Good Morning America” interview with a good friend of Zimmerman’s and with Zimmerman’s attorney. I found out some very interesting FACTS (not opinions) on the matter. I learned that Trayvon was a 6’3”, 17-year-old football player, rather than the young child the above photo depicted. Apparently, the media’s photos were outdated. I also learned that as large and “Goliath-like” as Zimmerman appears above, he is actually shorter than I am, at only 5’9”. It was also revealed that Trayvon had allegedly been suspended from school for drug possession, which possibly explained why he was not in school that day. Another interesting fact was that the only credible witness to the incident claimed he saw ZIMMERMAN on the ground bleeding, not Trayvon.

Taking Justice Into Our Own Hands?

I thought about the Rodney King incident back in 1992, in Los Angeles. Rodney King, a husky, 6’3” man allegedly on drugs had charged some police men who had pulled him over. According to police, he had charged them with his fist raised ready to give them a good headache. King was so large, and so strong under the influence of crack, that it took five officers with rods to subdue him. Someone caught video of the incident and spread the news nationally. Eventually, Rodney King was taken to court and found guilty of all charges brought against him.

Following that verdict, a riot broke out in Los Angeles that inflicted approximately one billion dollars in property damage, uncountable numbers of buildings looted and burned, and nearly 53 deaths. In this situation, people were taking “Justice” into their own hands, by inflicting injustice on others, in the name, and under the banner, of Justice. A little backwards, right?

Fast forward to a recent development in the Zimmerman case, that arose in the Sanford area. According to this report, famous movie director Spike Lee heard a rumor on Twitter, that a certain Sanford address was the address of George Zimmerman’s parents, and that he would be hiding there. Mr. Lee accordingly posted this address on his Twitter to his 240,000 followers. A few days later, an angry mob showed up at the house ready to find and likely lynch Mr. Zimmerman. Yep… you guessed it….it was the wrong address. The home belonged to a couple of law abiding, elderly citizens, who at one time had a son living with them with a similar name, but with no relation to the alleged shooter George Zimmerman. This couple was horrified by the mob, and after calling 911 to clear the crowds, fled for their lives to an out- of-town motel. The two are now in hiding and have done nothing wrong. All because someone took “justice” into his own hands.

To his credit, Mr. Lee eventually took responsibility for this incident (with the assistance of the couple’s lawyer) and has paid full compensation for the disruption of their lives, apologized, and deleted the post from his Twitter. But the damage has been done. This is a sad example of the tyranny that can result from mob rule.

I am not biased on either side of this case. I am not rooting for a certain side to win, but the point I want to make here is that we have police, judges, prisons, and government for a reason. I fail to understand why George Zimmerman had to go into hiding to avoid assassination if we have a legal system to sort through the evidence and come to a just verdict through due process of law. I further fail to understand why an innocent couple whose only crime is having a son with a similar name to Zimmerman’s must flee their home to escape an angry mob. We have courts, police, and government. We pay taxes for these organizations. Let them do their job!

Does the Media Have an Agenda in All This?

Sadly, men are killed all the time in this country, whether black, white, or any other race. So why is this particular case so publicized? Is it because it happened in a gated neighborhood in Florida, rather than a dark alley in Detroit? Is it because a white man killed a black man, and therefore it “must be racism?” Why did the media choose to use photos early in their reports that gave the viewers strong feelings of pity toward Martin, and anger toward Zimmerman? Why did they constantly show video footage of angry protesters supporting Martin, and present interviews of people giving their opinions about Zimmerman’s guilt?

I am not a racist. If you disagree with me, consider the fact that I come from a racially mixed family and am therefore related to people of different races and nationalities.

Like many out there, I share in the Martin family’s sorrow. I feel bad that this young man had to die at such a young age and did not live to see many of the rewards that this life offers. But unlike the media, I am not taking sides. I want justice to be done, no matter where it leads or how it ends.

The more I study about the culture around me, the more I see a socialist, humanistic, and pagan agenda in all things. Humanist thinking is infiltrating our schools, our churches, and particularly, the media. Is there a chance that Socialist manipulators are purposely using our media to “divide and conquer” our country over issues such as racism, or class warfare? Our nation is strong when it is united. Are the humanists trying to divide this great country, race by race, to make it more vulnerable to destruction?

Conclusion

I have learned to be very careful with the media as a result of this news story. When I see news reports, or read the newspaper, I need to always try to recognize the reporter’s viewpoint, identify his agenda, and determine how it affects the way he tells the story. Bottom line: don’t blindly believe everything you hear. And always strive to hear both sides of the story.

I would welcome your thoughts on this post. Please feel free to leave a comment!

Soli Deo Gloria!

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13