NBC, the news, Virginia Tech, what to show, what not to show.....

One of the many huge topics of conversation this week over the Virginia Tech tragedy is what NBC should have or should not have done with the package they received from the killer of 32 people.

There have been passionate responses to my posting the NBC Nightly News video Wednesday night. To quote my two faithful posters.....

kenju posted: "I don't think they should have put his video on the news. A copy of the written stuff should be made public, but putting the video on the news, where unsuspecting parents might have had children watching, was not a good idea. I watched part of it; it made me sick, and I don't want to see it again."

A great point concerning the fact that children could be exposed to this; I honestly hadn't thought about that.

Frank posted: "Quite typical of the main stream media is the opportunity to gain a few viewers by having something like what fell into NBC's lap. I think it appalling that they thought it necessary to use the material to start with. Being "edited" for broadcast was a bunch of _____ in my opinion. How do you edit out the horror and disdain that was in this package. The families, friends, and colleagues of the slain heros did not need reminding of this senseless event, and especially the ranting and raving of a crazed lunatic who had no soul."

Now to my two cents.....

1) I had no problem with the first decision by NBC News. Let's face it, had they given it to federal authorities, and washed their hands of it, people would be up in arms about why the public was not allowed to get the thoughts and messages of the perpetrator. Sorry, but the last thing this tragedy needs is breeding ground for conspiracy theories.

2) I do not regret posting the open minutes of Wednesday's NBC Nightly News. It had to be shown. Protect children from it? YES! Come to grips as a people that we live in a society with way too many of these type of people....maybe one living in your neighborhood.....YES. And, you don't have to watch the video for a long time to realize the basics of the horror, both of the evil and the demons, plus the severe psychological problems that were obviously there.

This is not "giving the killer his 15 minutes of fame"; but was necessary to help us better understand at least a few percentage points of the senselessness of the "reasoning" behind this crime.

And the words "freedom of speech" would have been decried in a huge way.

I'm sitting here with the TV on and saw a spot for a movie soon to open with Anthony Hopkins. I realized I see disturbing images on spots like that all the time, but we don't raise a finger to ask networks or ad agencies to stop doing it. To stop the desensitizing of all of us.

Now, YES, the focus in this case is on a real killer, not a Hollywood script. So while there are a much higher set of reality circumstances, it doesn't take too, too many steps to see similar "characters" in the (ha) "creative" media. And people flock to see it day after day, night after night.

3) After trying to watch the 11pm news Wednesday night, I turned the news off. Every channel showed the video at the top of their news, so the killer's face was on 20 different channels, all at once. This was a highly negative "equal and opposite" reaction to the action of releasing it to the public in the first place.

And after the news cycle had finished the morning shows the next day, it was time for the media to say, okay, point taken. Message used.

4) Many news organizations have stopped using it. Good move. If someone really wants to hear this guy, there's always YouTube, et al.

---------------------------------------------------

We had a time of remembrance and reflection at noon today at the office. My first time "speaking" since leaving the pastorate. It was, as it always is, an honor to be used.

The message I was happiest to convey was simply, life is fleeting, so cherish every moment, and tell the people you love that you love them. They can't hear you say that to them when they lie in a casket.

---------------------------------------------------

And the best news I saw today? The VT Band went to the hospital where Tech students are recovering and played outside, while students came to windows, with great smiles and appreciation.