. . . when I had hoped to be a journalist.
That's right, a journalist. Possibly writing for a newspaper or magazine or another media outlet of some iteration. Of course, fate would not have it and I am what I am. My awareness of, and level of emotional involvement in, certain social and political issues, has changed (read increased) with the years. Like my journalism professor in college, and many bright and better-read peers of mine who criticized the media (which has evolved drastically since then) for various transgressions of which I, at the time, gave very little thought, I now see, more clearly every day, how the media, primarily the news media, fail us each and every day.
Take, for example, my 'beloved' Baltimore Sun, who printed these little gems the other day following violence at the Baltimore Inner Harbor 4th of July celebration. . .
"Child shot at harbor says he would punch gunman in the face
Police still seeking person who fired random shot after fireworks
A stick-on bandage is the only thing covering Kavin Benson's dime-size bullet wound.
It hasn't stopped the rambunctious 4-year-old, who was shot moments after the July 4 fireworks ended at the Inner Harbor, from dancing, jumping and climbing all over his family's Brooklyn apartment. And it hasn't stopped the child, sporting a red T-shirt and Dr. Seuss shoes, from seeking revenge. . ."
and. . .
"Calo, of Opelika, Ala., got into a shoving match with a group of men, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said Tuesday. Calo "re-engaged" the suspect later and was stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle, he said.
"He was a really good father, and we miss him," Reilly said. "There's a little girl that's going to grow up without a father because someone felt the need to be big and tough and use a deadly weapon instead of his fists like a real man."'
No doubt the latter is a tragedy, the former an unsettling coincidence. And whoever thought shooting a firearm in a crowd of thousands in celebration of Independence Day was a good idea could certainly use some education and possibly rehabilitation. But what bothers me are the 'revenge' statements (I'm not so sure the kid wouldn't use a firearm for THAT if he could get his hands on one [too many Mel Gibson movies?]) and the "instead of [using] his fists like a real man" quote, after all (pertaining to the latter) the victim did "re-engage" the suspect after the initial 'shoving' encounter.
I take four lessons from these 4th of July tragedies:
** LET'S BE CIVIL
Some people are dumber than others. Revenge won't make them smart. In fact, calling for revenge in such a case places
us on a comparable level with the perpretrator.
** DON'T RE-ENGAGE
This act is the non-vehicular equivalent of Road-Rage. Let it go, man. And there's no need to fight "like a man" or
a woman or a child for that matter.
** DON'T READ THE NEWSPAPER
Or at least don't let it scare you unnecessarily. The Baltimore Sun claims now that Baltimore isn't as dangerous as some
people perceive it to be, but they are your outlet of choice to read about every crime, no matter how small, petty or
'inbred' , in order to make you think that 'this could happen to you.'
** LET'S PLAY SOME MUSIC. . .
download your
very own copy of
ANOTHER SHOT
by Ray Jozwiak
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