Selective Justice
The older I get, the more assured I am that people take sides regardless of evidence. This is especially true when there are so many different places we can get our news. News is no longer just news, it's conservative news, liberal news, Black news, White news, religious news, in particular, religious news of every sectarian variety.
Simply put, if there is a large enough demographic, there will be a news source that caters to that point of view. So, if for instance, someone holds the view that officer Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown in cold blood, there will be dozens of news outlets that will reinforce that point of view. There will be just as many holding exactly the opposite view, as well. Each, will offer endless tirades against injustice, based primarily on whatever they believe injustice to be. Partisans will quote statistics endlessly, but only the ones that make their case.
A precious few folks, however, will take the time to withhold judgment until all the evidence is in. They will refuse to take sides, seeking real justice, instead of one-sided payback. But they will be few indeed. In other words, when we have a chance to act justly, we seldom ever do, not when we choose identity politics over due-process. So, the next time we sit in the comfort of our living rooms, watching a movie about some terrible injustice, one where the facts have been conveniently laid out for our consumption, we need to ask ourselves; are we the hero? Or, are we the villain? It's our choice.
Simply put, if there is a large enough demographic, there will be a news source that caters to that point of view. So, if for instance, someone holds the view that officer Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown in cold blood, there will be dozens of news outlets that will reinforce that point of view. There will be just as many holding exactly the opposite view, as well. Each, will offer endless tirades against injustice, based primarily on whatever they believe injustice to be. Partisans will quote statistics endlessly, but only the ones that make their case.
A precious few folks, however, will take the time to withhold judgment until all the evidence is in. They will refuse to take sides, seeking real justice, instead of one-sided payback. But they will be few indeed. In other words, when we have a chance to act justly, we seldom ever do, not when we choose identity politics over due-process. So, the next time we sit in the comfort of our living rooms, watching a movie about some terrible injustice, one where the facts have been conveniently laid out for our consumption, we need to ask ourselves; are we the hero? Or, are we the villain? It's our choice.