The kidnapping and murder of Megan Holden in a Tyler Texas Wal-Mart is tragic. Absolutely. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Megan's family and friends.
I hope they fry the monster that did this.
But I have an issue. I'm not sure how to bring this out without sounding callous, but it just keeps slapping me in the face.
When they talk about this case in the MSM, at least on the TV, they continue to mention that Johnny Lee Williams, the monster that committed this crime, was a Marine. It's like it's a part of his name. During an interview with one of the Tyler police force, in describing Williams, they spent more time talking about the fact that he was a Marine, up until the spring of 04, and that he had been a Marine for 4 years., than they did the crime itself.
If he had been a plumber or an electrician for 4 years, or unemployed for 4 years, would they have made as much a mention as they are with the fact that he was a Marine? Is he worse because he was a Marine? It almost feels like they are trying to say that the crime itself is worse because of that fact.
It's terrible, it's tragic because some monster kidnapped a 19 year old girl, beat and killed her and then dumped her body along the side of the road. THAT is the tragedy. It has nothing to do with what ever Williams did for the past 4 years.
It's just the one thing that they've been reporting over and over again as they tell this story - and I just don't like the undertones. Maybe I'm being too sensitive.
Posted by Tammi at January 22, 2005 07:47 AMNo...you're not being too sensitive. The MSM is just not being sensitive enough. All they care about are the numbers..the ratings. The old saying "If it bleeds...it leads." He who has the most sensationalism gets the higher ratings. It makes me sick.
Posted by: Koolaid at January 22, 2005 11:32 AMThe MSM is trying to paint the military as an evil institution.
Their process appears to be: If someone with a military background does something bad, then it must be because of their military background - it must be "caused" by their military experience.
Go ready today's DayByDay cartoon for a great example of how Liberals think.
Posted by: _Jon at January 22, 2005 01:13 PMNo, Tammi - it's NOT just you.
What bothered me more is that they reported there had been trouble with this guy earlier, and the security guards had run-ins with him. Why wasn't the law called then? They have the guy on video from much earlier in the day there - and he was definitely up to something.
Didn't you know? It's not a truly hienous crime unless it's committed by a former serviceman or woman.
_Jon and Koolaid pretty much have my thoughts summed up.
Posted by: That 1 Guy at January 22, 2005 06:18 PMI felt the same way. There are what, 7 gojillion Marines that are fine, upstanding, wonderful citizens (our son in law being one of them) and because this nozzle was once in the Marines that has to be showcased like he's a "trained" killer?
Pffft. I have found myself, more and more lately, completely sick of television news. God bless blogs!
Posted by: Margi at January 22, 2005 06:19 PMMargi - Wait... television still has news shows? :-)
I stopped watching network news about the time they started squealing about the "quagmire" in Afghanistan. Probably about November of 2001.
Posted by: Harvey at January 23, 2005 12:25 PMI think that plays a role if this guy had some mental issue from war. Of course that doesn't bring Meagan's life back, but the things you go through in war are unexplainable. From livine in a small country town to watching men women and children die plays a huge affect on people. Walk a mile in his shoes before you judge and call him a monster.....
Posted by: Mack at January 25, 2005 03:13 PMMack - very valid points, but they need to make sure of that before they use that as the lead to the story. Also - I only refer to him as a monster because of the deed that was done. It was monsterous. I could have said "he is not a nice man" but.....
Posted by: Tammi at January 25, 2005 10:04 PMHe was not a solider he was a monster, who preyed on a young innocent victim. This was my niece and Justice will be done. We need to go back to the old way.
Posted by: cowgirlskickass at January 25, 2005 11:50 PMTo Cowgirlskickass - I am so sorry for your family's loss. You are absolutely right! He may have been in the Marines at one time, but quite obviously he was not acting as a Marine when he committed this atrocity!
When I first heard about this over the weekend, the monster's mother was doing interviews with news idiots. She's the one who was saying - it's the fault of the military my son ended up doing this... Naturally, the MSM picked up on that immediately and ran with it. Wankers! They don't even see the idiocy of this rationalization.
This is the kind of "reporting" that I find especially horrendous. The media are already at work trying to make the case that he can't be held responsible. Personally, if his momma wants to claim that the military "made him do it", then the military should hold the trial and bring him to justice... I think that's only fair.
Posted by: Teresa at January 26, 2005 04:59 PM