- Aug 14, 2019
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There is a long standing tradition in the news industry. It goes something like this: if you do not know the facts, make up and broadcast what will get people's attention. The classic case is the reporting of the Titanic sinking. Newspapers were printing stories with zero facts to go on. The very first reports said that everyone was saved. Imagine reading that then finding out that your cabin crew husband had in fact perished.
I followed the first Gulf war with interest. It was fascinating to watch. It consisted of talking heads woken up in the middle of the night to make a comment based on nothing. In between the talking heads were on the spot reports from reporters travelling with the troops. If you listened to the BBC reports, you would have thought it was a different war from CNN.
Why does this matter? Christians need to respond to events based on truth, not on vague and misleading reports that are strong on emotion and weak on facts. The treatment of some African Americans by some people is abhorrent and needs to be dealt with. Cops who mistreat anyone need to be pulled into line and punished appropriately. Regrettably, the outrage industry loves to latch onto any injustice and extrapolate that to the whole of society. Rioting only reinforces existing prejudices. As Christians, we need to be the example of tolerance, love and compassion. What would Jesus do? The Man who suffered the greatest injustice of all, then said, "Father forgive them......."? I do not think He would be winding up rioters and telling them to "Burn, baby, burn". That's a reference to the 1965 Watts riots for those too young to remember.
People need to remember that they are responsible for their own lives. The world we live in is unjust at times. Will we throw fuel on the fire or grab some water to put it out?
I followed the first Gulf war with interest. It was fascinating to watch. It consisted of talking heads woken up in the middle of the night to make a comment based on nothing. In between the talking heads were on the spot reports from reporters travelling with the troops. If you listened to the BBC reports, you would have thought it was a different war from CNN.
Why does this matter? Christians need to respond to events based on truth, not on vague and misleading reports that are strong on emotion and weak on facts. The treatment of some African Americans by some people is abhorrent and needs to be dealt with. Cops who mistreat anyone need to be pulled into line and punished appropriately. Regrettably, the outrage industry loves to latch onto any injustice and extrapolate that to the whole of society. Rioting only reinforces existing prejudices. As Christians, we need to be the example of tolerance, love and compassion. What would Jesus do? The Man who suffered the greatest injustice of all, then said, "Father forgive them......."? I do not think He would be winding up rioters and telling them to "Burn, baby, burn". That's a reference to the 1965 Watts riots for those too young to remember.
People need to remember that they are responsible for their own lives. The world we live in is unjust at times. Will we throw fuel on the fire or grab some water to put it out?
