Words have Meaning . . .

What's on my mind today? In visiting my parents there is always something interesting to watch on the news. Thing is, everyone tires of watching the news because they are always reporting on one bad thing after another, especially in the evening. My parents, however, don't particularly watch the local news. No, on a Friday evening, you can find them tuned in to World News Tonight. On tonight's episode, the highlighted stories revolved around Trump possibly having called soldiers who have been to war and lost "suckers" and "losers", a black man having died after police officers put a bag over his head and then applying a knee hold on his neck, and a Minnesota man who had been trapped for four (4) days in the wilderness when a tree fell on top of him. Of the three (3) stories, my thoughts were they would have opened up with the man trapped for four (4) days, then the murder by yet another group of police officers and Trump's adjectives last. Mass media and politics doesn't work like that. First up was Trump. Rumors are currently circulating that Trump allegedly remarked that soldiers who had died in war were "suckers" and "losers". Trump has no filter, but as uncouth as he is, even I don't believe he would make such a disrespectful statement. In light of the broadcast, my dad and I joked that if he did he sort of sounded like a coach reprimanding their squad after a loss. The point is, even with all the mayhem going on and in some states they have had 100 straight days of protests, because this is an election year, the media is going to report on something the class clown said as if it's really news. That is really something that could have been left for the papers. It really feels like during this election period, broadcasts are made moreso for shock value. Secondly, was the report on the "black man" who was killed during an arrest after the officers put a bag on his head and applied a hold on or around his neck which caused him to suffocate. My first thought was, "When did the media stop referring to African Americans as such"? Mind you, I'm not biased. I am 40 years old and see the world in a broader view than others so in listening I'm not looking to find fault in the language being used. I'm listening to the story being told because there's always more to the story than the sound bites posted on social media. However, in listening, one couldn't help but notice how the anchor would put specific stress on the classification of "black man". It was a bit unsettling for two (2) reasons: 1) Was "black man" being stressed because that is the venacular being used at present as a result of the numerous incidents that have taken place over the last couple of months, i.e. Black Lives Matter; or 2) Was the anchor using his platform to incite anger in those watching because yet another "black man" from their community has been robbed of his life and liberty by the hands of another group of police officers? It's hard to tell, but we all know the media has a way of inciting an uprising. Lastly, we hear of the older gentlemen who had been trapped for four (4) days alone in the wilderness under a tree. Details are not provided as to how the tree fell, but his story of survival consisted of counting in five (5) minute intervals and prayer. A picture is shown of this older caucasian man who was a Vietnam vet. Very soothing story and a good way to close out the broadcast. If you're reading this, I'm sure you can see what I'm laying down here. Words have meaning and the media knows how to turn those words into power for better or for worse.