NBC News is Endangering Us All
I just watched NBC Nightly News and can’t tell you how outraged I am. They showed long clips in which the killer, Cho Seung-Hui, explained why he committed the massacre at Virgnia Tech. Essentially, he said that he felt marginalized and this was his way of responding to his anger. He sees himself as a martyr for marginalized youth everywhere.
Clearly, his video is nonsense and any rational person immediately sees Cho for the senseless killer that he is. But I have no idea why NBC News would play this video knowing full well that there’s a large group of young people out there who also feel marginalized and who are not always thinking rationally. Doesn’t NBC News realize that they may be spreading horrific ideas in the minds of other mentally ill young people? What if his video resonates with young people who are looking for an outlet to express their anger?
I have been deeply saddened by the horrific events at Virgnia Tech. Our organization has a lot of wonderful student members at VT and we were working with them to put on a whole week of climate change events leading up to Earth Day. Then, I woke up Monday morning shocked and terrified by the massacre. I personally think NBC News should focus on telling the stories of the victims in this case and not give this cold-blooded murderer the exact attention he wanted — playing his video to millions of marginalized young people precisely as he has asked for them to do. Why grant this killer his dying wish? Why would NBC do this?
My guess is NBC thinks playing this exclusive video (with a big NBC label on the upper left hand corner of it) is good for ratings. So, I would encourage you not to watch NBC any more so they have no doubt in the future that showing these videos will hurt, rather than help, their ratings. And be sure to e-mail them to let them know why you’re tuning them out. My wife, a loyal NBC viewer, just sent them this note:
“As a former employee of the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, I normally believe that what journalists do is good for America, and that the more the public knows, the better off we all are. I have also made a point of tuning in for NBC Nightly News nearly every day for the last three years, not to mention Meet the Press and other news specials. I have long believed that you have the best reporting team on network TV.
However, NBC’s decision to broadcast footage from Cho Seung-Hui is disgraceful, dangerous, and morally reprehensible. How could you give the killer this final victory? How could you haunt the survivors with these horrific images? And how could you provide footage that might fuel copycat murders? (Cho Seung-Hui himself referred to the Columbine killers.) I cannot believe that you aired this.
Your decision to broadcast Cho Seung-Hui’s footage demonstrates a selfish desire to do anything for ratings. You might have reported on the footage and described it, but the fact that you actually showed it–even in part–simply empowers the killer and puts the rest of us in greater danger of copycat murders.
I am sorry to say that, starting tomorrow, I will no longer tune in to NBC Nightly News. I want no part in your network’s outrageous bid for ratings.”
Well, it looks like the other networks (at least their websites) are also showing clips from the video. Although I doubt there is an answer to this question: I wonder why he sent the package to NBC News…?
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Yes Allen, I agree. Although I wouldn’t hesitate to blame the entire media camp. I am in an unfamiliar frame of mind right now as I sit and observe the complete breakdown of this country and keep hoping we will come out of our fog soon and realize what the liberal as well as cheesey ( forgive me, like I said, unfamiliar frame of mind ) business agenda has done to us. Do I accept the migration into a free country? Yes. Do I believe we need to put the brakes on until we can pull, no, extract our heads out of the “deep dark hole” it’s in? Absolutely no question. Good or bad people, not an issue at this point. Multi-culture kills a society that doesn’t know how to handle it responsibly. Internment and deportation is our only hope of survival. 10 years tops until we lose everything this country loves. You heard it here first. Wake Up America!
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
I am also deeply troubled by NBC giving this disturbed guy just what he was hoping for.
I do not want to give him any glory and I never want to see his photo again. We do not need to have those horrific images in our minds. All of the other news outlets are also showing it now and its sickening. I have always respected Brian Williams and have been a faithful viewer for a long time. I’m very disappointed.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Faith,
Please believe me when I say I’m not being self righteous, but, I threw my T.V. away in 1998 and haven’t missed it one bit. It’s actually improved my quality of life. Stop feeding them and force change. It works for them. Nothing good comes out of a television. Nothing. Wake up America!
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
mr. green, thanks for a well written comment about the criminal behaviour of NBC.
is this another signal that american culture is in self destruct mode? i mean, what will it take for americans to get real and start to act responsibly?
as an australian I dislike our prime minister john howard, but i respect what he did after our port arthur murders, where about the same number of people were murdered by martin bryant. he raised the money and bought back all the assault rifles in the country, outlawed them and brought in tough new registrations for gun sales and ownership… that takes balls and political courage.
america, where is your courage??? you will take on entire countries, but you wont take on the gun lobby.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Stewert,
With respect to your country, we like our guns here. What we don’t like is not enforcing the laws on the books due to socialist politicians who don’t like what this country stands for. I’ll spell it out, free speech and the right to bear arms. Why? because they’re one in the same. You take my guns, you’ll come for my property next. You take my free speech, you’ll take my freedom to protect myself next. In some countries they call that radical Islam. Some countries such as China, call it communism. We are not commies. I appreciate your concern, but we don’t need more bleeding heart liberals that don’t understand that hate comes from the heart and not a gun. Why, just the other day I saw somebody at work use a gun to drive a nail into concrete. Neat huh? It’s an American invention called a Ramset. Americans have courage, libs don’t. We’re inundated with media lies that people learn to believe. Clintonosophy. Wake up America!
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Midwhitecrisis,
If a tragedy like this can’t make you see that the “gun loving” society which you so proudly tote is at least in some way responsible for such incidents, than you’re blind. Of course, it takes an extremely sick individual to do such a thing, and there should be much done to prevent and understand people who exhibit such behavior, but that’s only half the problem. You need to be psychotic, and you need to have a gun. Simple as that. Guns being so readily available certainly doesn’t help the issue.
And in regards to the uncourageous “libs” and the “media lies,” simply, grow up.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
Dear John,
Please refer to the second sentence of my previous reply. This maniac as you know, had already been institutionalized as a threat or harm to himself or others. The gun laws in this country forbid him from obataining a fire arm on that basis alone. Furthermore, by not having full status citizenship as an American, he is not allowed to purchase a firearm yet. Laws John. We have laws, but just like everything else is becoming in this country, if we just pacify, hopefully we won’t get hurt. Remember what our schools teach now? Johnny can’t read, but at least he tried. Give him a diploma, we don’t want to hurt his feelings. Pacify. Coddle. Appease. Do you know where that mindset comes from John. Bleeding heart liberals. Yes, I’ll say it again. It doesn’t make sense for you to tell me to grow up. I can tell that your thinking is still a little immature based on your reaction to truth. Until you’ve been robbed, raped or assaulted, you will never understand the value of your right to protect yourself however you believe best for your survival. Don’t tell me about guns being the problem. And as far as trusting the media for truth. Now that’s just down right stupid. Wake up America!
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
This is all foreginer’s fault. I told the Apaches this would happen. White man would come to this land bringing DISEASE and SICK CULTURE. Now even Asians can’t resist the elusive greedy culture of what we call America. I say All the none natives get the heck out and let the original Indian Americans rule in peace.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
[...] Jeff Keating wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI just watched NBC Nightly News and can’t tell you how outraged I am. They showed long clips in which the killer, Cho Seung-Hui, explained why he committed the massacre at Virgnia Tech. Essentially, he said that he felt marginalized and … [...]
Pingback on April 18, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
The killer knew NBC would air his video. NBC is owned by bunch of jews and zionists who are leeaching from America and making their little Israel rich. NBC doesn’t care about America, they only care about money!
Nothing will change unless we kick the jews out of American media and bring back the truth.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
We need to let victims families mourn and rest in peace, not rest in a media circus! Everyone’s an expert now. Shut the fuck up and get the TV crew out of Blacksberg. Please give us privacy and let us deal it without the world telling us what to do. Condolences from Iranian president my ass.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Turn off the JewTV and read this:
http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml
Where does our youth(including even immigrants apparently) get twisted realities, violence, etc.?
TV doesn’t make you crazy, Jewish media companies do.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Dear Anti-Semite,
After reading some of your suggested material on mediachannel.org, I guess I was wrong. With things safely in the hands of the media, maybe John F. is right. I don’t need any protection, Eisner and Murdock will save me. Take my guns, take my property, they’ll supply my needs. John, liberalism IS a mental disorder. (copyright: Michael Savage) Parents, If you love your kids and you would like a future in America for them, stop feeding them televised vomit. Katie Couric IS cancerous. Brian Williams IS prostitute for the dollar. Michael Ware, traitor. Folks, these people do not like you, they are not your friends, that’s only a fantasy in you mind. You’ve been brainwashed. Focus, breathe deep, walk toward the light, easy….. easy. O.K., NOW!!! Wake Up America!
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
By the way, NDN, go back to Mongolia if you’re so sure all non-natives should leave.
Comment on April 18, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Thank you for expressing what I am thinking. How do ANY of us benefit from seeing the pictures and video of the killer. I think of the families of all those killed or wounded physically and wonder why they have to be subjected to these pictures. ALl in the name of what?!
Comment on April 19, 2007 @ 5:26 am
Tragedies like Virginia Tech bring out the worst. Theories and suppositions abound. Whatsmore, America’s inherent hatred is surfacing again. Post-September 11th emotions elicit some very broad brush “opinions.”
The media, I feel is doing a great disservice by the constant focus on Cho and his “manifesto” (more the insane ramblings of a deranged young man), and not looking at the implications of what happened
Virginia Tech – Impressions and Thoughts
http://moonagewebdream.blogs.com/storms_counter_terrorism/2007/04/virginia_tech_i.html
The situation at Virginia Tech is unquestionably sad and tragic. Unfortunately, the response from some sectors of American society is very troubling.
Comment on April 19, 2007 @ 6:16 am
How many more copycats will be sending their videos to NBC and other media outlets before embarking on a murderous spree?
This was was a heartless and stupid decision by NBC, and I intend to boycott NBC/GE products until they admit their mistake.
At least when the New York Times and Washington Post printed the Unabomber’s manifesto, there was some logic to do so. At the time, the Unabomber’s identity was unknown, and it was hoped that someone would identify the author of the rambling manifesto. This is in fact what happened, when Ted Kaczynski’s brother, David, came forward after recognizing the writing.
Oh, and Jews are to Blame is a complete nutcase. His anti-Semitic hate makes him blind to the true ways of the world.
Comment on April 19, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
NBC did not demonstrate responsible reporting when you chose to release this disturbing video! What were you thinking? Ratings??
Comment on April 19, 2007 @ 4:12 pm