Friday, June 29, 2018

Following Tragedy, A Paper Carries On (UPDATED)



The morning after yesterday's mass shooting at The Capital newspaper in Annapolis, MD the paper published it's morning edition in a display of striking courage, resilience and professionalism. Five of the paper's staff were shot and killed, three more were seriously wounded before police disarmed and arrested the 38-year old shooter with a long-standing grievance against the paper. The poignant images of the murdered staff on the front page was moving; yesterday at this time, they were starting their day.

The first thought that occurred to so many people was the vicious anti-press atmosphere that's been whipped up by sociopath, demagogue and serial liar Donald "Rump" Trump whenever he's confronted with facts that he wants buried. He often refers to the press as the "enemy of the people" and routinely points them out to his rabid followers at rallies. Police presence at several news organizations in New York City and other locales was elevated as a precaution.

Rump could live ten thousand years and never have a scintilla of the courage of the journalists at The Capital, doing their jobs today in the midst of grief, going forward in the finest spirit of a free press.

UPDATE:  The shooter apparently marinated in the miasma of the alt- right.

3 comments:

donnah said...

But Trump sent “thoughts and prayers”! He's sad for their families, right? He'll help find ways to support gun control, won't he?

*eyeroll*

Trump is devoid of emotion. He is incapable of empathy and he is a complete narcissist, so let's not pretend that he's ever going to do anything more than tweet empty platitudes to anyone about anything. He's oblivious to suffering and he's unable to respond to it.

As for courage, that's another thing Trump knows nothing about. When he bragged that he would have rushed a school shooter, I felt my stomach turn. He wouldn't do that in a million years. Instead, I can picture him grabbing a child as a human shield.

So once again our fearless leader offers hollow comfort to those who are in pain. Big surprise.

Hackwhackers said...

donnah -- We couldn't agree with you more. In so many ways, Trump is the most despicable man to EVER hold that office. Not even close.

donnah said...

He is despicable in every way.

This far into his mockery of the presidency, I still wake up sometimes and wonder if it's all real. I still find myself shaking my head in utter disbelief that this sorry excuse for a human being is actually the president. And now that he's running the tables with his jolly band of thieves, I am truly discouraged about our future.

But great things can come from despair. When you are facing the worst, you have to do your best. We have to get all of the folks who didn't vote to be registered and confirm that they are motivated to do so. With the sly changes to voter registration, I think it's smart to confirm that you're still on the list. Republicans will stop at nothing to erase potential Democratic votes by purges. It's all against us now and we can't quit.