Imagine a family member is murdered. Your reaction to losing your loved one is broadcast across national television. Instead of a private funeral to say goodbye, you have invasive media personnel wanting the scoop.
For the families of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School, this nightmare is their life. This nightmare is perpetuated by the media.
From the moment word broke of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the entire town was turned into a circus. Reporters invaded the small town and did not leave for several weeks.
Before his family had even been informed of his death, the name of the alleged shooter was released. Unfortunately, it was the wrong name.
[quote]The media knew no boundaries as they approached the scene of the crime. Innocent children who had just experienced trauma had microphones shoved in their faces. They witnessed their friends being murdered and the media forced them to relive it minutes later. [/quote]
The police needed to know the details of what occurred at Sandy Hook that day — the public did not. We do not need to know how many bullet holes each child had in his or her brain. These intimate details are none of our business, but the media make it our business.
This was not an episode of “CSI”. These are real people. The horror that the children, teachers and Newtown community endured is unfathomable. So why do we try to fathom it? Why do we have to know so much?
Knowing everything that happened will not do any good. It will not bring us any closer to finding out why. It will not heal the families that have been torn apart. It will not bring back the lives that have been lost.