Of martyrs and media stars

George Zimmerman and James Holmes would seem to have very little in common.

Zimmerman describes himself as a man versus "the gun" (in a Sean Hannity/Fox TV interview).

Holmes has yet to describe his view of self in light of recent gruesome events, but wait not too long.

It may be coming.

Which brings me to questions redundant, never fully answered.

How does media, whether manipulated (or prodded) by victim's interests as well as particular so-called perpetrator "rights" serve the (best) public interest in such cases?

To inform factually is a given, however, does media, by exposing every angle and facet of a crime while the investigation and prosecution is in progress, truly serve the public?

How much information is too much?

In particular, when does a (self-confessed) perpetrator of violent crime, involving death and/or debilitation, deserve to be heard?

The Zimmerman justification is (uniquely) more or less: "He's been convicted in the press already by a liberal-inspired agenda that used the parents of the victim to elicit an emotional rush to judgement, so let George speak."

He has.

A sampling:

""I feel that it was all God's plan, and for me to second guess it or judge it," (shook his head).

The Holmes justification might be: "He murdered 12 people (58 injured) in a premeditated rampage, but he's very bright, so let's hear what he has to say."

In other words, the upcoming (recurring) refrain might be, "the mentally ill are our problem - as collective humanity; shame on us . . . and let's hear from this pitiful [expletives deleted].

So far (thankfully) the victim's voices have been the loudest and clearest.

Bottomline:

How well do media (or any of us) actually listen (well) to the voices of the dead - as well as those now separated from their loved ones?

Shouldn't we, can't we do better?

Mass murder of 2,749 Jews on the beach near the city of Liepāja,

in Latvia, on December 15 through 17, 1941.

But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint." ~Edmund Burke

Native Wisdom

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.

Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.

Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

~Chief Tecumseh (allegedly composed by him, but also ascribed to Wabasha, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Wovoka) [and as recently quoted in the movie, "Act of Valor"]

Tecumseh