OK, now Eugene Robinson writes this about the media and revisionism.
I witnessed this warp-speed process in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. I got there five days after the deluge, when the story, as the whole world understood it, was one of "Mad Max" depravity and violence. Hoodlums were raping and pillaging, I just "knew" -- even shooting at rescue helicopters trying to take hospital patients to safety. So it was a surprise when I rolled into the center of the city, with all my foreign-correspondent antennae bristling, and found the place as quiet as a tomb.
The next day I drove into the French Quarter and was struck by how pristine St. Louis Cathedral looked, almost like the castle at Disney World. I got out of the car and walked around the whole area, and I wrote in my notebook that except for the absence of tourists, it could have been just an ordinary Sunday morning in the Big Easy. Then I got back into the car, and on the radio a caller was breathlessly reporting that, as she spoke, a group of policemen were "pinned down" by snipers at the cathedral.
I was right there; nobody was sniping at anybody.
Ummm...
So, let me get this straight. The snipper "incident" made national news, he was there an knew it didn't happen, yet there was no article in the Post about it? Nor did Robinson write a column about it before now!?!?!?!?!?!?
And HE talks about revisionism?
Knee.Grow.PLEASE!!!!
LOL @ Mike! I'll wager that Robinson was afraid to say something counter to the public opinion being expressed at the time. Wouldn't want to be the only person saying the rumors of the great unwashed sniping at rescuers was false, you know? People are so easily influenced to conform. Sad thing is that people suffered because both medical personnel and some of the National Guard believed the rumor.
My ire is against another brother, Eddie Compass. Formerly known as police commissioner of New Orleans. Should be known as a lying sack of s---. Many of the most egregious falsehoods can be traced right back to him. He spread them all over the media, including an appearance on Oprah. Turns out Compass, now eased on down the road, was fishing for a book and movie deal depicting himself as a hero. He allegedly got the book deal. Hopefully, the contract, if it exists, will be canceled now that the truth is known.
Posted by: Mac Diva at October 7, 2005 10:52 PM