Misguided narrative

“Misguided narrative,” Monterey Herald – November 29, 2022 (on-line edition and revised)

The media rushed to judgment again. Their go-to stereotype of mass shooters is the gun-toting American who supposedly hates everyone. They trotted out this misguided narrative again after five people were killed at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs.

The reported assumption is that the shooter—Anderson Lee Aldrich—is an anti-gay bully who is filled with hate. However, if the media had waited for the facts instead of participating in a smear campaign, they would have discovered that Aldrich lists himself as “non-binary.”

Does this particular person hate gays and therefore feel compelled to hunt them down? Or is he a spurned lover of one of the clubs’ members? We may never know unless all of the facts come out.  And this is the point.

— Lawrence Samuels, Carmel

The full copy of the letter emailed to the newspaper.

The media have rushed to judgment again. Their go-to stereotype of mass shooters is the gun-toting American who supposedly hates everyone. They trotted out this misguided narrative again after five people were killed at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs.

The reported assumption is that the shooter—Anderson Lee Aldrich—is an anti-gay bully who is filled with hate. However, if the media had waited for the facts instead of participating in a smear campaign, they would have discovered that Aldrich lists himself as “non-binary,” and “uses they/them pronouns.” Surprise, the accused murderer is apparently a transgender person.

Does this particular person hate gays and therefore feel compelled to hunt them down? Or is he a spurned lover of one of the clubs’ members? We may never know unless all of the facts come out.  And this is the point. Political operatives are always trying to push society in a particular direction. In order to accomplish this ignoble mission, scores of prejudiced people have invaded and infected the media.

This is why the public no longer trusts the news. If the media want to regain some respect, they must be both patient and truthful.

Lawrence Samuels, Carmel