NPR: William Long's Murderer May Have Had "Religious Motivations"

Really? Another radical Christian, perhaps, like the much-discussed murderer of George Tiller?

Nope. Try again.

"A Conspiracy of Euphemism"

The eight a.m. NPR news update today included word of the fatal shooting of one soldier and the wounding of another outside an army recruiting station in Arkansas. The news reader, Nora Raum, outlined the incident and stated that the shooting appeared to have "religious motivations." She did not name the suspect, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, or tell NPR listeners what those religious motivations might be. In other words, it could have been a radical Unitarian who gunned down the soldiers, or possibly a violent Presbyterian.

Why the shyness? Why not tell people what is actually happening in the world?

Because the news media is in the business of telling people what is happening in the world in much the same way that MTV is still in the business of playing music videos.

Although it was pointed out earlier, compare Sarah Palin's and Barack Obama's statements on the terrorist murder of William Long.

I suppose Sarah Palin is to be faulted for her long-windedness. Barack Obama so concisely expresses his feelings on the matter. A rara avis, this one.

posted by Ace at 07:05 PM

| Access Comments