It will be no surprise to me if this is the first some learn of last Wednesday’s
murder of seven young worshipers at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth,
Texas. The death toll was greater than at any of the school massacres this
nation has suffered in recent years except that at Columbine High: a 36
year-old choir director, two 23 year-old seminary students, a 17 year-old boy,
two 14 year-old girls, and a 14 year-old boy.
Seven others were wounded, three critically. The carnage, apparently by a lone
lunatic, disrupted a post-rally celebrating “See You At The Pole” prayer
gatherings held annually at school flagpoles nationwide.
How could one possibly stumble across a tragedy of such magnitude in a screed by
some no-name columnist on page B-deep a week after the event? Easy. The
Sacramento Bee, for instance, initially buried the story on page A17.
Electronic media attention was roughly the equivalent of A17, though I have
since seen guilt coverage that has been about as timely and sincere as that
given Mother Teresa’s death in the wake of Princess Diana’s.
This paper didn’t report the events until two days after, and then on page 7A.
It is fair to note that its front page is generally reserved for local events,
but I find the delay hard to excuse.
I
can’t give a complete pass on the positioning, either. This front page often
carries national news with local tie-ins; the headline the day after the
shootings was “Medicare HMO premiums to jump 140%.” Hundreds of Butte County
middle school, high school, and college students participated in “Pole”
services. What of their reactions and those of their parents? How have city
and county law enforcement officials prepared for copycats? What precautions
were taken by local “Pole” organizers? Or by our schools?
I had worried
about attacks, though for me it started with a remarkable, heartening
experience: the sight of two or three hundred kids clustered in small groups,
heads bowed in prayer. Just seeing so many teens still and reverent seemed
miracle enough, but I was mostly struck by their passion, an ardor many of us
so-called grownups let fade.
Watching my son attend a pre-rally the night before “Pole” gatherings here, my
thoughts flashed to West Paducah, Kentucky, where a fellow student opened fire
on a high school prayer meeting. Then the girl at Columbine High, murdered
after her killer asked if she believed in God. And the recent attack on Jewish
children at a community center in Los Angeles.
Faith can get flabby over the years along with the gut and thighs, and for much
the same reason – lack of exercise. I love the faith growing in my children,
but I am still their Dad; groups of kids standing in front of schools with their
eyes closed seemed too tempting a target. I prayed for their faith, but also
their safety.
I
doubt anyone sane takes joy from the events in Texas, but why the national
ho-hum? I have been given latitude to write what I wish in this space – if you
don’t buy that, re-read the middle few paragraphs. I’m thankful, and don’t
suspect this paper or any other media organ of scheming to downplay the
tragedy. I do believe, though, that there are prevailing points of view in this
business.
Some point to headline competition from Hurricane Floyd, though that doesn’t
explain page A17 non-coverage. Others blame leftward media bias, but I’m not
convinced in this case. You find a lot of rank-and-file liberals in the pews
and my best guess is that God, the ultimate independent, has no political
affiliation. This particular paper is hardly left leaning in any event.
More likely, the Fort Worth victims simply don’t fit the demographic du jour.
It strains credulity to suggest that political or media reaction would have been
half as sleepy had the bloodshed occurred at a predominantly minority church or
a synagogue.
I
am loathe to believe it, but the only explanation I can make fit is that
America’s newsrooms do not find the slaughter of white Christian youths in their
churches especially newsworthy. I pray for better.
© 1997 – 2002 Brent Morrison
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