A Post-Orlando Reckoning: The Media and Republicans Have Done the Killer’s Bidding - By Peter Daou

[BootinUp]

About the Author: Peter’s journey has taken him from Beirut to the Beltway – from a war zone to an advisory role in the war rooms of two U.S. presidential campaigns. He has advised major political figures, including Hillary Clinton, Arlen Specter and John Kerry, and was described by the New York Times as “one of the most prominent political bloggers in the nation.” A consultant to the Clinton Global Initiative since its inception, he has organized media roundtables for President Bill Clinton and has crafted digital strategies for the UN Foundation, Department of Energy, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Intel, AARP, and Action Against Hunger, among others.

Peter grew up in Lebanon and lived through a decade of sectarian strife, undergoing three years of compulsory military service. He moved to New York City to attend NYU and has gone on to attain national recognition in three fields: as a blogger and activist, a political strategist, and, during the 90s, as a writer/producer. He is currently the CEO of True Blue Media and an adviser to organizations in Washington, DC and New York.

June 12, 2016, Pulse nightclub, Orlando, Florida. The deadliest single attack on the LGBT community in U.S. history was carried out by a hateful young American male. In the aftermath, the national media granted him the instant fame he sought, while Republicans reinforced his desire to make it about religion instead of what it really was: insecurity, hate and bloodlust.

It is reported that in the midst of slaughtering 49 beautiful souls and wounding dozens of others, the murderous young male who carried out the Orlando massacre wanted to know if the attack was trending on social media. Like so many other killers, he craved the public spotlight.

By plastering his selfies across their sites and on our airwaves, the national media have given him his wish on a silver platter. By some counts, MSNBC has featured his photo 500 times in the days following the attack, self-portraits of a mass murderer vacationing with his family, relaxing, posing, grinning.

Similarly, by focusing on his last-minute excuse that this was about Islam or some Mideast-based organization of other murderous males, Republicans have given him the false cover he sought for his bloodlust.

But according to news reports:

The Central Intelligence Agency chief has not been “able to uncover any link” between (the) Orlando killer and the Islamic State.

The fact is that this was the act of one individual, a horrendous person who made the personal choice to take innocent life. Across the globe, males like him make the same choice and carry out their heinous acts in myriad ways. Here in America, Republicans refuse to make it more difficult for people like him to get their hands on weapons of war.

Research tells us that somewhere between 95% and 98% of homicides are perpetrated by males. Whether these males slap a name like “ISIS” or “Boko Haram” on their violence, whether they invoke racism or misogyny or claim it has something to do with religious faith or some belief or grudge, it all boils down to one thing: Killing. Inflicting harm. Feeling the false sense of power that comes from spilling blood and taking life. False, because it is not power but cowardice that fuels these acts.

Continued at BNR

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