Mass Media’s Orlando Mistake

Posted on by sambecker23

— Disclaimer: In this post I will be writing about the mass media’s reporting of the events that occurred at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. I will not be speculating on any of the motives or details of the events; I will only be commenting on the media’s coverage and response. —

It is an irrefutable fact that the events that unfolded in Orlando on Sunday, June 12th are tragic to say the least. I woke up on Sunday the 12th to a barrage of notifications on my iPhone from CNN and the Associated Press, briefing me on the morning’s events. The media was reporting facts, which is their place in events such as this. The initial reporting appeared to be covered well, but as more information on the suspected attacker was released, the media made it viral.

4The newspaper that I read most frequently is The Brookings Register. Monday’s edition had the headline ‘Worst mass shooting in U.S.’ as the full-color feature story above the fold. Obviously, the Register didn’t have a reporter at the scene in Orlando, so instead they published the reporting of Jason Dearen of the Associated Press. The piece is accurate and
unbiased, but I have one major problem with it. He begins the third paragraph with the sentence ‘Authorities say that suspect **** ****** emerged…’

You most likely noticed that I did not mention the suspected attacker’s name. The article did mention the suspect’s name, but there is a very good reason why I refuse to share the suspect’s name or photograph. Today’s media is creating martyrs. Radicals of any gender, religion, sexuality, or any other groups see the attacker and the cause he fought for plastered all over the internet, television and radio and they might think- ‘That could be me. The whole world could see me and what I died for and I can inspire others to follow in my tracks.’

It is time for the media to stop martyring people. I do not mean to stop reporting on breaking news. There is no way that the media can not show the suspect’s picture or share their name, but they should not be sharing it as much as they do. It seems like every time I turn on the
news I see the suspect’s face and name as well as everything else the media can find out about them.

To summarize in one sentence: Don’t give radicals what they want- martyrdom.

‘It’s a Beautiful Day’-U2

Posted on by sambecker23

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There’s no room
No space to rent in this town

You’re out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you’re not moving anywhere

You thought you’d found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away

You’re on the road
But you’ve got no destination
You’re in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn’t ring true
You’ve been all over
And it’s been all over you

It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
It’s a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I’m not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I’m not a hopeless case

What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
Don’t need it now
Was a beautiful day

-U2, Beautiful Day

Having spent the last couple of days driving across North Dakota and Montana, I’ve had ample time to listen to music and think. Half way across North Dakota the song Beautiful Day by U2 came on my iPhone. I’ve always liked this song but it wasn’t until recently that I really read the lyrics, and you know what? Every day is a beautiful day. No matter how bad the times are; no matter how down on your luck you are; if you woke up in the morning, it is a beautiful day. With everything that’s happened to me recently, I have discovered that every day is a beautiful day. So, keep your head up. Things will get better. It might take time, but hard times will pass and you will get to ‘that other place’ where troubles are few.

An Open Letter to South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard

Posted on by sambecker23

Governor Daugaard:

I’m writing to urge you to veto HB 1008—harmful legislation that specifically targets transgender students, prohibiting them from using restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

This legislation, which requires every student provide a birth certificate or blood test as a condition for using the bathroom, is an affront to our South Dakotan values of liberty rooted in small government. It strips school districts of local authority to handle each unique case by putting it in the hands of the state government. But not just that, if signed into law, it would mean real consequences—and financial burden—for our economy and school districts across the state. HB 1008 mandates that school districts find their own legal representation for costly and time consuming lawsuits and administrative complaints that are likely to arise, as well as cover all damages incurred. This puts school districts in impossible position of determining whether to follow state or federal law and face repercussions no matter what they decide. 
And because HB 1008 specifically encourages discrimination on the basis of gender identity—which has been interpreted by the Department of Education to be covered under existing “sex” non-discrimination protections, this bill puts federal funding at risk. Specifically, the discriminatory intent of HB 1008 could jeopardize $205 million in Department of Education funding that accounts for 14.6% of the state’s education income and fuels critical programs like special education, math & science partnerships, rural school programs and food assistance.

The eyes of the nation are on South Dakota—and the state cannot afford to go down this dangerous, costly road. I respectfully ask that you please stand with the people of South Dakota by rejecting this harmful bill.
Sincerely, 

Samuel Becker

An Open Letter to Senator Mitch McConnell

Posted on by sambecker23

Senator McConnell-

I am writing in response to your recent comments regarding President Obama’s replacement of SCOTUS justice Antonin Scalia. You were quoted saying “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”

The American people DID and DO have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice. The American people chose to elect Barack Obama in 2008 as well as in 2012. The American people HAVE SPOKEN as to who they want to appoint the next Supreme Court justice- and that is the job of the president, CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE.

Frankly, I am disgusted by your promise to block anyone that President Obama nominates to fill the open justice position. You swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and I cannot find a clause that states “…except when there’s a year left in the term of a Democratic President.”

Republicans talk a lot about respecting the constitution, and by promising to block any nomination, you are disrespecting and disregarding the Constitution that you swore to uphold. Additionally, in 2005, you stated “The majority in the Senate is prepared to restore the Senate’s traditions and precedents to ensure that regardless of party, any president’s judicial nominees, after full and fair debate, receive a simple up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. It is time to move away from advise and obstruct and get back to advise and consent.”

What changed between 2005 and today? Do your job and uphold the constitution, get over your blind hatred for Obama, and do your job.

Thank you,

Samuel Becker

I’m adopted. So why am I pro choice?

Posted on by sambecker23

As many of you may know, I am adopted. I was adopted at birth through an open adoption (I actually talk to my birth mom quite a bit). One question I typically get when people find out that I am adopted is ‘If you’re adopted, then why are you pro-choice?’ The answer to this question is actually pretty simple.

This post was inspired by a notification on my iPhone stating that there is yet another abomination of a bill being introduced in the South Dakota State Senate that would block abortions after 20 weeks. At least it’s not banning abortions entirely, but whatever. Anyway, back to the topic at hand- my views on abortion.

I am pro choice and proud of it. The main reason for my views is that I am a male. I do not have a vagina. I am not capable of having a child- so how can I say whether or not a female can have a child? Republicans call themselves pro-life, but in reality, they are giving an unborn fetus more rights than the woman carrying it. That’s right, republicans are giving something that has not even been born yet more rights than a living human being, and what’s more, republicans don’t give two shits about the child once it is born. All they care about is protecting the unborn child while throwing female rights under the bus. Oh, what am I saying. Republicans don’t believe in female rights anyway, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
In short, I am pro choice due to the fact that what a woman does with her body and what’s inside of it is none of my damn business. I am a male, so I should have zero choice over what a woman does with their body. I also support equality and women’s rights. I just wish the bigoted white republicans in congress could see the world the same way and stand up for women’s rights.

What happened to Christmas Eve?

Posted on by sambecker23

Christmas sure has changed over the years. For everyone in the world, but also for me and my family. I spent the majority of Christmas Eve this year at Brookings First United Methodist Church, where I am a sound and lighting engineer. It was weird to sit and think back to how Christmas Eve used to be as a child.

IMG_0613

Christmas Eve always used to be the day of waiting. Waiting to eat, waiting until our mandatory attendance of church, waiting until grandma and grandpa came over, and waiting until after dinner when we got to open our one christmas present. Christmas Eve used to be the day of extreme boredom- of being so thoroughly bored that I decided to learn how to tie a tie many years ago out of sheer boredom. At some point, all of that changed.

Christmas Eve has somehow become one of the busiest days of my year. I usually arrive at the church around 8am and do not leave until about 1 or 2am on Christmas Day. Yesterday was a pretty crazy day. I am very appreciative of my fellow staff and volunteers at Brookings 1st UMC for making Christmas Eve so memorable for the hundreds of people who worship in our facility- I wouldn’t have made it through yesterday without their help and support. I am also very appreciative of my fantastic girlfriend for helping keep me sane on this difficult day.

I’m not exactly sure what happened to Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s all a part of growing up, or did something make it change? I’ve been told that I have always been mature for my age, but still, something changed. I can’t exactly put my finger on what, but Christmas just feels different now. Traditions have changed, and I am spending more time working than I do at home. Maybe I’ll be able to revert to the carefree, boring Christmas Eve in my old age, but I’m not holding out hope.

That’s all for now.