Thursday, February 5, 2015

In Defense of Brian Williams

Did you know that John Adams defended the British soldiers who were on trial for the Boston Massacre? This isn't as historic, but it is definitely something. I'm going to defend Brian Williams. Not because he's innocent. He obviously isn't. And not because he shouldn't be shamed and ridiculed for this. He obviously should be. But because there is a larger problem here than the misremberings of television news personality.

In what will be my first of two points, I find it rather ridiculous that news has evolved to the point that newscasters, reporters and news personalities have become a piece of every story. Not just the firebrand talking heads who make a lot noise for a cause or a side and then play off of that. I'm talking about the fact that these people go to war zones and disaster areas and involve themselves. What was Brian Williams doing in Iraq that could not have been covered by someone else? What did he add to the coverage of Iraq? He added Brian Williams. The story wasn't Iraq, it was Brian Williams in Iraq. So why would anyone be surprised that he would interject himself into something bigger and more fascinating?

These men and women make themselves the story. They need to. It is how they justify their positions and their salaries. But when did this start? When did we start giving a shit about who covers the item? It doesn't really matter. Does it? Not to me. But anyone on television has a fan base. That's how they exist. And even the "non-fictional" world of news has "characters" that attract fans that keep their television programs going. So this need to create characters to satisfy our need for entertainment comes from where? Obviously the ease of information. We can have information in seconds. Straight into our hands. Why do we need Brian Williams? Apparently we need him so chicanery can happen and he can report on it.

My second point in defense of Brian Williams. Who the fuck believe that story?

That's it. That's my second point. Who the fuck believed that?

In closing I will reiterate the same things you've heard and thought. He's a tool and liar and his excuse was lame as hell. Blah blah blah.