I'm getting really sick and tired of listening to journalists and news anchors -- who purport to represent an impartial, objective disposition-- heap judgement upon judgement onto public figures who have had a 'fall from grace.'
Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto, is the easiest target these days. I watched Carol Costello (I think that's her name) on CNN a couple of days ago asking one of her guest pundits, "Why isn't this man in jail; why hasn't he been charged with a crime; he's publicly admitted to smoking crack, why hasn't he been arrested???"
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| Carol Costello |
First of all, Ms Costello, you need to tone down the cosmetic facial surgery -- it's starting to show a bit too much through the hi-def TV screen. You need to pace yourself, my dear, with those collagen or botox injections or whatever the hell it is you're doing to make yourself look like Ms. Potato Head.
Second of all, stop asking stupid questions. A journalist in your position -- a relatively powerful position -- has millions of Americans tune in every morning to watch the 'news' and many of them actually agree with you and your opinions. So, when it comes to stupid questions, your should really do your homework before spitting indignation in every direction. You need to learn the answers to said stupid questions before asking them in such a dramatic, exasperating way.
Here's the deal, at least in the U.S., Canada and any other constitutional democracy (with very few exceptions). It is not against any law to simply admit to using drugs. This should be pretty obvious, and the fact that someone who has reached the position of CNN news anchor does not know that no crime has been committed upon the simple admittance or confession of the use of drugs, is sad, negligent and misleading. Because the tone in which such questions are asked give the impression that the simple consumption of an illicit substance, whether it be crack cocaine, marijuana, prescription meds, etc. should be dealt with from a law enforcement angle. But more importantly, it drives home the old stigma that those who have abused drugs are immoral, bad, shameful people. This is a major component of the larger issue that results in the stigma of drug addiction being perpetuated continuously in our 'civilized' world. In other words, because that fat man said he smoked crack, he is a bad, bad human being and should be in jail.
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| Rob Ford |
Ms. Costello, it is a crime to possess illegal drugs and it is a crime to sell or traffic illicit drugs. It is not a crime to smoke, snort, inject, or otherwise consume anything, unless you can catch the person in the act while he/she is still in 'possession' of the substance. So, no, you can't throw a guy in jail for saying "I smoked crack." And to even imply that an obviously sick man should be criminally prosecuted for certain legal manifestations of a complicated disease (i.e., addiction), is irresponsible and reckless.
And to all of you other news people in positions of influence, stop the judgement already. Not only is it hypocritical (I've personally seen and been around many media people who were wired on cocaine, MDMA, and assorted other treats, for example), but it is also false. So cut the bullshit, look in the mirror and focus on the cracks in that made-by-botox face of yours and reflect on this for a moment. Before you judge a sick man, try to fix your own sickness.
-peace/warm regards:
jeremy
