I ask myself if the media is aware of what it is doing. Just over one week ago, Richard Jewell stood up in the face of danger and saved the lives of innocent people in the Atlanta bombing.
This man was regarded as a hero by his peers and by his nation, if not by the world community. In a time when heroes, especially in America, are so hard to come by, this man's actions stood out if not simply by the fact that they are so rare.
Not less than seven days later, the man was questioned as to what he was doing in the vicinity. Within minutes headlines across the world, this paper included, were carrying headlines claiming, 'Hero now suspect'.
This individual who has not been charged with a crime now has his picture in papers as well as the details of his career and family history. The press is trying to find out any unsavoury facts to convict Mr Jewell while the FBI searches his house and confiscates his belongings.
What effect will this have on the next hero to be? Will he or she jump to the rescue of innocent bystanders or will our future heroes stop and think about having their lives turned upside down by a media machine that will take their lives apart. We can only hope that the future heroes will not even hesitate for a moment, for that moment may make the difference between life and death.
ADAM SINGER Central
