I’m going to preface this column by saying that I’m not some left-wing Socialist, I’m not a political hack, I’m not a radical whatever, I’m not …
What I am is a lover of America, a true patriot and someone who knows how to fold a flag properly. Those are my roots and they will never be changed.
Recently, I watched with astonishment (and horror) as journalist Don Lemon was arrested for covering a story. The government claims he was instigating a group of people who were protesting at a church in Minneapolis.
The government is wrong.
I want to make it clear here, I really don’t have feelings one way or another about Lemon. Sure, I’ve known who he is for a long time. I’ve watched him on occasion, but I’ve never really “followed” his career.
What I do know is he is a respected journalist who went through turmoil at CNN. I can relate to this; I’ve lost a few jobs in my life for standing upon my principles.
Lemon then entered the world of “independent journalist,” which, I will say, is a little different territory. These days, anyone can claim they are a journalist or a photographer or a filmmaker.
However, in this case, Lemon is a career journalist who is respected by his peers and many in the public. He knows how to be a journalist which means he knows the rules and obligations we all have when it comes to reporting the news.
But Lemon isn’t the only journalist who has been arrested and questioned by our current government. The government searched the house of a Washington Post reporter — for covering a story.
If you are tired of me harping lately about the free press, feel “free” to move along to the next page.
But I am adamant about journalism and the role it plays in our society. It’s one of the most important roles imaginable.
Let me give you a case in point.
Recently, a friend of mine told me about someone he knew who wanted to buy a house but just didn’t have the money for a down payment. I quickly remembered a story we did a couple of weeks ago about a program being offered by the state which allows qualified people to get a grant to pay the down payment.
I quickly sent it to my friend.
That’s journalism, folks.
It’s not all bad guys and courtrooms. Most of the time it’s informing the public with vital information they can use to help better themselves.
I could give example after example of this type of journalism and how it can help people.
But there is also the other side of the coin; the one where Lemon comes into play.
There’s little question turmoil has erupted in Minnesota. If you ask me, it was planned from the beginning. If you really want to extricate illegal people in this country, you start in Texas, Florida and Arizona, where there is a much higher percentage of those folks.
Why Minnesota?
Seems obvious to me.
But be that as it may, when it became Minnesota, it’s only natural journalists were going to flock to the area and begin covering the story — good, bad or ugly. That’s what we in the profession do and it’s how the Founding Fathers wanted it to unfold.
You see, we have this thing called a Constitution; I would suggest some people brush up on what it actually says.
It’s called the “first” amendment for a reason. The Founders knew freedom of the press, along with religion, assembly and grievances, were the top priority. They knew the public needed to be informed of the goings on inside the government.
And they knew it would not always be pretty. In fact, coming from a corrupt kingdom, they almost certainly knew it would rarely be pretty.
But they knew.
Here we are, about to mark 250 years of our country (give or take, depending on how you see it), and journalists are getting arrested for doing their jobs.
As I said to begin this column, political leanings should matter not when it comes to protecting individual freedoms. (I am curious what some people think about the government saying guns should not be allowed at protests or even in Washington, D.C. Do you agree?)
It’s the same principle.
Journalists are independent in many ways, including the laws designed to protect our sources and to inform the public of the truth, not some whitewashing the government would like you to believe.
Yet too many people believe we are all evil, left-wing anarchists who are out to get anyone who doesn’t share our views.
Sorry, but my views are only shared on our opinion pages. Otherwise, we cover the news straight up with honesty and do everything humanly possible to tell all sides.
Some people also believe the government is always telling them the truth about everything. I hate to break this, but governments led by all political stripes try to spin it to their own favor.
That goes straight to the heart of why journalism is such an important cog in the wheel of America. It’s the basis for why the Founders wrote the First Amendment in the manner they did and the reason it is so foundational to our country.
For decades, many administrations — of both political parties — have tried to suppress the news and paint the press as the bad guys who are just looking for that next big story. But in most cases, all these political leaders could do was bluster and then watch as stories — all true — came out showing they were, in fact, doing bad deeds.
Can you say Richard Millhouse Nixon?
Now, however, the game has changed. The government today seems to think they are empirical rulers who can simply arrest people, journalists in particular, who are doing their jobs.
That’s called tyranny, folks.
And it cannot be tolerated.
Don Lemon is no martyr or hero. He’s a well-established journalist who was onto a story in the hotbed of Minneapolis, which has been the target of ICE and the government since the word was given.
Lemon had every right to be asking questions and filming what was taking place. That’s the protection the law in America gives to legitimate, working journalists. Why aren’t they arresting the idiot talking heads who spew lie after lie? Because they are lying in favor of the government.
I am not saying there aren’t bad journalists. Just like any profession, from teachers to lawyers to law enforcement, there are bad apples that can ruin the bunch.
Lemon is not one of those. Yet he has been targeted by an out of control U.S. Justice Department that claims they are seeking the “worst of the worst,” but good journalism has proven that to be far from the case.
Maybe that’s why they are so trigger happy. They know their plan has not unfolded as promised, yet they will never admit to being wrong and adjusting course. Instead, they will target journalists and peaceful protesters and claim they are breaking the law.
Many have said we need a “reset” when it comes to what is unfolding. That may be true, but what we really need is for those in power to actually read the Constitution, the law and the First Amendment and abide by all.
But that would be too hard. It’s much easier to blame others and claim it’s for the good of the people.
But which people?
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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