Friend's reaction to the "News"

I sent out a link to a HotAir piece by Michelle Malkin about the horrific rape, torture, mutilation and murder of a couple in Tennessee. Watch the story, first.

A Horror Story the MSM Won't Tell

I got this in response from a friend. With permission, I and post it in it's entirety.

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You know that if the victims had been black, this thing would have had some serious legs. It would have been a landmark case that brought out all the vermin like Sharpton, Jackson etc. It really is curious that this did not get more play. They say that only two of them may face capital punishment. Is there a single person there that shouldn’t be strung up? Is the politically correct thing gone so far beyond where it should be that white people don’t feel right about making a fuss over this. Or is the crime so horrible that we don’t want to examine it too closely in the light of day because we might have to admit that our fears and prejudices might be justified? I think the media is afraid of bringing up the black/white aspect of this thing because it is so volatile that the news outlet itself would be the target of criticism and rancor. I think there are a lot of reasons why this thing played out the way it did, and Malkin’s point has some merit too. It is scary that the media reporting is actually shaping our reactions to things, and is actually influencing society to place value on things that are meaningless and ignoring things that should have us marching in the streets. It is absolutely repulsive that they focus on celebrities and other mindless crap to the extent that they do. The Anna Nicole thing? Are you shitting me? It is still going on. A trailer trash slut gets daily coverage for months at a time? But they are in competition for viewers and they will air what they think will garner the largest audience. They trade their integrity for ratings, and even if individuals within the media abhor this strategy, they are fighting an uphill battle because that is not what they sell anymore. The fact that you have to actively seek out real news is horrible. But that is where we are at. I blame television. It now tells us what to think, what is cool, what is important, what to buy, who to like, what to wear. And we worship at that altar. I think a hundred years from now, social scientists will be able to examine TV’s negative influence and recognize how it dragged us down. I see the effect it has on my kids and their friends and I worry about what it will mean long term. The trash shows and “news” magazines” are so bad now what will they show 10 years from now to get ratings. Wow, what a rant !!!I I’m exhausted.