I, like every other decent American in this GREAT country, was saddened and aghast at the senseless killing of George Floyd. I was even more disappointed with the rioting and looting that followed. It seemed that some people immediately began to lose their heads after a wrongful death. I don’t know why they looted; maybe they thought it would get people’s attention. If that was their goal, they certainly achieved it. This whole experience has shown me the power the mainstream media has in our lives and the widespread loss of an attribute only humans have: the ability to think and reason for ourselves.

Less than two weeks ago, if I was asked what the biggest influence in my life was, I would have said COVID-19. I think everyone reading this right now would have agreed. Now, I would probably say the rioting and looting because of a man’s wrongful death is the greatest influence. It is crazy to me that the media can talk about something for three months straight, then drop it like flipping a switch to talk about something else. I have not heard a whisper of COVID-19 since May 25. It almost makes me think that it’s gone. 

I am probably different than most people; I tend to read and watch different sources of news. For example, if you mostly watch CNN, watch Fox News sometimes and vice versa. I thought at the time, and still believe now, that the police officer that knelt on the neck of Floyd for nearly nine minutes was in the wrong. I also believe he should go to jail for what he did. However, I do not believe rioting and looting Target stores will change anything. 

It is amazing to me that so many people rely on the news to tell them how to feel about something. 

The news is there to inform, not to tell how to react. 

I believe the people who were rioting and looting completely forgot to think about what they were doing in the present moment and acted irrationally. They completely lost sight of why they were peacefully protesting to begin with. I completely believe in our right to peacefully protest and assemble. However, I do not believe in causing riots, blocking off roads and robbing stores. 

I believe every American must be able to collect the information they receive from mainstream sources, sort through it and make a rational decision for themselves. I also think we need to listen to more than one source of our information. For, as the saying goes, “There are two sides to every story.”

I personally believe the Black Lives Matter movement has a good purpose: to prevent racism. However, I also believe racism is not as common as we are led to believe. Racism of any kind is a terrible act and should not be condoned, but I think the mainstream media has an agenda and portraying America as a very racist country fits very well into that agenda. We must be able to think for ourselves and make a rational decision. If we as Americans lose the ability to make rational decisions, riots will begin to become a common theme of American life.