Cascade Mall, Burlington, WA

First off, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and survivors.

Cascade Mall Shooting

Second, shooter is still at large!  Law Enforcement is asking for publics help in identifying the shooter.  Please see the link above for news report and pictures of the shooter.

FACTS (as we know them at this time):

1. Shooter entered Cascade Mall, left, in about 10 minutes he returned carrying a rifle, entering through a Macy’s store entrance.

2. Shooter shoot and killed 5 people; 4 women died at the scene and 1 man taken to Harborview Hospital where he died. Unconfirmed reports a witness stated the shooter called out a woman’s name before opening fire.

3. Shooter left his weapon, a long gun (rifle) on a counter at Macy’s department store.  The shooter left the scene before Law Enforcement arrived at the mall.  Witnesses stated they saw a man fitting the description of shooter walk through the mall parking lot towards Interstate 5.

4. Shooter description: 5’9”, dark hair, early 20’s, slender to athletic build. Original witness reports stated the shooter was “possibly Hispanic”.  Updated reports by Law Enforcement state they are unsure if shooter is “Latino or not”.

5. At this time, Law Enforcement have not identified the shooter.  Law Enforcement is asking for anyone with information to contact them.  Contact Skagit County investigators at: 360-428-3211.

As of this time, there is no update expected from law enforcement because there is nothing new to report.  All energies and resources are dedicated to finding the shooter.  Once there is more information available, law enforcement from all the agencies will partake in a news conference.

There are a lot of people making unsubstantiated claims as if the claims are fact and they are not. No identity has been given of the shooter.  It is unclear of his nationality, race, or religion.  Please do not stir the hate by projecting these false claims; it does not help the situation.

The important issue at this moment is to find the shooter.

For updates and more detailed information you can twitter:

@rstevenm80 @MariaKIRO7 #CascadeMall #Burlington

R martin

What is the Truth, Right or Wrong

Say it enough, tell one person, who tells 2 people, who tell 4 people, and so on; you know how it goes.  Next thing you know it is considered the truth or the way it is.

Starting as infants we are taught right from wrong. If we are taught left is right and right is left, as you grow you will call your left hand your right. If you are taught it is wrong to go around naked, you will believe that, but is it really? If you were raised that going naked is okay, there is nothing wrong with being naked, you would believe just that.

If everyone you know and everything you read says a person or organization believes/supports nonviolence, you will believe it even if you don’t have all the facts or a partial shred of proof.

So if almost every media outlet or news story says one thing, it doesn’t matter if it’s an opinion or factual; it becomes the truth in many peoples eyes.

Believe it or not, agree or not, this is brainwashing.

High profile protests, generalizing statements using keywords are inciting riots, hatred and racism. Most of us have heard or saw news reporting protests because a black person is shot.

Taking to the streets, the protesters signs in hand and chanting, have been building ill feelings towards all law enforcement, not just the officer involved in the shooting but all officers and at times towards a race of people.

Protesters have waved signs and chanted “whites are the devil”.  Yet these same protesters are saying they suffer from racism, discrimination profiling and targeted violence. Say it enough and it becomes truth imbedding in peoples lives, including the younger generations.

Are these protesters suffering from racism, discrimination, profiling and targeted violence, in some cases, yes they are. That is not the debate or bases or topic of this article.

As a young child I was taught skin color, religion or male/female, it doesn’t matter, we are all equal. Process of change had already started and what I was being taught was evident.  I have see the change, for the better; I see less racism today than I saw as a child. I see more equality among people than I saw as a child.

Does bigotry and sexism still exist? Yes it does.  Is it better than it was before?  I believe it is, at least from what I see. No I am not black or a female. I am white and a male. My view is not as in-depth as the people experiencing the inequality, racism and sexism, but on the surface I do see the change, in-depth view of white males (at least a lot of them) in the United States.

Do we really want to regress? No, I don’t think so. Yet when protesters are standing in the street yelling and screaming, waving signs stating a certain ethic group are devils, or a certain sexual orientation is evil, that is exactly what is happening.

It is not all whites or blacks that are the devil, racist or preach equality while degrading, belittling, and teaching hate.  It is only some people no matter the race, religion, or sex.

Martin Luther King, Jr. in my opinion was the greatest civil rights movement activists.  He was a man, before my time, a man I wish I could have met, sat and spoke with, a man with a message to many people have forgotten.  Message of love, respect, equality and nonviolence.

Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy.”

“I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is to great a burden to bear.”

Martin Luther King Jr. marched in peace.  Mr. King Jr. protested in peace.  This man drew tens of thousands of people to follow, protest and march with him, keeping to nonviolence.  He lead by example.

Martin Luther King Jr. did not just protest about equal rights, he acknowledged not all people of any one color or religious belief contained hate or racism in their hearts, mind or emotions.

Martin Luther King Jr. knew, to be heard by the masses, violence and hatred could have no part in protests.  He knew he had to lead by example. He knew he had to lead with…. respect.  He treated himself with respect, he treated his protesters with respect and he treated those he protested against with respect.

Are all whites, blacks, Muslims, Christians, bad? Repressive? Racist? Ignorant? Sexist? NO! Generalizing groups of people is prejudice.

The truth or appearance of truth

Protesters have the right to voice their opinion, free speech, it is guaranteed by the Constitution.  Time and time again we have seen protesters rising up, demanding equal rights AND spewing hatred, racism, PREJUDICE. The same they are protesting against. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Unfortunately, younger generations are learning it is okay to be violent, it is okay to hate, it is okay to prejudice.  It is not.  Recent protests are teaching only half truths, stop the prejudice and inequality.  The protests are teaching lies, it is okay to be hateful, it is okay to be violent.

Again, say it enough, see it enough and it becomes acceptable, the way of life… or truth.

Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I hope I have done you, your quotes and your memory justice.

With respect,

R martin

#BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, #PoliceMatter, #Respect, #MLK,  #protest,

Journalism, CNN No Bias

Journalism, unbiased reporting of news, events, incidents and note worthy topics. I am not including opinion pieces, as opinion and editorial pieces do not necessarily fall under the ethics of true journalism.

Opinions, well everyone has an opinion, everyone has the right to voice their opinion and opinions are not regulated by what use to be the teachings of journalistic ethics and standards.

Ethics and standards of journalism

The basic teachings (and seem to be most forgotten of late) include fairness, integrity, truthfulness, accuracy, and objectivity.  Through in accountability and professionalism to round off how a journalist is suppose to act.

CNN

Apparently, some at CNN feels they have the right to put words in someone’s mouth, I.e., Donald Trump.  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated there is a need for profiling, such as Israel profiles when there is suspicious behavior. At no time did Donald Trump say anything about race, religion or sexual orientation.

However, CNN reported not only in an article but also in headlines using the word “racial” in his comments. Trump did not at anytime use the word racial or any word hinting at race or anything particular type of profiling other than saying to do it like Israel.

So did CNN stick to the standard of journalistic ethics? Was CNN’s reporting truthful? Accurate? Fair? Objective? No to all of these questions.

Once again the media did not represent unbiased reporting.  Once again the media openly supporting Hillary Clinton for president, throws out the race card. Again, as with the “Make America Great Again”, media jumps on a band wagon promoting false statements in an attempt to make someone out as a racist or their statements promoting racism.

CNN showed poor journalistic skills, flat out lied. CNN needs to report the truth, not insinuate or make it appear a person’s comment needs to be taken a particular way when it is not what the person said.

CNN is intentionally making false statements, reporting them as truths in the attempt to rally people against Donald Trump.

Why can’t the  media just do their job the way they are suppose to? Just give us the truth, unbiased, accurate and objective. If it’s going to be an opinion piece, fine, but state it as an opinion piece, not as fact.

R martin

Has Political Correctness Endangered US?

Is it a bomb or not? Original reports stated there was an explosion in Chelsea, New York and a second “device” was found near the area of the explosion.

Bomb

The definition of a bomb: an item filled with destructive material, explosive material, gas, smoke or incendiary material designed in such a way to explode on impact or setoff by a remote control device, time device, or fuse.

The Device

The device found close to the scene of the explosion was a “pressure cooker with wires connecting a cell phone…pressure cooker containing with explosive material, bearings and bb’s”.

The item – a pressure cooker, the remote control device – cell phone, contents – explosive material, bearings and bb’s.  Looks like a duck, acts like a duck, it is a duck.  Looks like a bomb, acts like a bomb, it is a… BOMB!

Donald Trump

Presidential candidate came out publicly a bomb had exploded in Chelsea, New York.  Media has come out against presidential candidate Donald Trump for calling it a “bomb”; the media said there was no confirmation a bomb was involved despite the discover a second “device”.

Hillary Clinton

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton slammed Trump for calling it a bomb, yet within minutes she was calling it a bomb, before law enforcement (on live TV) said a “bomb exploded” in Chelsea, NY.

Media Bias

As Donald Trump was vocal about a bomb exploding and a second bomb being found, the media was quick to respond.  Not only providing news of the incident but the media also attempted to turn people against Trump by saying Trump had no evidence it was a bomb. In fact some media outlets reported the explosion might have been a gas leak even after law enforcement stated it was a bomb.  Media also chose the words “explosive device” instead of the word “bomb” while the media went on a rampage against Trump for using the word bomb.

Once Hillary Clinton used the word bomb (by mistake?), the media did not go after her for using the word bomb instead of the phrase “explosive device”.

To the media, to those wishing to be politically correct, and those thinking there is a difference, looking it up, “explosive device” and “bomb” are the same thing.

If you want to use the phrase “explosive device” or the word “bomb”, fine, great, it is what it is.  But don’t say an explosion with undetermined original is what it is even after law enforcement states it is a bomb or explosive device.

My Thought

Don’t go after any person political candidate or not when the person uses the word “bomb”.  Furthermore, if the media is going after one candidate for using the word bomb, then go after both.  If you don’t it is considered bias. And the some media, far, left liberal reporters say the media is treating Donald Trump with a soft touch.  Read the interviews, that is definitely not the case.

Black Lives Matter, Where Are You?

Phoenix, suspect “allegedly” attempts to run down 3 police officers. http://abcnews.go.com/US/surveillance-video-shows-moment-suspect-run-phoenix-police/story?id=42068647

Philadelphia, suspect goes on deadly shooting spree, first ambushing an officer and then killing one person and wounding 5 others. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/17/anti-cop-note-found-at-scene-deadly-philly-rampage-gunman-identified.html

Where is Black Lives Matter group?

Why are they not out protesting Phoenix? Is it because the suspect is black? Is it because the police officers are white?

Why are they not out protesting in Philadelphia? Again, is it because the suspect is black? Or is it because the ambushed officer is black and so was the shooter?

These are both excellent opportunities for the Black Lives Matter organization to speak up.  Why? Because it was a black officer that was shot!  It should not matter the color of the suspect (or the officer for that matter but to prove a point), but Black Lives Matter should be standing up and protesting the violence against the black officer.

I find it interesting (in a reverse discrimination sort of way) a black man shoots a black officer and there is no protest.  The reverse of an incident in Milwaukee that lead to civil unrest when it was first reported the shooting involved a white officer shooting a black suspect. Shortly (a couple of days later) it was confirmed the black suspect was actually shot buy a black officer.

Black Lives Matters should also be standing up and protesting FOR the officers.  This is a prime opportunity to protest against violence against police officers and ANY person by black people or any person for that matter.

Black Lives Matters seeks headlines promotes them only if it fits their “cause”.  Even though, according to Black Lives Matter website, the organization is promoting the end to violence against blacks. Well, the officer shot in Philly, is black! So protest!! I mean it!  If Black Lives Matter wants the country to get behind their cause, they should be protesting at every turn when violence is involved with a black person whether they are the victim or the suspect.

Unfortunately, there is no sensational headlines to be made from a black person shooting a black officer.  It does not draw in as many readers, therefore, not as much advertising dollars and that is why most major news media offered little to no news reporting.  It is also the same reason Black Lives Matters did not protest, there would be few from the public to get “mad” and protest and there would not be as much media attention to further their cause.

All lives matter!

R martin