The British Media and the Cult of Disapproval

(Originally posted Wednesday November 12th 2008)

Some time ago now a professional footballer by the name of Luke McCormick was jailed for a period of seven years for the serious offence of causing the death of two young children while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The sentence was just and I fully agree with the fact that McCormick was guilty of a heinous and awful crime for which he will pay with seven years of his life and career as a sporting professional added to the fact that his name will be blackened by the affair for the rest of his life.

I was amazed though, by the lengths to which the media in this country will go to pull others into the spotlight and expose them to ridicule and harassment over what in reality is nothing.

After scoring a goal in a match, McCormick's former colleague and friend David Norris made a gesture in the air in celebration. The gesture involved him raising his arms above his head and crossing his wrists.

The gesture was immediately interpreted as being symbolic of handcuffs and intended for McCormick and Norris later confirmed that it was, stating: "Luke is a friend of mine...He mande a massive mistake."

Calls followed for all kinds of measures to be taken against Norris, suspension, fines, firing and all the usual hysterical outcries in the papers that he was a disgrace and disrespectful of the children killed by McCormick.

But no one seems to have thought very deeply about the issue, rather than just becoming outraged and demanding he be punished.

Norris made a gesture intended for a friend, to remind him that no matter how far away he is there are people who still love him and will be there for him.

McCormick is not a murderer, he is a fool who thought he could drive whilst drunk and he is paying the price for his crime.

No one has the right to deny McCormick the attention and affection of the friends who have chosen to stand by him and to object to even a simple gesture of solidarity and friendship like this is both churlish and gross on the part of the media.

The man has been sentenced and convicted for his crime, that is his punishment. It is not fair or just for the media to continue to punish an individual beyond this, prolonging the pain for both the victim's family and the criminal who must struggle with their guilt for the rest of their life.

When taken into addition that they are only doing this to sell papers, the act becomes sickening to a terrible degree.