Brian Williams–Some thoughts

I am confused about the Brian Williams suspension and I do not agree with it.

I understand the reason for the suspension but I think the punishment is too severe. ( I should preface my comments by stating that I do not like the news media.)  I do not like how management deals with employees.  I do not think the practices and policies are fair and impartial or equally applied. Brian Williams is a prime example.  If I understand the facts, Brian claimed that he was in more danger or on a plane that he was not on in the war zone.  He was however in the war zone. He apologized and admitted that he had exaggerated and his bosses took the position that they do not take “sorry”. I believe that this is the first and only time that he has been caught in a lie. He did not destroy the reputation of another or hurt another.  He made his work seem more dangerous than it was. Brian and Geraldo Rivera are not on the same level but one wonders how Geraldo and others are on any television show at all based on their lack of truth and the harm they do to others. Have people forgotten the Jimmy Hoffa fiasco. Geraldo also  caused and innocent 18 year old black boy to be prosecuted when a naked girl who was “high on drugs” hit his first new car and he did not have insurance and got angry at her.  The boy did not touch or harm her in any way.  She was “high out of her head on PCP and other drugs and very paranoid”.  Geraldo distorted the facts so much in this case that the kid was charged with a crime and prosecuted when the girl jumped in the water with everyone begging her not to jump.  Anyone would have been upset in his situation.  He was only 18 with hopes of being a professional football player after attending Michigan State only to have all of his dreams destroyed because of the distortion of facts by the media. Brian only harmed himself. Geraldo was not a news person or acting in a journalist role in this situation.  So this is not exactly a good comparison.  Other reporters are falsifying stories and reports in other markets and there are no repercussions for their falsehoods.  Steve Fullhart and Holly Huffman did not lose their jobs when they totally made up stories about me and others. These reporter implied that I had told them these lies and I had never spoken to them and their reports were totally untrue.  Moreover, there are no reports that Brian has falsified stories or misrepresented facts about others. The harm in this case is to Brian, himself.

I do not know Brian Williams.  He appears to have lived and reported the news with integrity in the past. I do not think this one mistake should ruin his lifetime body of work.  God loves Brian Williams.  He is too precious to lose.  I believe his punishment is too severe. He has been a good and honest reporter. This one mistake should not ruin his career. Children learn to lie when they are first punished for telling the truth.  Brian admitted that he lied and apologized.   He told the truth albeit after being exposed.  Let’s not teach him to be a liar in the future. He who is without sin throw the first stone.  Only Christ was perfect.