Time Served.....Is That Enough?

A few months ago, I wrote a post disgusted at the way in which Chris Brown was carrying himself when he trashed an ABC studio in Manhattan, NY. I feel that the post was justified because at that time, he was acting like a spoiled rich kid with self-entitlement issues! (See post here http://tinyurl.com/3g5wcen)


But now my question is, when is enough enough? Chris Brown recently performed on The Today Show setting a record with 18,000 fans in attendance. However, that's not the story that Fox News decided to focus on. They attacked Chris Brown for his past mistakes and criticized NBC for allowing "such a person" to have as host Laura Ingraham called it..."top billing". She went on to say that by NBC allowing him to perform and that many fans showing up to support him, all of those people in effect were "rewarding bad behavior". You can see the Laura Ingraham story here (http://tinyurl.com/3vk4wzt).


Let's get this out of the way first....IN NO WAY TO I ADVOCATE WHAT CHRIS BROWN DID TO RIHANNA! I think it's abhorrent, deplorable, and down right evil to physically harm or abuse a woman.


But now that we're almost about 3 years past this incident between these two superstars...isn't it about time we move on? It certainly appears that Rihanna has moved on, and Chris is apparently trying to as well. But for some reason, certain media outlets just can't allow this to die down. They're still treating Chris like the events that took place in that car happened three weeks ago, not three years ago.


It kills me how so many in the news/media world have such STRONG beliefs and feelings toward Chris Brown even though he went through the judicial system, plead guilty, was sentenced and served that sentence. Now after he's completed his required community service, anger management, etc., there are still people who feel that he doesn't deserve to work again? He doesn't deserve to try to rebuild his career? He doesn't get to to back to having freeness of speech as an artist? 


Was it necessary for Fox to go out to where the "Today Show" was doing their concert to start asking fans if their being in attendance was "rewarding bad behavior"? Did they need to have a photo of a bruised and hurt Rihanna out on the street asking if Chris Brown deserves to have this kind of attention because of what he did to Rihanna? I think it's embarrassing that a station such as Fox would allow their show hosts to go so far as to call Chris Brown one of the most degrading misogynistic artists that are out today! Especially when there are many others much worse than Chris Brown.


Like I said before...I don't agree with, approve of, or support what Chris Brown did to Rihanna. And yes....I do believe he hit her. We don't know the full circumstances surrounding the events of that night....but regardless of that, he should have NEVER put his hands on her. At the same time though, isn't it a bit unfair and hypocritical to continue exacting more punishment on Chris Brown when he's already served his penalty as laid out by a judge? The media....ESPECIALLY FOX NEWS and Laura Ingraham....need to stop putting forth their own opinions and agendas (like how she plugged her book before ripping Chris Brown and NBC), and just report the facts. If you want to express your own personal views....write a blog or as you already did Laura Ingraham...write a book....but please don't put your biased thoughts and personal feelings/emotions out on a nationally televised show as if those are the facts and EVERYONE feels the same as you. And if there are people who feel different than you do, such as the 18,000 fans who supported Chris Brown on "The Today Show"....don't show up and try to rain on their parade and dissuade them from having their own thoughts, views, and feelings. After all....isn't this the land of FREEDOM? The land that millions around the world would give anything to get to...because of the freedoms even the most average citizen is afforded. Laura Ingraham....Fox News....you all should be ashamed of yourself for your shady reporting tactics and unwillingness to report facts and not opinions!


Remember...."You're Worth It".


J. Earl Smith
knourworth@hotmail.com
@JSmith2523 on Twitter
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495