A Lopsided Media

 

 

 

All lives matter

I am sure you will agree

At least in principle

Though not in practicality.

 

But you have a job

And a roof over your head,

Very unlike some

That daily face dread.

 

Lopsided I call it

Given the comparisons

For concerning luxury

Some have none.

 

700 on a ship

Desperate to do better

Leaving horrid circumstances

None of us would rather.

 

War torn lands,

Death an imminent threat

And nothing to satisfy

But constant regret.

 

Migrants we call them

In a disparaging tone

As they depart the horror

They called home.

 

Fathers and mothers

Their offspring along

Judged by the authorities

For doing no wrong.

 

Making a better life

For themselves and family,

Suddenly boat capsizes-

What a tragedy!

 

Could have been avoided

Is what I was told

But they were just migrants;

An unnecessary load.

 

 

A maritime incident

That was just brushed off,

Of no real importance-

On them we scoffed.

 

Little media coverage

Given to 700 lives

Trying to make a better life!

Just trying to survive.

 

From one news story

We switch to the other,

The former just a news item

Not worth the bother.

 

Five rich explorers

Trapped in the briny deep,

Around the clock coverage

Even as we speak.

 

Still trying to find out

What really went amiss,

And their rescue attempts,

A mighty long list.

 

 

A multi-national approach

All be it in vain

To rescue these explorers

Of billionaire claim.

 

From a wealthy existence

Just to view a wreck

When life for them

Held no obvious threat.

 

Unlike the migrants

Facing Hobson’s choice,

The bombs and the missiles

Silencing their voice.

 

For a moment there

These 700 did not matter,

When compared to the five

They were no bother.

 

 

Nameless they were

And this shall remain so,

Unlike those five explorers

Whose names we know.

 

Messing with our mind

It’s what the media does,

Determining what’s important

And what’s mere buzz.

 

Spare a thought please

For those 700 migrants

And the many more like them

With meagre existence.

 

Their type of adventure

Is a very necessary one

For day after day it seems

Like all hope is gone.

 

Unlike the rich explorers

Who also died at sea

But theirs was far different

As you and I can see.

 

 

 

It’s a lopsided media

Messing with our mind,

As I examine these incidents

That’s what I find.

 

Stewart Russell © June 24, 2023