A tale of two headlines

CNN offers up more unintended humor

1. The ground jumped up and hit him

This CNN headline is perplexing:

Why is someone being arrested if this man fell and hit his head? The way this headline is worded, it sure sounds like it was the guy’s own fault. Until you consider this headline instead:

When we read the story, we discover that Loay Alnaji was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. His bail is $1 million.

There was a “physical altercation” between Alnaji and Paul Kessler, who died after the aforementioned head injury. The sheriff said that, in talking to protesters on both sides, it’s hard to come up with a clear picture of what happened.

But whatever did happen, it sure wasn’t as simple as a guy falling and hitting his head.

2. Nikki Haley wants everybody’s names

Nikki Haley said in a Fox News interview that she wants to remove online anonymity. She said anonymous social media accounts and “misinformation” are a “national security threat.” And uncivil.

On Fox News, she said,

“Every person on social media should be verified by their name. It’s a national security threat. That’s, first of all, it’s a national security threat. When you do that, all of a sudden, people have to stand by what they say. And it gets rid of the Russian bots, the Iranian bots and the Chinese bots. And then you’re gonna get some civility, when people know their name is next to what they say.”

She continued later on a podcast where she reiterated her points, adding “I want everybody’s name.”

So, no. No, Nikki, you can’t have our names, for a few very good reasons.

First of all, we live in a country where sometimes saying absolutely true things can ruin your life. If you can be fired for saying something as controversial as “boys have a penis, girls have a vagina,” you’re stuck with either biting your tongue or saying it anonymously.

More seriously, that’s how people who could anger those in power have often communicated. One of the most persuasive essays that helped spark the American Revolution was Common Sense, published anonymously by Thomas Paine, who could have been executed for words.

We’re not going to give up a right because we’re afraid of reading bot written Tweets, which are usually pretty obvious and stupid, for what it’s worth. Or even for “incivility.”

If Haley wants to be treated as a serious presidential candidate, she should refrain from offering non-serious solutions. Or, at the very least, post them anonymously.

3. An “American” reason to care about the Oct. 7 attack

Recently, I’ve heard commentators asking why the U.S. is so concerned about the Israeli/Hamas war and why we aren’t concentrating more on our own country.

It’s worth remembering that at least 32 Americans were killed in the attacks, and Israel says at least nine Americans are among the Hamas hostages. We’re not mere bystanders.

— Ken