Taking the opportunity to "channel hop" between CNN, FOX, and MSNBC after the verdict of Kyle Rittenhouse was issued last week was interesting. 

            As speaker after speaker and interviewee after interviewee gave their opinions and accounts, which could be seen and heard by all those who tuned in, jumping from channel to channel to hear the commentators speak immediately afterward was quite a contrast. 

            What I heard from some of the commentators was "what he meant by that was …" or what she was "implying was…"

            No, TV viewers heard what the person said and it isn't what you are implying.  So stop inserting your opinion into their words – report the news, don't try and change it by manipulating what they said.

            The cameras kept panning the steps of the courthouse where commentators reported dozens of people, on both sides of the verdict, protesting.  All I saw was a few people protesting and most of the others were carrying news cameras and microphones.

            The people are not so stupid that you need to nurse them with your opinion of what was just seen by their own eyes and heard with their own ears.

            That is what is wrong with much of today's Main Stream Media.

            Do yourself a favor and never trust one news source.  Get the news from more than one place.  Read about and listen to different presentations of the news.  Don't be too tired or busy to research three, four and more different sources – and don't rely on social media for the truth.

            Many people posted on social media after the trial writing "I didn't know" followed by a list of things they didn't know until after the trial was over.

            According to Dan Gainor, vice president of the Media Research Center, one of the big things that Facebook did was "manipulate the search engine so you couldn't even find any references to Kyle Rittenhouse," until after the trial.  GOFUNDME even banned fundraisers for Rittenhouse's defense until after the trial was over.

            The information was out there, prior to the trial, you just had to go beyond one news source and social media to learn about it.

            Now, demonstrators have taken to the streets again to protest the verdict.  Peacefully in Kenosha, but not so in places like New York and Portland.

            In Queens, New York, about 40 masked protestors terrorized a neighborhood by destroying cars, American flags and attacking a cop.  Five were arrested and charged with rioting.

            In Portland, Oregon the sheriff described the crowd gathered at the justice center: "hostile, launched urine, alcoholic beverages, water bottles and batteries at deputies" - a riot was declared.  

            A year ago, rioters proclaimed that videos tell the truth.  Today, there is no truth in a video if it doesn't meet one's opinion.  It doesn't help that high-level government officials went on the air shortly after the verdict to say they were "angry and concerned."

            People are afraid as defund the police mantras surge in some cities and those in charge call for police to "stand down" during some violent events.  There is a difference between peaceful protests and violent events.  People see it even though some of our government leaders don't.

            When government fails to protect the people, we run the risk of seeing more private citizens step into the public space abandoned by them.

            Crime is surging in our cities and ordinary citizens are frightened and frustrated at a lack of police protection.

            A breakdown of public safety comes with consequences.