DO ALL LIVES MATTER EQUALLY?

So, the airwaves are practically ablaze with the latest news: the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. All that can be heard or read on the media is the near-miss that almost took the life of this scumbag. As an aside, a reporter mentioned that the unfortunate soul who took the bullet was tragically injured, suffering a severe head wound. It was a devastating scene, with serious damage to his brain. No further details have emerged, which leaves us all wondering: will this individual get any recognition beyond a fleeting mention? This person is the real hero of this story. Forget friggin' Trump; this is the person who’s really earned their stripes in the saga of this assassination attempt. Because if we’re looking for a hero in this melodrama, this person seems to be the one deserving of this accolade. There were also other innocent people wounded or harmed by this incident, yet they probably won't get a mention in the media either. Despite their 'misguided' political affiliations, demonstrated by the fact that they turned up to one of Trump's rallies, it shouldn't stop them being hailed as heroes. It’s almost as if there’s an unspoken rule that only those with the potential to cause a media feeding frenzy, get to bask in the media spotlight. But shouldn't heroism be universal? Is it too much to ask that everyone who got caught in the crossfire be acknowledged as brave?

Now, we can all assume that when Trump was whisked away to the hospital, he was ushered in with the same urgency as someone being chased by a swarm of bees, and not made to ramp outside the ER for a few hours. Never mind the heart attack patient who might have been cast aside so that Trump's ear could be seen to. What makes him so special? There are people who are fighting for life who still have to wait their turn outside the hospital. It seems there’s a VIP section in healthcare for the politically prominent. Despite being a convicted criminal of monumental proportions, Trump still gets the royal treatment. How ironically delightful!

Now the other person gaining fame from this event is the actual gunman. His name was splashed across the screens and we will eventually get a deeper look into his life story and political views. I can't help but draw the conclusion that unsavoury people get all the limelight. If only the media showered the same enthusiasm on those who truly deserve it, like, oh, I don’t know, maybe humble people who are living through the consequences of violence, such as the innocent victims of the latest attack on Gaza, which was given 30 seconds of airtime in the news report that followed.

In the grand scheme of things, it seems the media’s affection for unsavoury characters is boundless. It’s as if they’ve decided that the best way to tell a story is by focusing on those who stir the pot the most. There are plenty of examples where important or famous individuals receive preferential treatment, sometimes in ways that can seem downright absurd. Here are a couple of notable instances I found on the internet:

• The billionaire casino mogul, James Packer, has faced various legal and regulatory challenges over the years, from Crown Resorts' alleged money laundering to his own public altercations. His wealth and influence have often allowed him to navigate these issues with minimal personal consequence.

• The former Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, was implicated in numerous corruption scandals during his time in office. Despite significant evidence of wrongdoing, his trial ended without a conviction due to a hung jury, leading many to believe his political influence played a role in the outcome.
  

These examples highlight the discrepancies in how influential or famous (yet unsavoury and law-breaking perhaps) individuals are treated compared to the average citizen. This illustrates how fame, wealth, and influence can often bend the rules, allowing 'important' people to navigate crises with relative ease compared to the average person.

It’s a stark reminder of the disparities that exist in how justice and services are administered and the media's ability to make one life seem more important than another.