Get Smart: Guard Your Mouth

Do you remember Richard Jewell? He was the security officer who was first on the scene when the bomb exploded at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He acted conscientiously and courageously, and he was quite indeed, a hero. Then, as is typical in such events, the FBI developed suspicions about Jewell, and began to consider him a suspect in the bombing. The FBI was simply doing their job; they needed to suspect everyone. But the media went wild with the story.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution printed a story packed with innuendo and misleading comments. The New York Post called him a "fat, former failed sheriff's deputy" in a story that crossed the line between reporting him as a possible suspect and declaring him guilty. Even Tom Brokaw compromised his credibility by saying, "They probably have enough to arrest him right now, probably enough to prosecute him. But you always want enough to convict him."

Perhaps you remember how the story turned out-Richard Jewell didn't plant the bomb. He really was a hero. He put his life in danger to save other people, and he was ripped to shreds by the press. But this time (for once) the media was held accountable. A number of news organizations, including NBC, settled with Jewell for an undisclosed amount, rather than go through the humiliation of a public trial.

This event taught us a couple of things. Number one, just because Tom Brokaw says something, it doesn't mean it's true. You need to remember when you watch the news there is a very real possibility that you are getting only a fraction of the story.

Another thing it taught is: You can do a lot of damage by speaking before you get the facts, and some of the damage will come your way. You may never find yourself in the kind of jam NBC was in after reporting lies about Richard Jewell, but you can be sure that if you open your mouth before you get the facts, you are courting disaster for yourself and everyone else involved. Once again Proverbs rings true: "Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish" (See Proverbs 18:13).

The world would be a better place if everyone would think first and speak second. Make sure you have all the facts. Remember Proverbs 17:27 "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint."

On the Victory Side,

Dave