Plot of riots in the United States after the assassination of African American Floyd
At the end of the first quarter of the & nbsp; XXI & nbsp; century, many of the previous benchmarks have either disappeared altogether or have changed dramatically. Professional awards, the possession of which was considered the highest mark of skill, can now be won by almost anyone.
From Watergate to mobile video
In 1903, the press magnate Joseph Pulitzer drew up a will in which he allocated two million dollars for the creation of a fund, the funds of which were to be used to encourage people who excelled in journalism and literature.
Pulitzer died in 1911 1917 began presenting an award that bears his name. The winner of the first prize was the American journalist Herbert Bayard Swope.
Over time, the Pulitzer Prize has become the most famous award in the field of journalism. At one point it was awarded to Bob Woodward and Karl Bernstein, whose Watergate documents brought US President Richard Nixon upon his resignation.
But the devaluation of meanings and symbols didn't bypass the Pulitzer Prize either. Now, to receive the award, no special effort is required.
Special Pulitzer Prize & mdash; special mention of & mdash; awarded to Darnella Fraser , 18 years old. The young girl, who is not a journalist, got noticed for her mobile video of the death of George Floyd .
“ I can't breathe! & # 39; & # 39;
Recall that on the evening of May 25, 2020, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department received a message that a man was trying to pay with a fake bill at a local grocery store … Police arrived at the signal and found the suspect, a black man, in the car.
According to the guards, he resisted. According to a police report, the man was handcuffed and suspected he had 'health issues'. An ambulance was called to the scene. Doctors attempted to resuscitate the inmate, but he showed no signs of life. He was taken to a medical center, where doctors declared him dead. The deceased was a 46 year old African American from Houston, Texas, George Floyd.
A video of the detention, filmed by a nearby observer, has leaked onto the Internet. It shows the 44-year-old policeman Derek Chauvin resting his knee on Floyd's neck. The man repeatedly asks, “Please I can't breathe!” Then he starts to plead, “Don't kill me.” Despite others asking the police to stop using harsh measures, since Floyd did not resist, Chauvin did not remove his knee even when ; he has stopped showing signs of life.
The video was filmed by several people who were in the vicinity of the scene, but it was the recording made by Darnella Fraser that was shown in court and became one of the reasons for the conviction of Chauvin by the jury.
Right time in the right place
Interestingly, the girl was first accused of indifference: instead of & nbsp; to try and help Floyd she was shooting a video. Darnella herself claimed she begged the police to stop, but they didn't listen.
By the way, other recordings of the scene weren't so unequivocal in favor of Floyd's supporters. They show, for example, that the policeman put his knee not on Floyd's neck (and for that he was convicted), but on his back. That is, Chauvin, when he was arrested, did what he was taught and didn't even think about putting Floyd's life in danger. But that would automatically render the entire initial message of the BLM's protests meaningless and therefore “canonical”. should be the originally out of print video. Perhaps that is why the preference was given to a young girl: who dares to question the Pulitzer Prize-winning video? in the presidential election.
When victory became a reality, one of the ways to quench passions and stabilize the situation somewhat was to distribute all kinds of rewards and prizes to members of the movement & nbsp; BLM, as well as those who have supported it.
Now is the turn of journalism. The Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to several publications covering both BLM protests, but Darnella Fraser stands out with her award.
For the first time in over a century of history, the award went to someone who hasn't even tried to craft material, hasn't done a lot of work. Efforts, did not put herself in danger in order to convey the truth to people. about something, as previous year's award winners have done. In fact, the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to spectators with a cell phone, which in the modern world are in the millions. The jury said the video reflected the “ role of ordinary citizens in the search for the truth. & # 39; & # 39;
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As easy as peeling pears
Five years ago, a lot of controversy was caused by the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature to the American singer Bob Dylan … Without questioning the talent of the multiple Grammy winner, skeptics noted that the Literary Nobel was too much of an award for the American with his light weight & mdash; compared to other candidates & mdash; creativity.
But the Nobel Prize story for Dylan appears to be the height of moderation and caution over what's going on right now.
The world famous Oscar; encourages not for the quality of the films and actor's works, but for the reflection of the current political moment. The skin color and sexual orientation of the characters in the film are 'weigh' much more talent and professionalism.
Why go far for the examples: in our native country the & # 39; graduate & # 39; becomes a symbol of success. “ Houses-2 & # 39; & # 39; Olga Buzova sings on stage, performs in the theater and acts as a football expert on the main sports channel.
Why study and understand the secrets of the trades, if all this now doesn't really matter? Movie stars take to space, and the most prestigious Pulitzer Prize goes to a girl with a cell phone just walking down the street.
Those who live within the framework of old ideas, in which knowledge, hard work and the will to develop professionally is important, hopelessly in retreat.
In one of the episodes of The Simpsons series; the devotee Ned Flanders, who mistook the flood for a worldwide flood, intended to punish sinners, sees Homer Simpson pass by & nbsp; and shouts indignantly: 'It seems like it is easier to go to Heaven than to the bathroom!'
As for paradise, of course you can argue, but the Pulitzer Prize winners & mdash; really easier. Proved by Darnella Fraser.