Sorry, I'm not going to join the chorus of outrage about this Rolling Stone cover:
I'm not going to join a group that includes professional rage generator Michelle Malkin:
Last wk I wrote about Tiger Beat Terrorist Syndrome. This wk, Rolling Stone editor joins the Ja-harem. http://t.co/wlcJSdI4us
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) July 16, 2013
The Atlantic's Dashiell Bennett writes:
The layout, which is being described as "shocking" and "offensive," resembles any number of rock star images that have graced the magazine over the years... and that's exactly the problem. Many people feel that the photo the editors chose makes Tsarnaev look like a smoldering teen heartthrob and not the accused murderer and terrorist that he is.Yeah, maybe -- if you don't read the cover line. Which, if you haven't noticed, is as follows:
THE BOMBERNote that the cover calls him "THE BOMBER" -- not "the alleged bomber" or "the guy the New World Order wants you to believe committed the bombings, which were actually the work of private security forces (or didn't actually take place because the whole thing was a drill involving actors who didn't actually lose their legs)." The cover line says he did it. The cover line says he "fell into radical Islam." The cover line says he's "a monster." And he's not called "Jahar" -- the rendering of his name favored by his conspiracy-minded fans.
How a Popular, Promising Student Was Failed by His Family, Fell into Radical Islam and Became a Monster
Does Tsarnaev "look like a smoldering teen heartthrob" in the cover photo? Um, that's not how Rolling Stone makes cover subjects look like heartthrobs -- this is. He's not shirtless. He's not Photoshopped to within an inch of his life to emphasize cheekbones and abs. This is just what he looks like, based on every photo of him I've seen. And if you think he looks attractive, well, what are you asking for? The Matt Drudge School of Photo Selection, whereby you show your disgust for a subject by picking that person's worst possible photo?
And if Rolling Stone did pick the photo in part to appeal to the fans, well, according to The Atlantic's Bennett, they're not pleased:
Ironically, even the small community of "Free Dzhokhar" zealots, who are unabashed fans of Tsarnaev (and his looks) are against the cover too, believing the story and the use of the word "monster" in the headline will unfairly prejudice people against him.Um, no, that's not ironic -- those fans may be ignorant with regard to Tsarnaev, but at least they can read a twenty-word cover line. It promises an article that holds Tsarnaev responsible for a brutal crime -- as it should. That upsets them. It should satisfy us.