Piece of the pie

(t-shirt available from DirtyCoast.com ... )

The only reason I clicked to read this Nola.com article was because 1) Chris Rose wrote it and 2) I was screening it with the intent to send to Matthew's sports-heavy attention.

Shame, shame, shame on modern journalism.

Journalist Bob Kravitz isn't totally at fault that the editors at the Indianapolis Star haven't held him to such standards as to fully research stories and I'm sure this writing isn't indicative of every story Bob Kravitz has written. But really, what a shame.

His story tells the tale of a young man growing up in a rough section of Jefferson Parish ... Metairie to be exact. And, as Chris Rose harps, he uses the words "miserable, hopeless and dangerous." So much for that t-shirt.

But just as Obama isn't representative of every black person you've met, Central City looks nothing like Lakevew and one awful fashion buyer decision doesn't bankrupt The Gap, so too does this basketball star's recollection differ from a kid who grew up in "Old" Metairie or near-the-lake Metairie or other serene Metairie suburban expanses.

It has stirred up outrage - and agreeance - across those 7000_ zip codes.

Should Bob take this misstep as guidance for future articles? Leaving out such harsh words unless having fully researched the person/place/thing?

Sure.

But maybe we should all take a step back and realize that because your Metairie holds different meaning than his doesn't mean he's lying. It just goes to show that everything's relative. It's all in perspective and perception.

And nothing is black & white. Not even taxes.