The real legacy of the French Revolution seems to me to have been radicalization leading to hysteria and death and bloodshed. Similar to 1984, in the novel by George Orwell and many historical revolutions, all it took to have someone sent for re-education or to be put in prison or killed was the right accuser at the right time. Very little evidence was required for this to happen. During the French Revolution, the media, afraid of counter-revolutionaries, acted as a catalyst towards this hysteria and bloodshed and death resulting in thousands being executed.

Now they did not have all the “news” sources that we have today during the late 1700s. They did not have TV News programs and The World Wide Web at their fingertips like we have today. But they did have newspapers and journals and one of the most popular was called L’Ami du Peuple written by Jean-Paul Marat–a radical that inspired hysteria and bloodshed and murder at unprecedented levels. I am sure he would have been welcomed as a writer with open arms at moveon.org, mediamatters.org, at the New York Times, Newsweek, and other far-left publications. He saw himself as the champion of the people and believed that all the revolutionary, violent expressions of “freedom” and “equality” he told people to do were for the “fatherland”. He also told his extremist friends to not allow any OTHER publication (like those saying that he was too radical) to be circulated (http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/146/reflecting-on-the-life-of-a-revolutionary-jean-paul-marat). Of course, the hatred and violence which he espoused and supported came back to haunt him when he was executed by Charlotte Corday in 1793 who thought he was too violent and radical.

The issue at hand, is how this reflects what is happening today. I realize that there is no one person to compare to Marat, today. However, I definitely believe the media has encouraged people to riot and protest against the church and people of Judeo-Christian values, against family values, and against Donald Trump through fake news, encouraging hysteria, and sowing discontent and violence. While I do believe that racism exists, some news outlets have used to it support riots, looting, and violence. There is no such thing as just reporting of the facts anymore.

I am not advocating for a government-controlled media. A free media is an important part of our democracy. However, I am advocating for a less-biased media and one with more moral standards. I do want a media that is more reporting of facts and less political activism, lest we become a place where those who do not disagree with one view or another will lose their businesses, careers, be blacklisted, or can be sent to the guillotine. Hate, hysteria, violence and fear do not help the people find truth, freedom, or peace.

James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

———————————————————-W.