People speak of fake news. Certain sources do indicate a far different and accurate story behind that of the young girl’s plight in the moment. There is also the reality of everyone’s reminder of the Obama camps and photos of 2014 – similar to today’s. The reality is behind every ‘story’ there is added research necessary to find the truth.

 

We teach our student in the classroom to back up sources in order to legitimize their own research on a topic. A student will sometime question the reasoning. I will often tell a student it is not because I want to catch them plagiarizing, more because I wish they might learn how to defend their own thinking on a topic.

 

So then what might we call the end game on this ‘Time Magazine’ photoshopped cover story? The truth is both photos did occur. Let’s call it poetic justice.

 

In one light a little girl is hysterical perhaps not for the reasons the editors would like the reader to believe; however I would believe her affect represents the many faces of children we don’t see in photo ops.

 

In another light we see a smug expression on the face of the President of the United States looking down on something he shows disdain toward. (Personally I think a bad putt that when the camera is off he will tap in with his foot) The fact is he is looking detached and disconnected about something.

 

So let’s look at the picture for what it really is, a horrific artistic rendering of an American society at odds with itself and unable to step within one another’s comfort zone to offer love and support.

 

What is more vital than pointing out the inauthentic nature of the picture is to use this as an authentic learning moment and begin to do what is right for our people and the country. In the words of Spike Lee, let’s ‘Do The Right Thing.’

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Photo – Time Magazine