The Carnival curise ship Triumph is being towed to port in the Gulf of Mexico. It had a fire in its engine room a few days ago which was put out by the automatic fire control system. As a result, the ship has been without power since Sunday. That means no air conditioning, no functioning hot water, few working toilets, no refrigeration, no working ovens, and no hot food. In general, it means that conditions on the ship are not good. As I write this, the ship is being towed into port in Alabama; it is expected to dock this afternoon.
So why do I write this? The reason is that the media is filled with lurid tales of terrible events on the ship. We hear that passengers are fighting over food. We hear that order on board has broken down. All manner of trouble is being trumpeted in the media. The problem, of course, is that not one of the reporters has been on board. They are just repeating second hand gossip that some family members are getting from cell phone calls that supposedly are coming from the ship. The problem with that, however, is that the ship's cell tower is also down due to the lack of power. That means that cell phones are working only when another ship comes along side the Triumph to deliver supplies. So those whose cell phones still have battery power will get a few minutes during which they can call out to their families. It is during these calls that all the supposedly terrible behaviour is being discussed.
I have to say that it all reminds me of the Superdome. During the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, media like CNN told us about the tens of thousands stranded in the Superdome stadium in New Orleans. We heard about murders in the stadium. We heard about beatings in the stadium. We heard about gang rapes happening all the time in the stadium. America saw reporters like Anderson Cooper standing with the Superdome in the background relating tales of ongoing horror for the survivors in the stadium. But all during that period, no reporters were in the stadium. When the folks were evacuated from the Superdome a few days later, we all learned that none of these tales of murder, rape and mayhem were true. Indeed, the folks in the stadium had been reasonably well behaved. That story, however, got little attention. After all, how could CNN and the other media tell America that they had been just retelling phony gossip. The story was mentioned quickly and then dropped.
I wonder now just what is the actual truth about the Carnival Triumph. I doubt that even half the stories in the press are true, but I certainly do not know. The point, however, is that the press does not know either. Sadly, it has not stopped them from repeating all the gossip as if it were true.
So why do I write this? The reason is that the media is filled with lurid tales of terrible events on the ship. We hear that passengers are fighting over food. We hear that order on board has broken down. All manner of trouble is being trumpeted in the media. The problem, of course, is that not one of the reporters has been on board. They are just repeating second hand gossip that some family members are getting from cell phone calls that supposedly are coming from the ship. The problem with that, however, is that the ship's cell tower is also down due to the lack of power. That means that cell phones are working only when another ship comes along side the Triumph to deliver supplies. So those whose cell phones still have battery power will get a few minutes during which they can call out to their families. It is during these calls that all the supposedly terrible behaviour is being discussed.
I have to say that it all reminds me of the Superdome. During the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, media like CNN told us about the tens of thousands stranded in the Superdome stadium in New Orleans. We heard about murders in the stadium. We heard about beatings in the stadium. We heard about gang rapes happening all the time in the stadium. America saw reporters like Anderson Cooper standing with the Superdome in the background relating tales of ongoing horror for the survivors in the stadium. But all during that period, no reporters were in the stadium. When the folks were evacuated from the Superdome a few days later, we all learned that none of these tales of murder, rape and mayhem were true. Indeed, the folks in the stadium had been reasonably well behaved. That story, however, got little attention. After all, how could CNN and the other media tell America that they had been just retelling phony gossip. The story was mentioned quickly and then dropped.
I wonder now just what is the actual truth about the Carnival Triumph. I doubt that even half the stories in the press are true, but I certainly do not know. The point, however, is that the press does not know either. Sadly, it has not stopped them from repeating all the gossip as if it were true.
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