Hold protesters to high standards, too

The media are always ready to pounce on any political voice that exhibits a hint of amorality or misinformation. The public has very high expectations for those involved in politics. However, where are the fact-checking morality police of the Parkland kids? Yes, they went through a tragedy, but does that exempt them from morality and accountability?

At the CNN Town Hall, meant to be public political forum, Emma Gonzalez took a blatantly personal attack at Dana Loesch, saying, "I will support your two children in the way that… you will not." Cameron Kasky did the same to Sen. Rubio: "It's hard to look at you and not look down the barrel of an AR-15 and not look at Nikolas Cruz…". The crowd continuously interrupted Rubio and Loesch with shouts and insults.

In an interview with The Outline, David Hogg equated doing technological tasks for his generation's "old (expletive) parents" to "what we have to do with our government because our parents don't know how to use an (expletive) democracy." Later, referring to right-wing lawmakers, he said, "Those (expletive) aren't going to get reelected."

Media reports say the gun-control movement is about control, not confiscation. However, in response to the Waffle House shooting, Emma Gonzales tweeted that "removing the assault and semi-automatic weapons from our civilian society" would stop shootings. Most weapons are semi-automatic. That isn't control, it is total confiscation. Where are the fact-checkers of the media? All that surfaces, in light of these patent displays of immaturity and ineloquence are encouragements for their "activism" and "participation in our democracy".

Democracy isn't a joke. If political voices are going to be held to such a high standard, it should be ubiquitous. All voices included.

Gianna Sabatino

Bartlett