‘Mateen.’ ‘Mateen.’ ‘Omar Mateen.’ There. I Said It. Media Should Too.

Petulant, petty media keep announcing they won’s say the name of the Muslim mass murderer of 49 Pulse patrons in Orlando, last week. Not to say the name of a killer is a silly and infantile gesture, or habit oft repeated by the sanctimonious, self-important sorts in media. It conjures the person who covers his ears and hums loudly, so as not to hear bad news. Reality is reality. Facts are facts. Deal. Media are not in a morality contest. Media are meant to function as chroniclers, entrusted with relaying events, not transmitting subliminal messages.

Omar Mateen. Omar Mateen. Omar Mateen. There. I said it.