Drive By Media, 3 Bad Apples & Aggieland

November 29th, 2006 at 12:09am B Jon Traylor 199

Recently, Brian Ross of ABC News blogged and produced a piece for ABC TV, and on Good Morning America regarding a very racially charged incident at Texas A&M University.  Three students were involved in videotaping a "home video" depicting three white males.  Two dominant white males were shooting the video and commanding the submissive white male, complete with a black latex mask on his face, to do as they said, etc.  I've seen the video and it is rather well, stupid.  Yet, I can also see how the video is being construed as being very nastily racist. 

What bothers me is this:  Mr. Ross' report debuted just days after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was "forced" to resign, only to be replaced by the Bush nominated Robert M. (Bill) Gates, former director of the C.I.A and current President of Texas A&M University.

Truth is, the video had been produced and quasi' marketed, limitedly of course, months before Mr. Ross grabbed ahold of the video and created a story days after we have a newly appointed Defense Secretary.  Hmmm.... Interesting, don't you think?

The truth is this:  as soon as the home video became public, officials at Texas A&M took immediate action, with Dr. Gates leading the charge.  All three students were immediately expelled from the University.  Case closed.  Right?  Nope, a few months later Dr. Gates is nominated as the next Defense Secretary.  (I can't stand or bring myself to believe much of what Rush Limbaugh states on his egotistical, self serving, America destructing Radio Show... but I do agree with his term of the 'Drive-By Media'...)

Mr. Ross, as a Drive-By Media subscriber, seized the opportunity here to make a story of something that was not really a story... a story he hoped would have national ramifications on a national issue, in regards to our newly appointed Defense Secretary.  All the while, he took a potshot at bashing one of the most respected institutions of higher learning in the United States.

I spent 6 years at Texas A&M University, working my way through and picking up two degrees. Along the way I was extremely involved in both on-campus and off-campus activities, from parties to various student professional organizations. I was President of a large student organization on campus, hopefully not because we threw great parties, many at my place!, but because I bridged the gaps amongst member's varying opinions and ideals. 

As a businessman in Colorado now, I still proudly display my Texas A&M Former Student stickers on my vehicles, and I always will. I fly an Aggie flag out front at my home. I came from nothing, and I'm working daily to become something for the betterment of not only myself, and my family, but for mankind.

I turned down numerous scholarships to other schools, just so I could know the honor of being an Aggie. Then football Coach Jackie Sherrill wrote to me inviting me to walk on the football team with a chance to earn a scholarship.  That, along with my acceptance letter from the school, are honestly two of my most prized possesions even today (sorry Nolan Ryan, you are still my favorite sports hero!)  The football dream didn't pan out thanks to economics and really messed up knees from high school sports.  Instead, I worked, and worked, and studied and studied, and partied, and was proud to simply be an Aggie.

To this day, I am honored to be an Aggie. Producers at ABC should spend a week at Texas A&M University. I'm sure if they did, they would be blown away at how special and unique and academically incredible the school is.

While there, I had Asian friends, Hispanic friends, African-American friends, caucasian friends, etc. Two of my best friends at A&M were African-American. They consistently talked of racism back in their hometowns, both in East Texas and West Texas. They never, ever, once talked to me about racism they felt on campus or in the Bryan/College Station communities.

Does racism exist at A&M, I'm sure it does, on a very limited scale. It has always existed. It will continue to exist to some degree. It exists to a degree on every college campus in this country. It exists in every small town and major city in our country.  But to label a respected institution like Texas A&M University as racist based on the actions of three expelled students, is absolutely ridiculous, and obviously motivated by an attempt to create a story or some sort of news worthy controversy.

Those two African American friends of mine at Texas A&M University are still friends of mine to this day. In the true spirit of being an Aggie, I would gladly lay down my life for either of them today. They are good men, and I admire and respect them greatly. They also happen to be Aggies.

Me? I'm actually the product of a very racist, bigoted, prejudiced family upbringing. One of my best friends in high school was African American.  My own father couldn't stand the fact that I had a "black" friend.  That friend is still one of my best friends to this day (gotta love Vegas!), you catching this Patrick?...  

I credit Texas A&M University for helping me be nothing of the bigotry, racism and prejudice I knew as a kid. Gig'em Aggies, and God bless Texas A&M University. The best decision I ever made was getting an education there.
B. Jon Traylor, Carbondale, CO.

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