Why fact-checking claims of atrocities matters

And not only does it matter, but it's important.

Why is fact checking alleged evil acts important?

Because if the alleged evil acts never occurred, they only serve to portray an opposing force as evil - guilty of unimaginable depravity and thus unworthy of sympathy.

I grew up in South Mississippi and had family in New Orleans.

I was 16 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed everything I knew - including my own world views.

We stayed during the storm, and only got out about five days after- just when we ran out of water.

My Aunt Kathy lived in Jefferson Parish and stayed with us in Mississippi during the storm. Her sister-in-law lived in St. Bernard Parish and couldn’t get out. We had not heard from her. We knew her neighborhood was under water, but we hoped she had been picked up and given shelter somewhere safe, like the Super Dome.

What we heard on our way out - caught on the radio or on TV’s wherever we stopped - was indescribably horrific.

We heard the rumors about what supposedly happened inside the Super Dome, and found ourselves hoping my aunt stayed home.

Babies were murdered - their throats slit and bodies tossed into the rising waters.

Toddlers and little girls were being raped in the bathrooms.

Old people were being thrown out to conserve resources.

Gangs had taken over the facility.

Looters and rioters were everywhere.

The things coming from the media were horrific, and hard not to believe when it was repeated on FOX, CNN, and every other media outlet on loop.