Tuesday, August 26, 2008

File #19: He Who Fight's Monsters


"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein".
"He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
-Nietzsche aphorism, taken from Jenseits von Gut und Böse (Beyond Good and Evil)

Or to put it simply...

"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
-Harvey Dent, Batman: The Dark Knight



You know, this is how it really happened

Truth Can Really Be Stranger Than Fiction

In one of the more ironic and stupid scandals to hit the local Television market, no one fits this above quote better than former KYW news anchor Larry Mendte.

As a television reporter, it was his job to keep the public informed about events in the world and in the community while maintaining a high degree of integrity and professional candor. However, due to his jealousy of his younger female collegue, Mendte became the type of person he used to investigate in his early carrer.

By obtaining Alycia Lane's e-mail password, Mendte constantly snooped Lane's email acount a recorded 537 times in a attempt to derail her career by leaking sensitive personal information about her.

The irony is, Mendte didn't have to go through the trouble. She was able to sabotage her career all on her own.However, it seems Mendte still wasn't finished with his alleged vendetta.

Last Friday, during his guilty plea, he made a statement that reaked of large hammery this side of the infamous "Checkers Speech" by the late President Richard Nixon, Mendte alleged that he and Lane had a "flirtatious, improper relationship." Note: he did not use the word "affair". With all of the rumored bickering between those two, I really can't picture those two being "improper." Plus he wears his news makeup in public.

It is very likely for now Mendte will at least recieve some legal punishment. And that comes before the eventual Civil Suit from Lane and, who knows? Maybe a divorce from his wife WTXF anchor Dawn Stensland (that's only speculation of course)?

However, for now, in the quest to protect own his interests, Mendte destroyed two careers and KYW's reputation. While not a full blown villain, Mendte acted antagonistic enough that he might as well be.

For he who fights monsters...

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