After witnessing the media circus over the July 4 weekend, it became obvious to me that all the talk about the unfairness of the media is just that: lots of talk.

First the Michael Jackson memorial. I never thought it would end, and it probably hasn’t yet. Al Sharpton complained about how unfair the media were to Michael Jackson, but at the same time Sharpton and Jackson knew just how to manipulate the media when they wanted the spotlight. In fact, whenever a TV camera and microphone are in place, it seems as if you will see Sharpton there ready to talk.

And then there was Sarah Palin, the good ol’ gal from Alaska who just up and walked out on the people who elected her. She also blamed the media, the same media she couldn’t live without when she was mistakenly picked by John McCain, who had some kind of short-term memory lapse, to be his running mate.

She will go on to bigger and better things, like writing a book for millions, appearing on every talk show to promote the book, and sending press releases to the same hated media to make sure they catch her act.

And no doubt the Jackson crew will be out hawking DVDs of the memorial service and building sales for the memorabilia, while courting the same nasty old media to get the message out.

Both are cases that really are all about money, and blaming the media when they show the warts and all. The only honest part of the entire weekend was that poor child crying about the loss of her father. That was genuine. The rest just part of show business..

MARVIN GREENBERG

Riverside