Death in the News: Americocentric
In New York 18 people were shot, 14 of them died, a horrible tragedy.
But why so much focus on those 13? What about the 11 Iraqis who died three days ago? Bet you haven't even heard about them. I hadn't either, until I just googled, "How many Iraqis died today?" and found the Iraqi Body Count.
Perhaps the New York deaths are more tragic, because the murderer was emotionally deranged, and could have been stopped if someone had talked to him before today. But is death any better if your killer feels that his politicians or religious leaders have justified him?
I'm not saying New York did not suffer a loss, or that we should not mourn with the victims. We should "mourn with those that mourn," not only "those Americans that mourn."
from Historic Times
But why so much focus on those 13? What about the 11 Iraqis who died three days ago? Bet you haven't even heard about them. I hadn't either, until I just googled, "How many Iraqis died today?" and found the Iraqi Body Count.
Perhaps the New York deaths are more tragic, because the murderer was emotionally deranged, and could have been stopped if someone had talked to him before today. But is death any better if your killer feels that his politicians or religious leaders have justified him?
I'm not saying New York did not suffer a loss, or that we should not mourn with the victims. We should "mourn with those that mourn," not only "those Americans that mourn."
from Historic TimesResponse to Comments
"Suddenly" I care about Iraqis? I don't think you read this blog very carefully.
"Why don't we 'care' more about the atrocities in Darfur, Chetnya, Peshawar, Jaffna, The Congo, or Botswana?" Great question, though I don't know why you put care in quotations. We should care, because many of our foreign policies directly affect those countries. We don't care more, because we cannot care about something we know nothing about. And we are ignorant of these world events because our news doesn't cover them.
"Do you think the Mbuti Pygmies really care much about the New York shootings?" Probably not. I doubt the group of hunters and traders has access to 24 hour news. But the Pygmies have begged for help from the world because they were hunted and eaten like animals, and they are losing their land and their livelihood. I think the American people are charitable enough, that we would help them if our news covered their suffering.
I suppose I have a problem with the hypocrisy. We pretend to care when it's politically convenient. Like when we wanted an excuse for invading Iraq, suddenly we cared that they suffered under tyranny, suddenly we cared about their freedom.
If we went to Iraq because we cared about Iraqis, why do we not care now? If we went to Iraq to alleviate their suffering under tyranny, shouldn't we see what bringing war to their country did to alleviate that suffering? Understanding the consequences of our actions would help us avoid mistakes in the future.
You have the privelege of choosing ignorance, though I believe there is little difference between willful ignorance and damnation. Many use the excuse that things are just too awful to know about. If we do not pay attention to what goes on in the world, we will not have the information necessary to make the right decisions if we are called upon to give aid to the world. And we will be a malleable populace in the hands of conspiring men who will use our ignorance and complacency to exploit the power of our unity.
The entire world mourned with us after 9/11. Iranians even held a candlelight vigil for the victims.
The entire world showed us that they care. Do we lack the humanity to return that respect?
If we are going to be the world's police, it becomes our responsibility to be informed about world events. The American people are among the wealthiest, and most influential people in the world. We have great potential for good. Many are willing to help, and only kept from doing so because they do not know where to start.
We have several 24 hour news channels. If they have time to cover Michelle Obama's clothing, or Brittney Spears' haircut, they have the time to cover world events.
"Suddenly" I care about Iraqis? I don't think you read this blog very carefully.
"Why don't we 'care' more about the atrocities in Darfur, Chetnya, Peshawar, Jaffna, The Congo, or Botswana?" Great question, though I don't know why you put care in quotations. We should care, because many of our foreign policies directly affect those countries. We don't care more, because we cannot care about something we know nothing about. And we are ignorant of these world events because our news doesn't cover them.
"Do you think the Mbuti Pygmies really care much about the New York shootings?" Probably not. I doubt the group of hunters and traders has access to 24 hour news. But the Pygmies have begged for help from the world because they were hunted and eaten like animals, and they are losing their land and their livelihood. I think the American people are charitable enough, that we would help them if our news covered their suffering.
I suppose I have a problem with the hypocrisy. We pretend to care when it's politically convenient. Like when we wanted an excuse for invading Iraq, suddenly we cared that they suffered under tyranny, suddenly we cared about their freedom.
If we went to Iraq because we cared about Iraqis, why do we not care now? If we went to Iraq to alleviate their suffering under tyranny, shouldn't we see what bringing war to their country did to alleviate that suffering? Understanding the consequences of our actions would help us avoid mistakes in the future.
You have the privelege of choosing ignorance, though I believe there is little difference between willful ignorance and damnation. Many use the excuse that things are just too awful to know about. If we do not pay attention to what goes on in the world, we will not have the information necessary to make the right decisions if we are called upon to give aid to the world. And we will be a malleable populace in the hands of conspiring men who will use our ignorance and complacency to exploit the power of our unity.
The entire world mourned with us after 9/11. Iranians even held a candlelight vigil for the victims.
The entire world showed us that they care. Do we lack the humanity to return that respect?If we are going to be the world's police, it becomes our responsibility to be informed about world events. The American people are among the wealthiest, and most influential people in the world. We have great potential for good. Many are willing to help, and only kept from doing so because they do not know where to start.
We have several 24 hour news channels. If they have time to cover Michelle Obama's clothing, or Brittney Spears' haircut, they have the time to cover world events.
All of a sudden you care about the Iraqis. Hmm...
ReplyDeleteYou ask why we know about the Americans and not the Iraqis. I almost think you've got to be kidding, but unfortunately I don't believe you are. Why don't we "care" more about the atrocities in Darfur, Chetnya, Peshawar, Jaffna, The Congo, or Botswana? You may argue that our troops are in Iraq, so for some reason this is our fault. However, the Iraqis are having a civil war, just as some of the previously mentioned areas are. I submit to you that if we knew of all the "man's inhumanity to man" incidents going on in the world it would be overwhelming to us. Maybe you would be interested in all of this, however, I can hardly stand to know what is going on in my own country. That may be narrow minded on my part, but I believe that is why we know more about what is going on close by than what is happening on the other side of the world. Do you think the Mbuti Pygmies really care much about the New York shootings? Somehow I don't think so.
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