08-23-2014, 01:23 PM
(08-20-2014, 10:24 PM)Donovan Wrote: I viewed the Daniel Pearl video.
I wish I hadn't.
That is never coming out of my head.
The purpose of terrorism is widespread dissemination so people can be shocked and frightened. The ISIS people, maybe underestimating the anger of this county when it gets annoyed, will probably regret their acts in a short while.
The Pearl decapitation video was difficult for me to watch as well, Donovan -- heartbreaking. So was the Foley video.
The full Foley video adheres to the same sorta propaganda strategy in attempt to instill terror -- condemning American intervention in the Middle East, exploiting the hostages' family connections (for Pearl it was his Israeli Jewish heritage; for Foley the fact that his brother is an American serviceman), and making demands of the American govt and threats against American citizens.
But, the Foley video is much more professionally produced. Neither one terrified me; both made me more confident that caving into the terrorists behind them would be rewarding them for murder and would encourage more such savage acts and blackmail attempts.
The airstrikes in Iraq were not stopped or scaled back after the video was distributed and I think you're right that American military action will likely be stepped up, not down, in response to the Foley video. If so, I hope it's well thought-out action with clear goals, rather than an opportunistic reaction that winds up backfiring and leading to more civilian casualties without much gain in eradicating terrorist activity.
(08-20-2014, 11:07 PM)blueberryhill Wrote: The public has traditionally been protected from graphic images. I have never agreed with that. We (all of us) need to know how evil this world can be. I have always believed knowledge is power and we need to see these atrocities to fully understand what goes on in this world. ...It is difficult for me to believe that the IS member in black who beheaded Reporter is British and that they have cells all over the World.I had relative say she was more worried about Ebola than terrorists. I told her to quit exchanging bodily fluids and she should be o.k.
While I understand the arguments on both sides, I feel the same way as you do about it, in regards to myself as a concerned observer with a stake in what's happening around the world.
Anyway, I don't think anyone should be made to look at things that disturb them. Likewise, I don't want anyone to prohibit me from looking at news because that news disturbs them (and disturbs me).
Interestingly enough, the al-Qaeda member who was convicted and sentenced to death in Pakistan for the beheading of Daniel Pearl was also a British national (of Pakistani descent) -- he's appealed the death sentence.
Your advice to your relative made me laugh.
P.s. thank you, Cars.