I was reading an article about why people watch the execution videos, and I had the opportunity to post a response to the BBC website. I'd watched one of them - the beheading of this poor fellow, Nick Berg, last year, and it was really as horrific, or perhaps even more so, than I could have imagined.
What makes people watch things like this? I think there are a number of reasons that people are drawn to the macabre, least of which is that it's just part of reality. I read somewhere that the Buddhists believe that we should accept reality in all its forms in order to really appreciate and understand life, so it means really looking at every aspect of it with open eyes. I have to say that I found the images quite traumatizing, though. It was as if they went deep down into my soul.
Witnessing the graphic murder of another human being is a form of voyeurism so profound it's hard to describe. But I have to ask myself: are his executioners any more cowardly than a man who lets his bombs or missiles fall on targets where he doesn't see the impact on the lives below? Is it any less horrific that a child's head might be torn from her shoulders by a missile, even though it's not filmed?
Videos of this nature, I believe, bring home the insanity of war. It's obscene, gruesome, and vile. Perhaps if more people saw these videos - terrible as they are - we might understand something of what's really going on in the rest of the world. Our media, after all, sanitizes it. And is that really such a good thing? But propaganda is an important part of war, just as it's a component of peace, so I don't quite know how to answer the question.
But we do accept things in our "civilised", western society. This is the part of the world where we eat animals, yet call ourselves animal lovers. How many of us would kill the cow that we eat the flesh of? How many of us could look it in the eyes as we do so? One could almost suggest that at least these men did so with this man. But God help us - what terrible things happen on our planet in the name of God and freedom.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Video beheadings.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
The problem is that children in war zones see such horrors every day.
How many children in Iraq are seeing bodies burned? How many children in South Africa have seen peeople have burning tyres put over their heads?
We in the west aren't in touch - not really in touch - with what goes on in the world. Does sanitizing our minds from such horrors make us better people?
The internet now offers us insights into other people's realities in ways that we've never had in previous generations. I'm certain that it will affect coming generations. But it's a reality that's here now. The pornography and violence is something that many children will be seeing, whether "for real" or on the internet.
I can't agree with you that it's appalling to see such matter available on the internet.
What's appalling is that such things exist at all.
I have watched Berg's and a couple of the other gruesome beheadings. I left my computer feeling absolutely sick. However, I don't regret watching them. I think it is so important for us to see who these Islamo-fascist terrorists really are. They are not heroic insurgents, as the NY Times and CNN would like us to believe. These are sub-human scum that deserve to be wiped off this planet. Why is it that the Abu Gharib photos were constantly shoved down our throats, yet pictures and videos of these poor, innocent Americans were hardly mentioned? That’s right…because the America-hating liberal media holds these insurgents to higher esteem than our own heroic troops.
No, of course not. But do we hear about the Korean man or the Italian journalist? No, their horrific deaths are stiffled by left as well. The point still stands.
I'm not sure it's particularly relevant, but it isn't just Americans that have been beheaded, sevenplaces.
I notice, too, from your own blog that you're Christian. I can't help wondering if Christ's attitude would have been to have "wiped the scum off the face of the Earth". The problem with war, the way I see it, is that both sides see each other as "sub human". In my mind, that doesn't help reach a peaceful settlement to a dispute.
But thanks for your input.
Sorry, I had to delete my last comment as I needed to expand on it.
There have been other countries having their citizens executed on video. The UK's Kenneth Bigley was one of them.
I'm not sure whether the others were filmed. I know his was, and I haven't watched it - and won't.
One's enough.
Exactly, the terrorists despise us just as much as the majority of Americans despise them. Peace will not be reached. Even the UN's baby talk can't affect the sick, demented minds of these terrorists. No Ivy League psychologist will ever understand why they do what they do. That's precisely why war is necessary. And because war is necessary, American victory is the only option. Look, I absolutely hate that brave American troops are dying. I hate that our tax money has to be spent at such crazy rates. But that's what has to be done. History speaks loudly. What if we opted to sit out during WWII? Things must be kept in perspective.
...and check out Genesis 6.
I personally hate that anybody is dying, whether American, British, French, Iraqi or whatever.
There are good Iraqis, you understand?
Just as there are some bad Christians, bad Americans, bad people the whole world over; there are good Moslems, too, I'm sure.
I confess to being somewhat disturbed by what appears to be generalisation and blind patriotism on your part, sevenplaces
Personally, again, I don't care for
anybody's flag. Too many cowards hide behind them, regardless of their nationality.
I'm afraid I have a problem with The Bible. Some of it makes great sense; other parts of it seem to be absolute nonsense to me.
I found this, somewhat sceptical view of Genesis 6. I'm not sure what you were getting at, nor why it's relevant to this blog entry.
Perhaps you might like to explain.
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/gen/6.html
Please don't get me wrong. I mourn for the British troops, the Iraqi children, the civilian contractors, and every other innocent death. And of course there are good Iraqis! There are good and bad people in every social, economic, religious, or national group. My point is that because this war is a necessity, I stand behind fighting it the most effective way possible. Am I patriotic? You bet. Blindly? Not by any means! This might surprise you, but Bush and all the other suits in Washington have really been disturbing me lately. Take the immigration issue. Could Bush be a bigger softy on that? No. He's got zero backbone when it comes to defending our borders. Also, I think the war can be fought better. Instead of these ground troops into hostile urban towns, use the multi-billion dollar airpower we have at our disposal. So, please don't get the impression that I'm a blind follower of any one person or any one party.
Cynic that I am, I think that the most powerful people in government think of war as they do any other business. And remember that war is big business to a few very wealthy people.
Plus, you may remember that air strikes did little for the Vietnam war. And besides, air strikes aren't effective against insurgents. It would be like trying to fight the IRA in Northern Ireland with helicopter gunships and bombers.
They're too tight in with the innocents for that. That's the way they fight, and that's how they're effective.
Their strategy is actually no different to our own, were we to be invaded by a foreign force. It's the technique the French resistance used, and it's the technique the British had prepared, were the Nazis to invade.
Ok, so I take it you think the Bible is false. Where do you stand in knowledge of Christianity and the Bible, so I can get an idea of what level to discuss this with you.
I think you and I both would be amazed at what our military can accomplish with airpower. I heard Gen. Tommy Franks speak here at A&M last year. He gave an example of the US using laser guided missiles to destroy a known terrorist hideout in Baghdad. This building was less than 100 yards away from the local school. The school remained completely unharmed, not a single window broken. So why more of this not being done in cities all over Iraq?
Well, it certainly depends on the intelligence they receive, surely?
Airpower is worthless without intelligence to pinpoint targets. How do you gain intelligence without someone one the ground?
Besides, with all the laser guided weapons, and total lack of local innocents, why wasn't Bin Ladin removed when the chance was there?
Yep, intelligence is the only way for that strategy to work. And you do need someone on the ground, but not thousands of troops. With the Bin Ladin situation, I don't think anyone really knows what happened there. I'm sure if the military really knew where he was, they would not have failed. I hope some time in the future we will have accurate reports on these events. So, tell me some more about your view of the Bible. Do you "blindly" believe all that this website says? Look, you are an intelligent man, and frankly the garbage on this site is humorous. Take for example:
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/tempted_by_god.html
I looked up Gen. 22:1 in 8 different versions, and never was the word "tempted" used. "Tested" is what the Bible actually says. This makes a huge difference. Do you know what "version" this website uses? or do they write their own custom version with contradictions built in?
Welll..I don;t know so much. I guess I didn't really explain myself in the earlier comments. The thing is that this video exists. It doesn't make it exist any less by not looking at it. I don't know if the internet is changing the way we look at existence - maybe it is. We can become that more detached from it than ever. But really, do these people suffer any more from having people witness their last moments? Aren't we burying our heads in the sand to not look? I mean, as I said earlier, would be be more appalled to see a child die on video than if we read about it? Perhaps so. I know that seeing this video brings home the horror of it far more than my imagination could have.
And could you explain samsara?
Oh, and I wanted to mention something to you when you have a spare minute, Salsar. Do the skype thing.
I'm not sure I agree with you. But then of course I'd say that, wouldn't I? I mean, I've seen the film, so I can't let it affect me that much otherwise I wouldn't be able to function, would I?
Yes, the death of Nick Berg is "burned into my brain", but then so is the sight of an horrendous accident I witnessed a few years ago. Witnessing it, and this film, has changed me, certainly.
But how much do we open our eyes to reality? What is truly obscene? Sure, if a person is getting thrills out of watching something like this then that person has a psychological problem. There's nothing remotely entertaining about it. But one could say that it's grimly educational.
It hasn't made me any worse a person for having seen in, that's for sure.
But what about my comments regarding killing from a distance, rather than looking someone in the eyes and doing it more consciously? Do you agree with my point that we seem to accept that kind of horror more easily when it is, one could say, more cowardly?
Thing is, we're all powerless anyway, so is it really relevant? I was powerless to do anything, that I'm aware of, to stop the murder. So my conscience is clear in that regard. Did Tony Blair see it? Perhaps he's the person who should, certainly in the case of the death of Ken Bigley, whose life he perhaps could have saved.
These aren't questions that can be answered easily.
And besides, I don't know where I'm going with this, anyway. Should I know? I don't think so.
I think it's silly to say that I think it's "an educational experience". That takes what I said out of context. What else is it but a grim educational experience? All horrors in life are that.
Did you read the BBC article, on the link?
Hey salsar, let me guess. You have no problem with abortion do you?
Salsar, first off, "if you would have actually read" my name, you'd see it's not 'sevenseas'. Anywho, I know you're arguing against the loss of life, but I figured you're one of those deranged libs who mourn the deaths of Iraqi childern, then cheer at "pro-choice" parades. I'm glad to hear you're not one of them. However, you're last statement does reveal how your crazy mind thinks. "I don't like taking any life at all." You're a moral reletivast. Nothings really right or wrong (well I guess killing others), so you can't punish anyone. Everyone does whatever they feel is morally right! Yippee! So death is a moral wrong, according to your statement. Then you tell me what we do to punish a person who has exterminated (that's death too, remember?) hundreds of thousands of his own people. Or, say a man rapes and murders your mother? I guess we just stick him in prison with all the daytime TV and basketball he can have? I however, am against the killing of the innocent. Abortion = a horid act of murdering babies. Terrorist = scum who should be be destroyed for killing 3,000 innocent Americans. Do we go start a war w/ France because they are worthless? No. Do we respond to the threat Bin Laden and Saddam posed? Yes, it's our duty as a nation. Alright, you get it?! I'm pro-life. This means killing innocent babies who are alive in their mother's womb is murder, not choice! And pro-life also means we respond to those who are pro-death (i.e. terrorists). Nice try!
Well, the "execution" videos really are snuff movies, so I guess you could say I've seen one. And no, I don't need to see any more. However, it still has to be said that the imagination isn't adequate to understand just how horrific they are.
But I've said all I need to say on this topic. Any more will just be repeating myself; it's a shame nobody's been able to see my points.
Sevenoaks: have you visited the International folder on Guardian Unlimited talk forum yet? I think you would enjoy it.
www.gaurdian.co.uk
Hi Jack Great blog post!, I was just blog surfing and found Video beheadings. ! Posts were interesting to reading. If you can, come visit my Educational Videos related site. It isnt anything special but you may still find something of interest. :-)
Post a Comment