It was not a good day for the former dictator of Libya. Not a good day at all. He died. And he died a violent bloody death. Did he deserve this kind of death, being shot in the streets of his hometown (I think)? Probably so. He was a bad man. He was responsible for the deaths of many many people. He supported terrorists. He hated America. He was so full of himself, especially in his younger years. He ruled with an iron fist for 42 years. Citizens of his country grew weary of his relentless cruelties to them and others. People eventually rebel against such drastic rulers. Think of Hitler, Mussolini, and Saddam Hussein.
No, Momar Khadafi was a bad man. But when I walked in the door after play practice tonight and CNN was showing the video of his death, I saw a bloodied wounded human being with a look of utter surprise and shock. He was dying and the expression of his face was that of utter despair. He deserved to die. I do not doubt that, not in the least. But...
Why did the media choose to show this violence? What was the purpose? Khadafi was brutal. He was barbaric is so many ways, but isn't what was shown across the world just as barbaric?
I know that some people have become so oblivious to violence that nothing bothers them. If humans are bombarded every day with violent movies, video games, and the news, pretty soon that violence become common place and basic human feelings are lost.
When I go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, I truly hope that I don't still have that vivid picture of a dying man, even as horrible a man as he was, in my head.
God help us all.
No, Momar Khadafi was a bad man. But when I walked in the door after play practice tonight and CNN was showing the video of his death, I saw a bloodied wounded human being with a look of utter surprise and shock. He was dying and the expression of his face was that of utter despair. He deserved to die. I do not doubt that, not in the least. But...
Why did the media choose to show this violence? What was the purpose? Khadafi was brutal. He was barbaric is so many ways, but isn't what was shown across the world just as barbaric?
I know that some people have become so oblivious to violence that nothing bothers them. If humans are bombarded every day with violent movies, video games, and the news, pretty soon that violence become common place and basic human feelings are lost.
When I go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, I truly hope that I don't still have that vivid picture of a dying man, even as horrible a man as he was, in my head.
God help us all.
5 comments:
They showed the picture on the morning news this morning, and they posted it before they apologized for the "graphic nature of the image." I was horrified, not because of not being de-sensitized from movies and games, I was horrified because it's 2011 and they put that picture up as something that we should all cheer for. I'm sorry, but in all of my gropings towards being a better person, I still can't bring myself to cheer for the death of another human. Do I disagree with his actions? Sure, as much as I can. But I keep thinking/hoping that we're beyond that...
Another thought-provoking post, Coleen. I, too, gasped and cringed at the photos and footage, but I have to say that in my thoughts, I go back and forth on the issue of the media broadcasting images.
My parents' philosophy (one that I have apparently adopted) was that we should "face" and "feel" that in which we are partially responsible. For example, if you eat chicken, then you should witness the killing of chickens to put food on your table. If you stand for the death penalty, then you should have to witness those deaths from time to time. If you stand for war, then you should see the body bags coming home. My parents believed that our society shields us too much, and that the end result is that we become desensitized and we stop thinking and weighing consequences of our actions.
The fact that you were upset by the horrific nature of the photos says that you are human. If it didn't bother you at all, then I would be concerned about you. But is feeling uncomfortable from time to time, a bad thing?
Was he a bad man? Yes. Should he have died at the hands of the rebels he had tortured for years? Probably. Should we as a society witness his end? Maybe.
Perhaps they didn't want anyone doubting that he was really dead this time.
Wouldn't removing him from power and putting him in prison for life have been enough? Maybe not...there would always be his loyal followers trying to save him and causing trouble. Does treating him with the same violence he showed to others reduce his killers to his level? Possibly. Should the world celebrate his death? Personaly I can't celebrate the death of any person no matter what they did. It just doesn't feel right.
The only news I watch is on the comedy channel - Stewart and Colbert. I doubt if they will show those scenes. However, I did turn on the TV to see this story. Before showing it, the newsperson, in an apologetic voice, warned people that they would be showing horrific scenes If they were sorry about this, they would not show it, but violence begets viewers and ratings. Why do you think people watch brutal sports or stop to watch an accident.
Expect to see these scenes until they find something else to upset the public.
Beautifully written. Thank you.
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