Why don’t people speak up sooner when they
realize that mass brutality, manipulation, and subterfuge is going on in
various of the less-well-known corners of the world?
The atrocities that are taking place, right now,
in other parts of the world are hidden in the shadows. Why don’t we speak up? There
are many reasons to why we don’t do something about the brutality that is
currently happening, in the Congo for example.
People,
as harsh as this sounds, only care about themselves. People care about their
family and other relatives first, before they can begin to think about the
well-being of others. So, it is natural for people to be unaware of foreign
issues that don’t directly affect them. Yet, the mass brutality in Congo, should
be an issue that people have some knowledge of.
The lack of media regarding these issues also
makes it difficult for people to realize what is going on. When the media has more
articles, videos, and talks about who looked the best at the Grammy awards,
than of the atrocities taking place in the world at this very moment, it is understandable
that people don’t speak up.
The United States has always had the reputation of
being the “policeman of the world”, intervening in foreign affairs. Yet, why
are we not intervening in the Congo and other troubled areas? I’m not saying it is the United States’
responsibility to care for every nation that is facing problems. The lack of
intervention in these areas can be attributed to the desire for the minerals
that are making their way over here. If the issues are resolved, then the goods
stay in their home countries.
You made really good points on your topic, people's selfishness, media and the US being the policeman of the world are all very true. All of those factors contribute to the awful things that humans do to other humans. You did a bit of a curve ball at the end, it is a good point that countries desire the natural resources of others. Would have been educational to see examples of that.
ReplyDeleteThe Grammy Awards example put things into real perspective. That is what the modern world is concerned about, designers and their dresses. Of course not everyone but the majority like to live in denial to the horrible things that go on around them.
You make some extremely good points about current American ignorance. Have you seen this slideshow? http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-6-best-dresses-at-the-golden-globes,30897/ I feel like it very poignantly drives home a similar point to the one you made about the Grammys through a juxtaposition of text about outfits at the Golden Globes and photos of the ongoing conflict in Syria. I think that you also could have addressed the fact that people tend not to think about things that are removed from them--that they can't relate to and/or they don't have to deal with--which I think is another important reason that things like this happen.
ReplyDeleteUghhhh Ynez I was going to post that too.:(((((
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Enlly. You start to explore some basic traits of human nature which are interesting. I feel like another aspect of it is that people feel powerless and overwhelmed. As individual citizens there as little to change things in other countries without some serious dedication. And once that horrifying news clip disappears from the screen, people often forget and go back to living their lives.
Hehe I win.
DeleteI definitely agree with you that the media plays a big part in what issues are deemed important. It's expected that society isn't going to know much about what is happening in the world if the media doesn't focus enough of its attention on these matters. I appreciated your reference to the Grammy Awards because it made it easy to relate to and understand.
ReplyDeleteBut we also need to remember that we can't purely blame the media, because in this day and age, almost any information is easily available to whoever looks for it. One of the main reasons that certain things don't make it to the mainstream media is that its consumers--and that includes us--don't demand it.
DeleteBetter yet, not only if they look for it. But there are people who go visit the places that media does not cover. People who have cameras iphones and can post things they see for others to see as well.
DeleteI agree with Ynez. The media is a huge part to why people are not informed about these saddening issues, but it is also people's selfishness that results in people not being informed.
DeleteI agree that most people care about their own private world more than other random people that they have never met. I also agree that the media under reports these hidden atrocities. One thing that is really nit picky is I think it would have been better if you had said that recently the US has become the policemen of the world instead of always.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good point, except that I think the US has always had that role. It has definitely become more evident that the US had become the "policeman" of the world.
DeleteThe U.S didn't develop many foreign interests until the cold war and the end of WWII though.
DeleteI really enjoyed this post, because it made me think about the issues that we are still ignoring to this day. Since we began this book, we have been thinking of the atrocities that occurred way back in the day. Despite the fact that we are all lamenting and questioning the motives and outcomes of the atrocities that happened over a hundred years, we forget about the current situations. I liked the link to the current situation in the Congo, as well a relating the background ads about the Grammy's that were lurking behind the real issue of the Congo. I just wish this post could have been just a little longer.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I could have further explained some of my arguments. Also I believe that it is ridiculous that meaningless things such as the Grammy's are being advertised more than real issues.
DeleteI agree with you that most people are selfish. I also think that media is the mean by which more people can find out what's going on in other parts of the world. But in our cynical society, a dress that a certain actress is wearing is more important than the lives of people.
ReplyDeleteYes, the media holds a huge part in why people don't speak up. But I don't think its the media's fault entirely. It is saddening when many articles are written about "who wore a dress better at the Grammy's" than of the tragedies that are happening right now.
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