How the Media Helps Terrorism
Buzz it
A War of the Mind
All of us by now have heard news of the three hostages in Iraq. Two of whom have already been beheaded (Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley), and Kenneth Bigley who may be in the process of being butchered as I write. Horrific thought isn’t it? But that is the point.
When the first beheading of Nick Berg took place, like many of you in a fit of emotion I rushed to take a peek at the video. My thinking was no matter how awful it may be it would be a good dose of reality to see the horrors of terrorism for myself. Well, I have to admit that I had to turn it off. And after reading the posts of others who saw it, most agree that they wish they had never viewed it.
Although I’m ashamed to admit, I had even offered a link for my readers to download it. I could not believe the tens of thousands of hits I was getting just to see that video. Very soon however my mood turned into sadness and shame and I immediately removed the link.
My initial reasoning for linking to the video was that it would be good for the public to see first hand the reality of Iraq. I thought that it might help deter the war mongers. In fact at the time Blog Bloke had been riding the fence, but after viewing the video it convinced me all the more that it was an unwinnable cause.
The next morning when I awoke I was deeply troubled, and not just from the horrific images that I had seen the night earlier. I realized that I made a mistake. I had played into the terrorist hands and was now a partner in distributing and promoting their monstrous agenda. And what if a young child had viewed it? Just think of the consequences.
Think about it for a moment. It is because of technology that terrorists are so effective in organizing and promoting their evil agenda. They use cell phones, GPS, internet chat lines and email to communicate their terrible plans. It is technology that gives them a public platform to offer digital videos for viewing or downloading from websites.
It is a war of the mind and these are the real weapons of war - not guns or bombs. So how do bloggers help the terrorist agenda? By visiting their websites and providing links to view or download their videos. Terror is only effective if it can create terror. And they do that by providing horrific videos to intimidate and influence public opinion and government policy.
Take away an audience and the circus animal will cease to perform. If nobody will look at their horrible videos they simply won’t make them any more. Make sense? It does to me. So I’m challenging all of my fellow bloggers to not help these monsters.
Mainstream media can also help by not promoting their news broadcasts to increase ratings with tantalizing clips about their monstrous deeds. So long as the media gives it a soap box, the terrorists will continue its grisly murdering spree.
Terrorism is like wildfire. It only exists under ideal conditions so long as it is fed by oxygen and heat. It feeds on itself until it is starved and the fire will die. Likewise, if we deny the terrorists their platform they will cease. Is it a total solution for terrorism? Of course not, but at least it’s a start and something that we bloggers can actively help.
And so my fellow bloggers, the Bloke is asking that you not play the terrorists game. I am also asking my mainstream media cousins to do the same. Accordingly, Blog Bloke will NOT be offering any links or images of the terrorists’ murderous deeds - period.
Filed under: Miscellaneous Blog Tips
What Next? Read More Tips From BLOGBloke:
Subscribe here to the Better Tips Newsfeed!
Follow @BLOGBloke on Twitter for Social Media Tips & News!
Opinions? (click here to jump to the comments form)
Video
.gif){kind=small}
re: “Terror is only effective if it can create terror”. Surely you meant to write “terrorism is only effective if it can create terror”.
Terror cannot create terror. Terror *is* terror. Terrorism is a practice involving the infliction of terror.
[
Reply..]
Perhaps I could have said terrorism is only as effective as the degree of terror that it can create - in the mind. And we all have the choice whether or not to participate.
[
Reply..]
“Take away that technology and they would be back in their tents tending goats” - you mean like Americans would go back to riding the range and tending their cows?
[
Reply..]
What I learned from these videos is that beheading a live person is a very disturbing act, and I imagine that the conditions that create such monsters must be equally atrocious.
These videos are not spreading terror. If you are on American soil, heart disease should be scaring you more. If you are an American in Iraq then you accept the terrors of war, many of which are worse than a beheading. An American in Iraq is a part of the occupation and therefore not innocent.
These videos are not a publicity stunt. These people, are doing what little they can to get the storm troopers out of their towns. The video is necessary to prove the act was committed. The American media were the ones that used it for publicity.
I have added an alternate interpretation of some of your comments:
> but after viewing the video it convinced me all the
> more that it was an unwinnable cause.
Yes, when the Americans walk in you have two choices: 1) bend over or
2) have the crap beat out of them and then bend over.
In other words, don’t fight the Americans, just bend over.
> And what if a young child had viewed it?
Young children should not be on the internet unless supervised and properly educated. This is more a statement about how American society does not pay enough attention to their children; and lets them get into trouble.
> It is a war of the mind and these are the real
> weapons of war - not guns or bombs. Take away that
> technology and they would be back in their tents
> tending goats.
More likely bombed (by mistake of course). Seriously, a better solution would be to take away the American technology; a lot more lives would not have been taken.
> Take away an audience and the performer ceases to
> exist. If nobody will look at their horrible videos
> they simply won’t make them any more. Make sense? It
> does to me. So I’m challenging all of my fellow
> bloggers to not help these monsters.
Yes, ignorance is bliss.
[
Reply..]
To commentor “Euan”: Yippee-io-ki-ay
To “Kyle Lahnakoski”:
(Editor’s note: Kyle’s blogger profile is not public so I highly expect it is spoofed)
Kyle said “I imagine that the conditions that create such monsters must be equally atrocious”.
All of us in this world have had bad things happen to us. And last time I checked every American is not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. But most reasonable people do not not commit atrocious crimes or use pedantic excuses to justify murder.
“If you are an American in Iraq then you accept the terrors of war, many of which are worse than a beheading. An American in Iraq is a part of the occupation and therefore not innocent.”
The people who are being murdered are there to help Iraqis rebuild their country. They are just ordinary people from all walks of life, religion, creeds and color who just happen to be born in the US or Britain. They are being singled out solely because they are easy targets to be led to the slaughter by butchers and cowards hiding behind masks.
“These videos are not a publicity stunt. These people, are doing what little they can to get the storm troopers out of their towns. The video is necessary to prove the act was committed. The American media were the ones that used it for publicity.”
It should be self evident that a dead body is sufficient evidence that the person is indeed dead. Videoing the torture of a person in the name of God is evil and an abomination.
“but after viewing the video it convinced me all the more that it was an unwinnable cause.”
Um… I was actually on your side here Kyle so no need to get your back up.
“Seriously, a better solution would be to take away the American technology; a lot more lives would not have been taken.”
Revenge is mine sayeth the Lord. It’s the same old story isn’t it? Tit for tat. Obviously you haven’t read my posts very carefully. I’m against the war - no matter which side of the fence you are sitting on. But there is a big difference between a laser guided bomb used against a military target and designed to reduce collateral damage (I hate that word) or intentionally setting off a bomb in a crowded market place that was designed to indiscriminately kill and maim as many people as possible. Or in this case, torturing to death innocent people that have nothing to do with the war and making it into a snuff movie. If you don’t see the difference then God help you.
“Young children should not be on the internet unless supervised and properly educated. This is more a statement about how American society does not pay enough attention to their children; and lets them get into trouble.”
Incredible that you actually have the nerve to preach a sermon about rearing children! Americans don’t brainwash their children to hate, blow themselves up and murder people in the name of God. If God really is God, He can do his own fighting for Himself. My God teaches love and tolerance.
“ignorance is bliss.”
especially for the ignorant.
*Please Note: Before this goes any further, the Bloke would like to say that he is equally troubled by bloodshed whether it is American, Arab, British or whomever. I personally do not want to see anybody hurt. But there can be no justification for murder and torture of the innocent. Stop the madness please.
[
Reply..]
> (Editor’s note: Kyle’s blogger profile is not public so I highly expect it is spoofed)
My apologies, the blogspot.com site makes you go through many pages just to post a comment. Anyway, it is not like my name is John Smith. My profile should be public now.
> Kyle said “I imagine that the conditions that create such monsters must be equally
> atrocious”.
> All of us in this world have had bad things happen to us. And last time I checked
> every American is not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. But most reasonable
> people do not commit atrocious crimes or use pedantic excuses to justify
> murder.
I am using a third person perspective to understand the *reasons* why the monsters are beheading people. I am not supporting the first person *excuse* for performing such acts. Without understanding the reasons, the only solution to a “terrorist” is to kill them.
> The people who are being murdered are there to help Iraqis rebuild their country.
You can only help people that want your help. Americans have to accept that helping can not be measured objectively; it is subjective and requires both the helper and helpee to agree on what “help” is. To force help on someone is much like attacking them. Canadians have done this to the native peoples for decades.
> They are just ordinary people from all walks of life, religion, creeds and color who
> just happen to be born in the US or Britain. They are being singled out solely
> because they are easy targets to be led to the slaughter by butchers and cowards
> hiding behind masks.
I do not subscribe to any “rules of war” that give advantage to only the rich nations. A person fighting a lost cause is allowed any tactic he desires. The dominant attacker must take this into consideration and accept the consequences of attacking a lesser foe. Furthermore, there is no innocent person (except maybe children) in a democracy. The responsibility for an action of a democracy is upon all the people of that democracy. If you say you voted for the “other guy” then obviously you did nothing to change the minds of your friends and family that did. You did nothing to help spread sanity in your country.
If more people had this perspective, then they would only go to war as a last resort. Those “targets” in Iraq would be aware of their guilt and try to not be so “easy”. Either way, there is a better chance lives are saved.
> It should be self evident that a dead body is sufficient evidence that the person is
> indeed dead.
I was probably not clear. The threat was to behead, and not nice and clean. Just killing a person may not be enough motivation to Americans; Americans kill many of their prisoners too. They had to go further to try and appeal to the emotions of the American leader/people.
> Videoing the torture of a person in the name of God is evil and an abomination.
No disagreement there.
> Revenge is mine sayeth the Lord. It’s the same old story isn’t it? Tit for tat.
> obviously you haven’t read my posts very carefully. I’m against the war - no matter
> which side of the fence you are sitting on.
I am baffled as to why you believe those men beheaded an American to just spread fear. What few reasons you give are false. I can only conclude your agenda is to spread the right-wing propaganda; painting those men as pure evil. Evil so pure, that there is no solution but to kill it. As long as you believe that your solution is to kill, you will not have a solution.
> But there is a big difference between a
> laser guided bomb used against a military target and designed to reduce collateral
> damage (I hate that word) or intentionally setting off a bomb in a crowded market
> place that was designed to indiscriminately kill and maim as many people as
> possible.
If in both cases the same number of people were killed and maimed, then I would say the attacker has the same amount of guilt either way. The attacker, in the first person, can make what ever *excuse* he wants to feel better.
> Or in this case, torturing to death innocent people that have nothing to do
> with the war and making it into a snuff movie. If you don’t see the difference then
> God help you.
I do not understand why you think these clips are being made for frivolous reasons. These clips were not made to make a “movie” or to spread their version of Islam. I see the clips as simply their dreadfully necessary tactic in this war. This is a war (if you have illusions of glamour about war go see the beheading again), there is a good chance that these men have lost daughters or wives to this war, they see little way out of their predicament.
> > “Young children should not be on the internet unless supervised and properly
> > educated. This is more a statement about how American society does not pay
> > enough attention to their children; and lets them get into trouble.”
> Incredible that you actually have the nerve to preach a sermon about rearing
> children! Americans don’t brainwash their children to hate, blow themselves up and
> murder people in the name of God. If God really is God, He can do his own fighting
> for Himself. My God teaches love and tolerance.
I did not say American were the worst parents in the world. Americans just neglect their children more than they should. But, since you brought it up, Americans do brainwash their children to hate/fear the “terrorists”, “communists” whatever the enemy is that day (and there is always an enemy). Americans also raise their children to support their war president; a disinfected form of killing via proxy. I can’t really say what God wants, but I would imagine a truly compassionate God would not hate even the terrorists.
> *Please Note: Before this goes any further, the Bloke would like to say that he is
> equally troubled by bloodshed whether it is American, Arab, British or whomever. I
> personally do not want to see anybody hurt. But there can be no justification for
> murder and torture of the innocent. Stop the madness please.
I agree that murder and torture of the innocent is wrong. We disagree on who is innocent, and who is pushing propaganda.
[
Reply..]
Thank you Kyle from coming out of hiding. Kyle said:
“You can only help people that want your help. Americans have to accept that helping can not be measured objectively; it is subjective and requires both the helper and helpee to agree on what “help” is. To force help on someone is much like attacking them.”
A rather lame excuse for a small minority of fanatics don’t you think. Your hypothesis does a disservice to the majority of sane Iraqis that realize they have been liberated from a madman dictator and are on their way to democracy.
Now granted, I will accept to a certain degree that people can only be liberated if they indeed want to be liberated. But in the end I am confident most Iraqis will be of the opinion the new democratic Iraq will be far better than the former.
“Canadians have done this to the native peoples for decades.”
Have you ever lived in Canada? I have and I will say that native peoples in Canada are better off than aboriginals in other countries by a long shot. And here’s more food for thought. Perhaps Canadians would be better off being liberated from themselves with or without their consent. Just ask the Quebecois. (I’m joking people
“I do not subscribe to any “rules of war” that give advantage to only the rich nations. A person fighting a lost cause is allowed any tactic he desires. The dominant attacker must take this into consideration and accept the consequences of attacking a lesser foe.”
Obviously you are not familiar with the Geneva Convention and the rules of armed conflict. Nor are you familiar with basic principles of human decency.
“The responsibility for an action of a democracy is upon all the people of that democracy. If you say you voted for the “other guy” then obviously you did nothing to change the minds of your friends and family that did. You did nothing to help spread sanity in your country.
What country do you hail from Kyle? You can’t have democracy until you call an election, which is precisely what the U.S. is trying to help set up, and precisely what the fanatics are trying to derail.
“I was probably not clear. The threat was to behead, and not nice and clean. Just killing a person may not be enough motivation to Americans”.
Ok, now you are contradicting yourself from your initial denial that beheadings are a publicity stunt to create terror in the minds of the populace. Stop wasting my time.
“Americans kill many of their prisoners too.”
Obviously you have been watching those wacky propaganda channels. That is complete and utter BS and you know it.
“I am baffled as to why you believe those men beheaded an American to just spread fear. “
It is called ‘TERRORISM’, or perhaps a better term would be ‘BARBARISM’.
“I can’t really say what God wants, but I would imagine a truly compassionate God would not hate even the terrorists.”
Kyle I recommend that you read your comments again and pray to your God, and ask that he open your eyes and give you a conscience. My God loves people but hates evil. I can truly say in all good conscience and confidence that God considers butchering people on camera to be truly evil. There is no justification and some day one way or another all will have a reckoning to pay.
As for the rest of your crap-rap Kyle I will not even waste the print to reply. Frankly, I resent the fact that I have been forced into a position to defend American policy. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, and the fact is I am against much of their policy in the Middle East. But off-the-wall opines such as this demand a response.
This is a perfect example of why this world is so messed up, and due to the extreme distastefulness of this topic I have decided to close comments on this post. The present comments will remain for viewing as a testament to the insanity that we call planet earth.
Kyle, in all sincerity peace be with you brother and go with God.
[
Reply..]
It has troubled me the way this post ended, and so this epilogue. If you sensed my anger… that was intended. But If I offended anybody in the process then I duly apologize.
However, I do not defend my moral outrage, for to do that would be the same as condoning the slaughter of human beings. For anybody that thinks the butchering of people is defensible I have this to say.
No matter which side of the fence you happen to sit, pray to your God and ask Him to speak to your heart. Ask Him if there is a better way. The Bloke knows for a fact that there IS a better way. Peace be upon you +
[
Reply..]
In light of Kenneth Bigley’s brutal murder I have decided to open comments again.
It is only through dialogue that we can learn to understand one another. So for those of you who condone this monstrous act please enlighten me.
[
Reply..]