The United States is like the 6'4 220 pound linebacker that runs a 4.4; everyone wants him on their side. With capabilities that the U.S. possesses, you can't blame everyone for wanting the United States to help out when they need it, because really, who else would you rather have on your team? Except the U.S. doesn't always show up as hoped.
When Venezuelan protests became fatal, and cops and military began killing protesters on the streets, the Venezuelan's screamed for the help of the U.S. Young college students erupted with social media campaigns to expose the brutality, the horrific tragedy that was taking place in their country. A Venezuelan native who moved to the U.S. when she was young, was probably the most famous of all social media videos. The young woman showed pictures of some of the fallen protestors whom had been shot by the police. She begged, pleaded, and shouted for help from the U.S., but she was met with nothing. In fact, the Venezuelan crisis was never really addressed by the American media at all. I guess she just didn't make the video horrific enough to insight fear.
One video that did insight fear was when a member of ISIS was captured beheading an American journalist. ISIS then sent the video to U.S. officials to basically piss them off, and tell them to stay out of Syria. Bad move ISIS. You see, we don't really care as citizens, unless the media cares. 99% of the nation didn't even know this journalist was kidnapped to begin with, but god forbid when we find out..
Nonetheless, soon after we saw an almost immediate response by the U.S. We saw air strikes begin, and we saw large-scale discussions within the United Nations.
It's funny isn't it? How one video can spark a war, how a desperate plea can go unheard, how videos are the way we discover that crises are actually happening around the world. But without the videos, the United States wouldn't be as willing to get involved abroad. The videos have a unique way of sharing the truth, with picture and sound that actually make it real to us.
When Venezuelan protests became fatal, and cops and military began killing protesters on the streets, the Venezuelan's screamed for the help of the U.S. Young college students erupted with social media campaigns to expose the brutality, the horrific tragedy that was taking place in their country. A Venezuelan native who moved to the U.S. when she was young, was probably the most famous of all social media videos. The young woman showed pictures of some of the fallen protestors whom had been shot by the police. She begged, pleaded, and shouted for help from the U.S., but she was met with nothing. In fact, the Venezuelan crisis was never really addressed by the American media at all. I guess she just didn't make the video horrific enough to insight fear.
One video that did insight fear was when a member of ISIS was captured beheading an American journalist. ISIS then sent the video to U.S. officials to basically piss them off, and tell them to stay out of Syria. Bad move ISIS. You see, we don't really care as citizens, unless the media cares. 99% of the nation didn't even know this journalist was kidnapped to begin with, but god forbid when we find out..
Nonetheless, soon after we saw an almost immediate response by the U.S. We saw air strikes begin, and we saw large-scale discussions within the United Nations.
It's funny isn't it? How one video can spark a war, how a desperate plea can go unheard, how videos are the way we discover that crises are actually happening around the world. But without the videos, the United States wouldn't be as willing to get involved abroad. The videos have a unique way of sharing the truth, with picture and sound that actually make it real to us.
Well said Greg, well said!!
ReplyDeleteI agree exactly wit you James. I think another concept to consider is the role of the citizens for the media to focus on an issue. The people's role as a an agenda setter can not be ignored.
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