The Media and Spain

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
I wanted to start a new thread about this but if the mods don't feel it needed its own threaded feel free to lock it.



Personally I am disgusted at how the American media is taking to the attack on Spain. I don't know how Europe handled 9/11 but I have not seen anyone on any news channel even seem to care what happened. This is just sad.



I wanted to organize a moment of silence and prayer for Spain. I was thinking at 6PM eastern standard time everyone should stop and give Spain a moment of silence and prayer. Anyone else willing to do this with me?



Of course my thoughts are with them all the time but I think mass reflection like this is a powerful thing.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 41
    rick1138rick1138 Posts: 938member
    Yes I agree. The attack was terrible, and I cannot condone my countrymen's lack of care for the victims of the attacks, as well as the bombings that occured in Indonesia. We certainly have not returned any of the condolences that were extended to us after 9/11 by virtually every country in the world.
  • Reply 2 of 41
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    What don't you like about it?
  • Reply 3 of 41
    rick1138rick1138 Posts: 938member
    Bad manners - it's is just plain rude.
  • Reply 4 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    What don't you like about it?



    Don't like about what? The way the media is handling this?



    Because all they keep doing is criticizing them about their election calling them week and a huge win for terrorist. Its sick. I have not one person express sympathy for Spain on TV.
  • Reply 5 of 41
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Oh so you mean the talking heads that are on the "news analysis" shows.



    Flip to American Chopper and stop watching those "news analysis" shows. They say the same shit over and over again anyway. Maybe American Chopper will do a Madrid bike. A memorial to the people of Spain American style.
  • Reply 6 of 41
    artman @_@artman @_@ Posts: 2,546member
    Newsweek had a photo in their latest issue of two twisted, mangled and bloody victims...though the photos we saw in the media (US mind you) of 9|11 were horrendous...nothing like this...but I guess since it wasn't us it was them who got it...



    Moment of silence? Had that when I heard the news. Sadly, it's over and done with...next week it'll be something else...



    Also, seems that even as we strip Al Queda of their top leaders...they seem to be "networking" really, really well...Spain...



    "The U.S. intelligence community is considering the possibility that the bombings may have been carried out by a number of people with various ties to terrorist groups, the senior administration official said, adding that theories include the following possibilities:



    # Islamic fundamentalists with support from ETA.



    # Islamic fundamentalists with close ties to al Qaeda, although not necessarily "card-carrying members of al Qaeda."



    # Members of ETA or al Qaeda."



    Link. Quote at bottom of the article.



    Terrorists may have different political agendas, religious purposes, philosophies and reasons for their actions but terrorists are all the same in their methods. What better way to succeed than to form a "conglomerate"?



    Sadly, this madness isn't going to end.



    How about a moment of silence for humanity?



  • Reply 7 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Artman @_@

    Newsweek had a photo in their latest issue of two twisted, mangled and bloody victims...though the photos we saw in the media (US mind you) of 9|11 were horrendous...nothing like this...but I guess since it wasn't us it was them who got it...





    Oh man I was so Fsking mad at the US media for showing people jumping out of windows over and over again on 9/11. Reporting on it is one thing, Showing that is just something else. Thats just sick and twisted.



    Quote:

    Oh so you mean the talking heads that are on the "news analysis" shows.



    Flip to American Chopper and stop watching those "news analysis" shows. They say the same shit over and over again anyway. Maybe American Chopper will do a Madrid bike. A memorial to the people of Spain American style.



    The talking heads are the only mention I have seen of Spain. Thats not all the T.V. I watch, Its just all the mention I have seen of it. Regardless not just Americans watch those talking heads and it would be nice if they would convey our sympathy to other people through out the world that may be watching.
  • Reply 8 of 41
    Hey Scott. Such... well, let's say I've a lump in my throat. I'm quite moved by your sympathy.



    ****'em. It's only Europeans dying, eh? The Spanish are practically French anyway.



    A motorcycle tribute to the Spanish dead. Funny.
  • Reply 9 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes

    Because all they keep doing is criticizing them about their election calling them week and a huge win for terrorist.



    Is this what is being said? I try to avoid watching TV news these days so I haven't actually seen any TV talking heads comment on either the attack or the election. But if this is the position being taken, I'm glad I don't subject myself to such mindless horseshit anymore.



    Getting rid of a government that acted contrary to the will of the people and then lied in an attempt to cover its ass hardly seems weak. (bear in mind also that the Socialist party was in power in Spain from the early 80s until 1996)
  • Reply 10 of 41
    (to put this in context, I'm sure that many Americans on these boards probably knew people who were in the twin Towers, who knew people who knew people in the Wortld Trade Centre, at least, or were worried about people they knew in NY. Well, my girlfriend and I have friends in Madrid, and we were worried about them. They're fine, but that's not the point. If the people elect a government you don't agree with, in grief and shock, and anger too, that DOES NOT make it OK to joke that an American Chopper tribute would do when we, the rest of the ****ing planet, had the good manners to give you a minutes silence for your dead, even though your President is a ****ing fascist.
  • Reply 11 of 41
    gilschgilsch Posts: 1,995member
    I was flipping through the channels yesterday when I saw this guy on Fox news say that the Spaniards voted FOR Al Qaeda. Fair and balanced...in a bizarro world maybe?



    The idiot saying that was that albino **cker with the thick glasses. Nevermind that people came out and voted en masse, at the tune of almost 80%. Nevermind that millions poured on to the streets after the attacks in a show of repulsion and defiance to the terrorists. Nevermind that they did so not knowing if they were in danger of more attacks. Pretty sad.
  • Reply 12 of 41
    Quote:

    I was flipping through the channels yesterday when I saw this guy on Fox news say that the Spaniards voted FOR Al Qaeda.



    Their hatred of progressive center-left political groups is so twisted that they ignore the real significance of this attack: that two and a half years of the Bush administration's 'war on terror' have served only to increase terror.
  • Reply 13 of 41
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hassan i Sabbah

    Hey Scott. Such... well, let's say I've a lump in my throat. I'm quite moved by your sympathy.



    ****'em. It's only Europeans dying, eh? The Spanish are practically French anyway.



    A motorcycle tribute to the Spanish dead. Funny.




    I wasn't trying to be funny. They did a "Fire Bike" for one of the fire houses that lost guys on 9-11. They did a POW-MIA bike. You see everyone expresses themselves in their own special way. Who are you to judge?



    Besides it?s TeeVee so why are we looking for some special televised sentiment for some tragedy?
  • Reply 14 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    Besides it?s TeeVee so why are we looking for some special televised sentiment for some tragedy?



    I'm not. I was looking for some empathy from you for all those commuters who were blown to bits on Thursday.



    We don't get American Chopper. I thought you were taking the piss and so I apologise.
  • Reply 15 of 41
    northgatenorthgate Posts: 4,461member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by kneelbeforezod

    Their hatred of progressive center-left political groups is so twisted that they ignore the real significance of this attack: that two and a half years of the Bush administration's 'war on terror' have served only to increase terror.



    I've mentioned in this in a couple of threads. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the Republican's WILL use the following logic during the campaign:



    A vote for John Kerry is a vote for bin Laden.



    They'll disguise it, dress it up, use historical insignificance to rationalize their hatred for democracy and traditional American values. They'll frame the issue that George Bush was annointed by God and that he is the ONLY president capable of fighting their "war on terror". Cheney, Bush and Rummy have already begun spewing forth this exact type of propaganda.



    If you argue with these folks, they will simply write you off with the followiing logic: Why would anyone in their right mind do something as un-American and criminally negligent as vote for John "Osamam" Kerry?



    Again, a vote for John Kerry is a vote for bin Laden.



    Why do Republicans hate American democracy?
  • Reply 16 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Northgate



    Why do Republicans hate American democracy?




    Well I am glad to see arrogance still runs wild on AI.
  • Reply 17 of 41
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Could we please not hang all of America by basing it all on FOX News?



    And that fact that the media is talking about the implications and theories beyond the grief means squat since everyone did the same thing during 9-11 (at least the world press sure did). It wasn't 10 seconds into the attack that foreign press was saying we "had it coming".



    If anything about this that is galling is the absolute rush that countries do to "ME TOO" by claiming terrorist attacks are "their 9-11". Everyone does it when it's their turn.



    Problem is we don't (I don't) have a sliding scale for the value of human life, so to say 200 Spanish lives is remotely equivalent to nearly 3,000 lives is a bit offensive right off the bat. I'm saying this as maybe a reason why the "shock and awe" over this isn't getting my countrymen off their fat asses and onto the streets.



    I wish country's would reserve the "this is our 9-11" rhetoric to incidents that claim a similar number lives out of respect for those that did die on 9-11 many of whom were immigrants or non U.S. citizens too, let's not forget.



    Each life is precious. 200 lives is 200 too many lost to this shit.



    But 200 is not 3000.



    It's like saying "9-11 is our Holocaust". It isn't. It wasn't remotely close to 6 million souls, as horrendous and evil as it was. (Perhaps the motivation is Nazi-like that's about all one can compare). It would be saying 1 9-11 life is equivalent to 2000 Holocaust lives.



    I don't do grief by sliding scale. No per capita life valuations.



    It's terrible but true: Few here will march or have candlelight vigils for 1 person or it seems 200. It's not ungratefulness it's that I suspect we reserve the 9-11 tag for similar numbers.



    3000 Spaniards die, you bet, we'll be marching.
  • Reply 18 of 41
    johnq: With all due respect some peoples definition of things may very. Just because Spain did not lose as many lives as America did does not mean they don't merit sorrow or grievance. 1 human life is to many lost to terrorists. Now, can you point me to a Spanish article where they referred to this attack as their 9/11? I am pretty sure its only Americans that have said this...



    Now I don't understand how you can rank tragedies like this, and if you do, Nothing compares to what we did to the Japanese during WW2, save for the holocaust.



    What it boils down to is a horrible thing happened in Spain and I happen to think its very sad that not one public official on any channel that I have seen so far have really given it a heads up other than discussing if it was a major win for terrorist or not. I think Spain deserves more than that, As our allies for one, but most of all because they are people... And now the US goes to the UN to try to get them to not leave iraq... You know maybe if we showed a little respect for them..



    Note: I am not sure about the details of the US going to the UN, I just over heard it on the teley while typing this.



    EDIT: "3000 Spaniards die, you bet, we'll be marching."



    Is that what its going to take for you to recognize a tragedy?
  • Reply 19 of 41
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes

    johnq: With all due respect some peoples definition of things may very. Just because Spain did not lose as many lives as America did does not mean they don't merit sorrow or grievance.



    I never -said- not to grieve! Sorry, it's galling after having just said "Each life is precious. 200 lives is 200 too many lost to this shit."



    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes

    1 human life is to many lost to terrorists.



    I love how I just said exactly this and now you are saying it as if I never said it.





    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes

    Now, can you point me to a Spanish article where they referred to this attack as their 9/11? I am pretty sure its only Americans that have said this...



    I'm happy to grant you that since I lack Tivo. perhaps I could scrape it up in Google. I'm sure I heard at least one, which, since we are damning all of the U.S. based one one news channel's views, why not. But I was talking in general as well, not merely Spain.



    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes



    Now I don't understand how you can rank tragedies like this, and if you do, Nothing compares to what we did to the Japanese during WW2, save for the holocaust.







    Because each life is precious. Equal. Since it is, I would never say "9-11 is our Hiroshima" at least not in terms of human suffering or loss of life. THis is what I'm talking about. Respect for the seriousness of the incidents that is above you in the list in terms of loss of life



    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes



    What it boils down to is a horrible thing happened in Spain and I happen to think its very sad that not one public official on any channel that I have seen so far have really given it a heads up other than discussing if it was a major win for terrorist or not. I think Spain deserves more than that, As our allies for one, but most of all because they are people... And now the US goes to the UN to try to get them to not leave iraq... You know maybe if we showed a little respect for them..



    Note: I am not sure about the details of the US going to the UN, I just over heard it on the teley while typing this.




    It's horrendous all on it's own. I never denied that. It's sad and I grieve.



    But I will not expect a 9-11 style outpouring. That's all.





    Quote:

    Originally posted by SilentEchoes



    EDIT: "3000 Spaniards die, you bet, we'll be marching."



    Is that what its going to take for you to recognize a tragedy?




    I'm saying yes, if 3,000 people die I would expect Americans to show a decent turnout at marches and vigils. Thank OBL/9-11 of setting the benchmark.



    If it's the media doing this comparing to 9-11 so be it, another thing to complain about.



    Anyway do try to look a bit deeper into what I'm saying.
  • Reply 20 of 41
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnq

    3000 Spaniards die, you bet, we'll be marching.



    If you consider the population of Spain, by your reasoning it would have taken 415 Spaniards killed to have you marching in the streets.
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