Hostage Killing And Sentimentality!

Dukem

<div class="IPBDescription">Death of non-entities so traumatic?</div> After a lot of anti-British sentiment towards me, I have decided to pick a topic which can bridge the Atlantic sympathy wise.

Both US and UK (and also some other countries) keep loosing low status people such as engineers, aid and construction workers to terrorists. Whilst this is obviously a bad thing - can it really merit national attention.

1) The death of one person is not a tragedy: when Princess Diana died there was so much ridiculous fuss made on a global scale. Here death actually resulted in many more deaths after a UK radiostation instructed everyone to light a candle in their windows in memory of her. More houses burned down in Britain than in anytime since the Blitz.

2) These people are not even famous. Nobody cares about them when they are alive - why should they care about them when they are dead.

3) Regardless of how horrible the murder of hostages is, the resulting mass hysteria pretty humorous.

4) 24hour news channels play depressing music and show "shocking" still images of how great these peoples insignificant lives were when they were alive.

5) The funniest thing is when the families come out in the press conferences and say "he'd never hurt a fly" or "he's never done anything to hurt anyone...." and "he was our hero..." . Hero?<!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> C'mon - thats just silly.

I make reference to the recent case in Britain of Ken Bigley - who's death managed to unite the hearts of the people of Liverpool (why -i'm still not exactly sure....).

Any criticism of such stupid images:

<img src='http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40162000/jpg/_40162226_bigley_mass1_pa203.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

<img src='http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40161000/jpg/_40161480_bigley_condolence_pa203.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

is instantly rubbished.

See the promoted viewpoints here in Britain (via BBC):

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ken Bigley's courage and dignity are a credit to his family and his countrymen. I weep for his cruel treatment at the hands of his cowardly captors, and pray that his family will find comfort in the support of the thousands who share their grief.
<b>TM, Surrey</b>

I think that the warmth, dignity and humanity of the Bigley family have put politicians/ terrorists on all sides to shame. They have demonstrated wisdom beyond that capable of politicians/ terrorist leaders. And they have reminded us that human life is sacred. Conflict and violence are never the answer.
<b>Joanne, Wimbledon</b>

Liverpool will forever be proud to call you one of their brothers. The Bigley family are the symbol of hope, strength and love for all people. Rest in peace Ken.
<b>Michelle McMahon, Liverpool, UK</b><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Anyone else find these funny?

Yes, in Iraq 100 hostages - 30 deaths - it is very sad - but how many people die globally each day?


I look forward to the day when countries feel morally obligated to give state funerals to these people - that would be so funny... and we're nearly at that point.

Swiftspear

Murders are never as internationally accepted as other deaths, expecially when its citizens of the richest country in the world being killed to promote a message of hate against that country. I think it is just good form to express your condolances, I mean you would want people to do the same if it was your family dieing, even if you did understand that it really was unnessicary.

I found that quip about the candles after the Diana thing halarious, do you have a sourse for that fact? The princess diana incident was one of the greatest overblown events in our century as far as I am concerned.

Kester

Let me be the first to say this is very disrespctful, your avatar included.

I do however agree with your points. Yes it is a sad thing, but the way it is covered is shocking. Like you've said, people say he was our hero, sorry but no he wasn't. Yes these people probably knew him and had alot of respect, but are being blindind by the situation.

Although I think the killing of these hostages is a horrible thing but like you say hundreds of people die daily, why do these people deserve so much more of our time when other people might be more deservant.

I think the way you've gone about this, again, is very disrespectful and your most likely on you way to be being banned, but unlike most other people who will probably just shout you down, I agree on some of your points.

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->1) The death of one person is not a tragedy: when Princess Diana died there was so much ridiculous fuss made on a global scale. Here death actually resulted in many more deaths after a UK radiostation instructed everyone to light a candle in their windows in memory of her. More houses burned down in Britain than in anytime since the Blitz.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree she affected my life in no way at all and I can't relate to her situation, therefore ment very little in life or death.

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->2) These people are not even famous. Nobody cares about them when they are alive - why should they care about them when they are dead.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed these people weren't famous, but I think here is more of the plight of the situation. He was an ordinary person, he went to work like you and I, then all of a sudden he is taken hostage and then killed. Thats not a death like Diana, thats murder of an ordinary man in the most unordinary way.

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->3) Regardless of how horrible the murder of hostages is, the resulting mass hysteria pretty humorous.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed a little over the top and like that politician said (forget his name) I do think the people of liverpool are wallowing in their misery.

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->4) 24hour news channels play depressing music and show "shocking" still images of how great these peoples insignificant lives were when they were alive.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"insignificant" is all a matter of opinion. According to your statement you are insignificant, you mean absoultly nothing to me, if you were to die tomorrow it wouldn't phase me, but to your friends and loved ones i'm sure they see you as significant.

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->5) The funniest thing is when the families come out in the press conferences and say "he'd never hurt a fly" or "he's never done anything to hurt anyone...." and "he was our hero..." . Hero? C'mon - thats just silly.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed some of the people say is rediculous, but I understand why they would say such things.

TheWizard

This will be my final post in one of Dukem's threads. I really do not feel that the topics he brings up are worthy of discussion in the manner in which they are worded. They are inflamatory and inciting pointless arguements.

Dukem, if you can post more meaningful and less hostile discussion topics then I will withdraw this statement. Until that point is reached:


Please don't feed the troll.

BobTheJanitor

This is just blatant trolling. You don't make a point of any kind, you're just spouting inflammatory, empty non-arguments. This doesn't belong in the discussion forum at all.

Locking because my patience with these threads is wearing thin. If anyone has anything worthwhile to add to this, PM me and I'll open it back up for you.