01.04.09
To what extent, people?
I remembered going for one of my tutorial classes. I couldn’t remember the topic we were discussing on, but somehow my tutor related to two particular incidents.
There was once an undergraduate, a scholar I think, who was on an exchange programme. And she died because of some asthma attack or something like that. Her death was on the news, and people were like mourning her death and things like that. It was a big deal.
Not that it shouldn’t have been. But.
There was once an undergraduate. A NORMAL undergraduate. She met with a fatal accident and it was described as a gory one. My tutor even said that, the traffic lights near the junction were not there before the accident.
But her death was not as ‘big’ as the scholar’s who died on an exchange programme.
“It’s sad isn’t it? Even the value of your life depends on the kind of education you go through, the kind of social status you have, the kind of country you live in..”
I won’t be surprised if the death of ONE ‘young, talented and full of potential lawyer’ was grieved more miserably by a total stranger than the death of 436 people (and still counting). Because that one person was a an innocent victiom of terror, a person who was full of life and potential. The 436 people are instead, people who are doomed to die anyway. Their fault lah. Siapa suruh diberanakkan di tempat yang macam tu, ye tak? Oh yes, and should I add? They are but unfortunate ‘collateral damages’ in an act of defense, in a war against the raging and dangerous terror. Their deaths are unfortunate, but still justified anyway. Ye tak?
http://walid-jumblatt.blogspot.com/2008/12/terrorism-after-singapores-first-victim.html
It’s really sickening to see the kind of double stand system the world operates on. And yet you hear fights for justice and equality from the very people who violate them outright. Absolutr hypocrisy. I agree with a friend of mine. Sometimes, I do feel like retreating into a cave and just hide myself from the harsh world outside. Ignorance is bliss at times. At desperate times.
4. Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould),
5. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.
(Surah At-Tiin).
The lowest of the low, after being the best of the best.
anonymous me said,
January 4, 2009 at 7:12 pm
As unfair as it may seem, it’s probably just a case of whichever news sells the papers best. At the end of the day, it’ll be the profits more than anything else. The part on the value of life could be just mere coincidences..
Also, one could see it as the media not wanting to be seen taking sides especially since it can be seen as a pretty sensitive issue. So while they may do a fair bit of the 436 and might have done a bit too much for ONE.
Yang penting, we know that the 436 arent doomed to die. That it’s not their fault to be born there and most importantly, there’s no justification for their death no matter how unfortunate it may be.
Anws, should i sit for a general paper exam in future, I’ll just cross out the question — “Ignorance is bliss. To what extent.”
ummsofiyyah said,
January 5, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Hello again :)
Coincidences? Probably, but I think it extends beyond that. Who decides which news sells best? And why so? The issue is indeed more general than the part on value of life per se, but rasenye macam inclusive jugak kot. Ultimately, I think it boils down to the same main factors. Just my humble opinion. :)
The MEDIA not wanting to take sides? Ha really? Interesting.
Yes. True true. Tu yang penting.
Anws, thank you for yet another brilliant comment. Jazaakumullahu khairan. :)
Abu Dajana said,
January 14, 2009 at 11:35 am
Assalamu alaikum,
It is not about media not wanting to take sides. It is about media wanting to control the reactions of public. We have seen in newspaper report where a prominent minister says that israel should not be condemned.
The one person was mourned more cos it was in the front pages. We should not be dictated by the media that wants to control us.
Now, death toll has reached 1000. May Allah grant them the status of shaheed. Ameen
May Allah forgive us for our own (particularly mine) inaction. How will us answer on the day of judgement?
Jazakillah khair.
ummsofiyyah said,
January 14, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Wa’alaikumussalam warahmatuhu wabarakaatuh.
Allahummaghfirlanaa warhamnaa, ya arhamarraahimiin.
Thank you for the comment. Ahlan, and jazaakallah khair:)
nashaislem said,
January 15, 2009 at 5:55 pm
and this is why i buried (one of) my dreams of becoming a journalist. the world as depicted/painted by the newspapers just doesnt make sense to me.
ummsofiyyah said,
January 15, 2009 at 5:56 pm
:)
we have the same dream, i say.