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India & Pakistan | by Illiad | 2006-11-19 12:55:59 |
| Radiation or Speculation? |
by TrapperJohn |
2002-05-30 16:27:45 |
One of my biggest problems with our world today (IMHO) is the fact that the reporting of news has gone from essentially a civic responsibility to a product and commodity. I fear that much of what is reported from todays various news sources is more speculation than fact and that too much hype is placed in today's news stories in order to provide a form of self advertising.
I am not saying that thre isn't a real threat of a limited nuclear exchange between India or Pakistan. There is a very credible threat! But what is the real threat and is there a possibility that the present news reporting structure could incite one of these countries to a first strike? Could a leader feel that his security or stature in the world's stage be threatened by how he and his country are portraid in the news? Do we place too much faith and credence in the CNNs and MSNBCs of the world?
Today news is delivered instantly, as it is happening. Information reported can be used as military intelligence. In an effort to be "first with the story" reporters are going to further and further lengths to cover events. All the while their efforts are aided by the wonderful advances in technology, digital communications and images, satellites, miniaturized electronics. The US capitalized on this in the Gulf War and turned the media into a very effective tool to aid their efforts against Iraq. The media was outraged when they were told the truth...but they didn't learn a thing. One day I fear they will go too far.
My daughter is going to college next year, she has chosen photojournalism as her field of study. She is a wonderful, insightful and talented young lady. She is also afraid. She sees that more and more journalists are becoming victims of hostile actions. Are the combatants just totally insensitive to human life or are the journalists pushing the envelope too far and placing themselves in positions they shouldn't be in? I have always heard it said that a reports just records and reports the news...they do not make the news. What is responsible reporting? I am not sure sometimes...there are many issues and arguments. I am very afraid the media may push the wrong limit one of these days. There is always a chance for TMI (too much information).
The US and USSR did not destroy the world a hundred times over with nukes like we had the power to do. Why? Were we better people than the Indians or Pakistanis? Maybe we were just afraid to push the button and find out if all the speculation and predictions about what would happen were really true? I remember when I was in the military from 78-88 we came very very close to launching nukes several times, each time we were terrified that we were going to hear that final order. It never came. We didn't need proof about radiation, nuclear winter or the amount of destructive power we really had. We really would have preferred to never have been put in that position in the first place. I really wish the rest of the world would feel that way too, then we could stop this sort of insanity and deal with things that are really important. |
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spanish american war | by CrazySteve | 2002-05-30 16:38:18 |
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