"Shock and Awe"

[Patran]

So the war finally begins. Forget the last two days, tonight was when the US, UK and Australia (as the only combatant nations) brought the war to Iraq. But I'm not commenting on the war itself, but the morality of us all sitting here watching it live on TV. Should we feel guilty about watching such destruction on TV? Is it nothing but propaganda, given that CNN have been kicked out of Baghdad, or does the world have the right the watch? HaVe we been desensitived by too many violent Hollywood films to separate what has happened tonight from Arnie killing hundreds?

My questions are not political, though for info I support Bush and Blair (i once had a French g/friend who dumped me 😉) but the moral questions about our non passive involvement should be answered.

In a nutshell, does anyone feel guilty watching?

 

[Diminished_9th]

the moral questions about our non passive involvement should be answered.

Actually, I think you mean our passive involvement. 🙂

For me, the issue of watching is knowing what's going on. The media likes to scrutinize everything and most people subscribe the more we know, the better off we are. True, the imbedded media can only disclose things at the Military's approval, but they are in the thick of it, and they are going to take it with them and tell stories (for good or ill) when they come home.

I've been following the whole thing really closely. When someone first posted a poll about the war, I had an opinion, but I didn't know a whole lot about it. I decided that I needed to learn as much as I can about what is going on if I'm going to voice my opinion. Granted, I only watch one news channel (not CNN), but I still feel that I know quite a bit about what's going on.

I don't feel guilty, because watching the news enables me to answer the following questions:

What are the targets that we are bombing? (OK, I have a general knowledge, nothing specific.)

How much resistance is the Iraqi army giving?

How have/will the Iraqi civilians react to the occupation?

 

[jencharmed]

I personally don't watch the coverage, because it just doesn't feel right. Its like your watching innocent people being killed because of two different people. Hopefully this will end very soon, so we can all get back on with our lives!!!

 

[Allycat]

I watch a lot of it on TV, but when friends say things like "nice fireworks" it really pisses me off, every bomb that explodes, is sure to cost at least ten peoples lives, and that are 10 lives too many!

But I do want to know what is going on, I don't feel guilty at all, what am I doing wrong?

BTW: the Netherlands are not giving military support, but do give political support, at least the prime minister is, but our country is very divided!

 

[siva703]

I think we have a right to know what is going on. Our people are over there giving it their all and we should know what is happening. However I think that the amount of coverage on tv should be more limited. And my this I mean in terms of how many channels cover it.

A couple of network channels on my tv (I think NBC and CBS) have been showing pretty much nothing but war coverage since it started. Why? Why can't we choose whether or not we want to watch what is going on? Why can't the channels that are only news channels cover the war 24/7, and let the rest of the channels cover it when the news is scheduled to be on their network.

It just pisses me off when im trying to find something to watch to get my mind off depressing things and all I can find is more depressing things. I have a lot going on in my life as it is, I don't need this war shoved in my face when I'm not in the mood to follow it.

marie

 

[jencharmed]

I hope that the war ends soon and not a lot of lives will be lost, even though there are some that already have been. I understand what the war if for, but I hope after this is all over that something good will come out of it!!! God be with our troops and all the innocent people!!!