Where’s the global outcry for victims of Boko Haram attacks?

brianlux

This article asks an excellent question (One that Aafke asked elsewhere but I think would do well to it's own thread, otherwise we just bury the news as well) :

As the world continues to mourn the 17 lives lost in the multiple attacks last week in Paris, some people are questioning why the international community isn’t grieving similarly for the estimated 2,000 people killed by the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria this month.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/world-asks-wheres-the-global-outcry-victims-boko-haram-attacks

callen

Marketing

Human nature.

brianlux

Ethnocentrism.

callen

Yes part of that human nature thing.

JimmyV

Absolutely Brian. It is shameful that more has not been made of this. I hadn't even heard this had happened until it came up in the other thread and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

caifan82

It's actually a rather easy answer...
I'm not usually one to think movies are always correct on political topics (even less when it's a superhero movie), but I think this quote from the Joker says it all:

"You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan". But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds! "

Africans (and other people from third world countries) are supposed to die by the thousands... not Europeans nor Americans or Canadians. 1000 Iraqi civilians were killed by a bomb? Who cares, it's part of the plan... 12 French journalists were killed in Paris? Mourning all over the globe!

caifan82

Hell, i don't to go as far as Iraq... I bet almost no one knows what "Ayotzinapa" refers to... Even though it happened right in the US's backyard...

Annafalk

I agree this massacre of 2000 innocent people should have a much bigger reportation in the media.

brianlux

caifan82 wrote: »

Hell, i don't to go as far as Iraq... I bet almost no one knows what "Ayotzinapa" refers to... Even though it happened right in the US's backyard...

You are absolutely correct, caifan. I don't recall hearing about this- a horrible incident (I just now Googled it and educated myself a bit).

Again, as you say, "according to plan" aka "business as usual" aka "same old shit"... and there are so many incidents of this nature that just gets shoved into a tiny corner in most news media. Sure as heck won't hear about this kind of thing on the 6 o'clock news.

rgambs

With entire networks devoted to news 24/7 you'd think they would report on a wide variety of topics...nope, the same 5 stories (at best) reported to death for 5 hours each

rr165892

Paris is way more romantic then the dirt floor slums of Nigeria.The outrage over the Paris attack is that we could see ourselves as victims,people like us,we can relate.The Boko slaughter was faceless national geographic pictures.Nothing like us so it's not as sexy a story.Worlds away from us.
Horrible.These fuckers are pure evil.I think their day of judgement is coming.The tide I believe is changing.

callen

It's Truck Month and Ford wants sales. Most views. So Dead Poor black people or Paris with evildoer Muslims. Easy choice.

Toyotathon next week. Woo hoo

Jason P

It's Ford truck month already? Fuck me.

gimmesometruth27

i think the france thing was sensationalized because it was framed as an attack on free speech and free expression against countries with western style freedoms. it was exciting. it was something that angered a lot of people. people are drawn to things that piss them off.

the boko haram story is just sad and tragic. depressing. if i was an editor and had to pick from one of the two storied to sell papers or generate page hits, i would go with france. even though i know deep down the bigger tragedy is happening in nigeria right now.

Jason P

Lack of media presence plays a huge factor as well. If people we recording this slaughter and live-tweeting and posting Vines as it occurred, it would get more coverage. But it's in the middle of nowhere. Here it is, almost two weeks later and the only media coverage we are getting is sat image flyovers.

This image is so sad ...

Jason P

.

PJfanwillneverleave1

There is outrage for the victims alright but it is misplaced. A gang with a platform based creed that western education is forbidden and will kill anyone who disagrees can't be given any more attention by us as we are exhausted of tirelessly giving platforms to insane concepts.

HughFreakingDillon

political agendas.

Empty Glass

What should be done? Are we upset because this wasn't rammed down our throats on the 24/7 news channels? If it were, would we be ok with it? What should be done to stop them? Should we send in a group of scholars from Harvard and show them what education can do to help them? We obviously can't send in the military because we'd be in another war and more American hate can spew.

rr165892

Why can't we get someone to infiltrate the group,have them tagged with a location beacon and then drop copious amounts of military hardware on their child killing asses.Im not sure why we don't send some undercover young agents to try to be recruited by Isis as well,and do the same thing.What am I missing here?

HughFreakingDillon

rr165892 wrote: »

Why can't we get someone to infiltrate the group,have them tagged with a location beacon and then drop copious amounts of military hardware on their child killing asses.Im not sure why we don't send some undercover young agents to try to be recruited by Isis as well,and do the same thing.What am I missing here?

blowing them up won't be the answer. that will just cause more to be recruited. you can't blow up a radical ideology. doing that just makes them separate and multiply.