Firstly, I think war correspondents are the bravest people alive. Five journalists have been killed in Syria in 2012. Today Marie Colvin was killed when their makeshift media center was hit by shell near Homs. How do these people do their jobs knowing their lives are on the line. As self serving as I believe the media typically to be, some people are above it all.
I urge you to read Bradley Burston's column about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in today's Haaretz. He manages to capture my thoughts on the whole Israel boycott thing and expresses them better than I could ever hope to.
Taking shape
2 days ago
2 comments:
Why are they brave instead of foolish? I looked up the definition. I choose life over scooping a story on the front line about fighting. I say let the people use their imaginations. War is war and nothing ever changes about it. People shoot. People die or are maimed. Or, why not let soldiers have their own war correspondents. Then they can shoot between rounds, duck and cover like a professional, and know when to run the hell away.
My heart broke for Lara Logan. My first thoughts to her were, "They escorted you out the first time. Why did you go back?" It doesn't excuse what happened, the women who rescued her were the heroes.
Reporters are heroes? Not so much as adrenaline junkies maybe. Or seekers of journalism prizes? Maybe. Heroes? No. I don't think so.
The way I see it, is that if these "adrenaline junkies" were not prepared to jump into the fire, we would not have any news of what is really happening. Governments are smart enough to control their media, if these crazy foreign correspondents did not risk their lives (for adrenaline or fame) we would know even less of what is going on.
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