Friday, August 15, 2003
Blackout and the media
Of course, the media had to obsess about the blackout. From what I can make out today (since I could not catch anything yesterday except for shortwave radio), the entire world paid attention to the North American blackout. I watched a CNN report about the reaction in India to the blackout, which consisted mostly of amazement at what the fuss was all about.
Then CNN carried a story on how little sympathy the Iraqis had for the plight of Americans. I just marvelled at the stupidity of that report. The United States bombed Iraqi utilities to thy kingdom come. Iraqis have been living in mindboggling 120-130F heat without electricity for months now, while the Americans have been making promises about how soon the electric grid will be restored. And the Iraqis are expected to show sympathy to a bunch of people who have had to deal with 1/10th of their discomfort for 1/100th of the time?? I can only hope the discomfort will help Americans understand what it feels like to live the way Iraqis do, even if just for a day. Empathy 101.
Then CNN carried a story on how little sympathy the Iraqis had for the plight of Americans. I just marvelled at the stupidity of that report. The United States bombed Iraqi utilities to thy kingdom come. Iraqis have been living in mindboggling 120-130F heat without electricity for months now, while the Americans have been making promises about how soon the electric grid will be restored. And the Iraqis are expected to show sympathy to a bunch of people who have had to deal with 1/10th of their discomfort for 1/100th of the time?? I can only hope the discomfort will help Americans understand what it feels like to live the way Iraqis do, even if just for a day. Empathy 101.
