Saturday, November 28, 2015

What the headline should have read: with addendum

"Radical Christian Terrorist Kills 3, Wounds 5 at Women's Health Center"

addendum
A note on how to blame the victim, a way to subtly imply that 'if the victim hadn't been...'   This is from comments section of an article about the shooting.

"Let's say this guy was Pro-Life. I'd also guess he was deranged.
Should we all just stop talking about what PP actually does?
For fear a few lone nutters will off script and stat shooting?"
"About time we haul the socialist off to camps. And starve them and sell their parts. They've been doing to it to us for decades. Starving us with the high taxes as well as the parts peddling. We ought to return the favor."

This is but one example of how we look for fault in the victim. A rape victim shouldn't have worn a short dress, a victim of a police murder shouldn't have been out at 2am or shoplifting. With self-righteous vigor we say that yes the police shouldn't have shot them 16times, but hey, the kid was breaking some law, and probably on drugs. And the white audience nods.  
The right wing of the gop has been notably silent on this, as have most churches and religious institution. None are coming to the discussion of what happened to Planned Parenthood. Isn't it ironic that they are doing exactly what they've been accusing Muslims of doing? The difference is that their accusations are inaccurate, while their silence speaks volumes. 
As a new blog I read says, 'so it goes'. 

15 comments:

  1. I agree, but I don't think the 'Merican media, from either side of the aisle, will go for it...

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    1. Yep, think you're correct, Robbie. How's winter there? I'm heading back to Butte in a few days, it's been nippy there.

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  2. Absolutely it should. This country is in serious trouble.

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  3. If there was any honesty left ...

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  4. I can't bear to read the comments section of ANY news article. A large portion if the American psyche is very, very dark and twisted. I wish it wasn't so difficult to immigrate to another country. I'm sick of living in a place like this. :(

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    1. Some are better than others. The NY Times comment's are not too bad, more erudite than most. The worst in my opinion is the Oregonion.....it's comments are largely commenters insulting each other, regardless of the article. The SF Chronicle used to have very amusing comments before going pay only.

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  5. Interestingly enough, Mike Huckabee called the incident domestic terrorism. I was shocked.

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    1. Yeah, and I've seen some of the gop candidates statements since I wrote this, most are half-hearted at best, and equivocal.

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  6. I'm kind of in the middle of this so I think I'll just shut up.

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    1. I see the other side too, but I just disagree with it.

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  7. One of the truly worst aspects of the internet is that many people feel free to hide behind their anonymity to say things they wouldn't dare say out loud in a public space.

    ps: I'm sure the author of your new blog enjoyed reading Kurt Vonnegut.

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