Gun People / Gun Haters

[Alawen]

Originally Posted by Daldolma [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How many times has the United States intentionally targeted and killed 20 children under the age of 10 in a single attack? In fact, how many times have terrorists intentionally targeted and killed 20 children under the age of 10 in a single attack?

Instances of the intentional mass murder of this many children are rare, both on a global and historic scale. It certainly happens, mostly in Africa, and mostly in areas where media coverage is impossible until long after the fact.

Many children die in the Middle East, but they are almost always collateral damage. It's no less tragic, but the natural reaction to unintended deaths is significantly different than to targeted killings. You can question the logic behind that, but I'd hardly call it bizarre. And obviously, it's got nothing to do with racism.

It happens pretty often just south of our 2,000 mile border primarily due to our ridiculous prohibition policies and the economic opportunities that produces. However, in those cases the children are usually slaughtered with machetes.

[Daldolma]

Originally Posted by Alawen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It happens pretty often just south of our 2,000 mile border primarily due to our ridiculous prohibition policies and the economic opportunities that produces. However, in those cases the children are usually slaughtered with machetes.

But does the media have access to those types of locations? Seriously, I'm not being an ass. You have to understand the power of media. Being able to see crying parents and children is a lot different than reading about mass graves a month later. That's not racist or feigned: it's human.

The media can't very well go and cover the machete slaughters of innocents: they'd be putting themselves in mortal danger by even interviewing the families, let alone trying to get running updates from "authorities". There is much, much less access -- if any at all.

[Alawen]

Originally Posted by Daldolma [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

But does the media have access to those types of locations? Seriously, I'm not being an ass. You have to understand the power of media. Being able to see crying parents and children is a lot different than reading about mass graves a month later. That's not racist or feigned: it's human.

The media can't very well go and cover the machete slaughters of innocents: they'd be putting themselves in mortal danger by even interviewing the families, let alone trying to get running updates from "authorities". There is much, much less access -- if any at all.

This is very similar to the conversation I had with my sister. People are swayed by accessible tragedies where the people involved look like them. I really do understand now. I'm just horribly unimpressed.

[liveitup1216]

People are acting like this is the first time people have ever died. Last I checked there's no shortage of humans. It's unfortunate or unlucky at best, but not a tragedy.

[Daldolma]

Originally Posted by Alawen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This is very similar to the conversation I had with my sister. People are swayed by accessible tragedies where the people involved look like them. I really do understand now. I'm just horribly unimpressed.

I don't think it's about people looking like them. Were any of the kids black or Hispanic? Does anyone even care? The point is that it's easier to identify with people in similar communities and similar stations in life. People care about Africans being murdered in the Sudan, but it's so far removed from anything a typical American sees or feels that it's barely a step up from reading history or fiction. If there were video coverage of these types of massacres as they occurred, I think Americans would be far more empathetic. But as it is, it's an avalanche of horrific statistics from places most Americans have never seen and never will see.

I don't think race is a major factor at all. It's about identification and visibility.

[Charlton Heston]

“The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subjected peoples to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing.”
Adolph Hitler, Edict of March 18, 1938

[Charlton Heston]

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[Tarathiel]

thats quite a fucking stretch to say that because you express sadness over one group of kids dying without mentioning another group of kids that are a different color you are somehow racist..

well with that mentality i call YOU the racist since you obviously think the death of white skinned children is less important or meaningful than the death of brown skinned children.

[Alawen]

Originally Posted by Tarathiel [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

thats quite a fucking stretch to say that because you express sadness over one group of kids dying without mentioning another group of kids that are a different color you are somehow racist..

well with that mentality i call YOU the racist since you obviously think the death of white skinned children is less important or meaningful than the death of brown skinned children.

I specifically said that they are all children to me. None are more important or more tragic when their young lives end pointlessly. It's just as tragic if they starve to death or die from HIV. The outrage over Sandy Hook stems purely from nimbyism. Anyone who actually gives a fuck about children who are not their own is trying to do something, not just paying lip service to another media-sponsored day of feigned melancholy.

[Hasbinlulz]

I've said nothing to make you think that.