What's Wrong With The Picture?
At a time when high-tech coverage and embedded news reporting seems to be the order of the day, I can only give respect to the journalists who cover the war in Iraq. Not a few risk their life and limb to deliver us front seat viewing of the action, via television, in the safety of our homes. But then, as we are being fed these sounds and images, one cannot help but think - are we seeing a clear picture of what is truly happening?
In a world where corruption is widespread and cynicism a common malaise, I sometimes find myself in doubt of what i see and hear through the news. Still, one has to know what is happening to overcome the fear of being left in the dark, and so I persist on keeping updated with the latest. Last that I hear, Baghdad is being riddled with round-the-clock air bombardments. The number of civilian casualties is mounting up. Musuems and other historical places are in danger of being, if not already, destroyed.
Leaders are already planning of the post-war Iraq. Saddam is alive and was seen stepping out of a car in broad daylight onto a Baghdad street, proud and defiant, encouraging people to 'resist the evil invaders violating our land'. All these, like jigsaw puzzle pieces to a picture that seems to be nowhere near completion.
Even if one were attuned to every sound byte of the news, one remains, at the end of day, left with questions hanging. At this point, it's probably not possible to have our fears assuaged and our questions answered, and television seems to be the most unlikely place to find that comfort. For now, we just have to learn to live with the uncertainty of the times. We are, after all, in the midst of war. And the only thing certain about war is death and destruction.
Filed Under: Pain
In a world where corruption is widespread and cynicism a common malaise, I sometimes find myself in doubt of what i see and hear through the news. Still, one has to know what is happening to overcome the fear of being left in the dark, and so I persist on keeping updated with the latest. Last that I hear, Baghdad is being riddled with round-the-clock air bombardments. The number of civilian casualties is mounting up. Musuems and other historical places are in danger of being, if not already, destroyed.
Leaders are already planning of the post-war Iraq. Saddam is alive and was seen stepping out of a car in broad daylight onto a Baghdad street, proud and defiant, encouraging people to 'resist the evil invaders violating our land'. All these, like jigsaw puzzle pieces to a picture that seems to be nowhere near completion.
Even if one were attuned to every sound byte of the news, one remains, at the end of day, left with questions hanging. At this point, it's probably not possible to have our fears assuaged and our questions answered, and television seems to be the most unlikely place to find that comfort. For now, we just have to learn to live with the uncertainty of the times. We are, after all, in the midst of war. And the only thing certain about war is death and destruction.
Filed Under: Pain
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