Where's our outrage when horror happens in the Third World?

Question

Today we're all outraged and horrified by the terrorist attack that killed over 15 people in Barcelona. So we should be. These are senseless and cowardly attacks on innocent people, and they gain the terrorist's "cause" nothing. In our righteous indignation, two posts have been placed today in SpanishDict, to express our anger, and sadness, and honor the victims. Fair enough.

But how come nobody said a word three days ago when 18 people were killed by terrorists in Burkina Faso?

Is it because we all know where Barcelona is, and it's a nice tourist attraction, or is it because Barcelona is a nice, "civilized" European city? Aren't those 18 people as deserving of honor and tears as the victims in Barcelona or in Charlottesville?

How about the 22 dead from the suicide car bomb on July 2, in Damascus, Syria?

20 killed by a suicide bomber in Ramadi, Iraq, the same day? 26 killed by a car bomb in Egypt,on July 6th. 23 killed by a suicide bomber in Nigeria, on July 11th. 14 Killed by a suicide bomber in Cameroon, on July 12th. 17 killed by a suicide bomber in Al Karmah, Iraq, on July 13th. Over 70 killed by bombers/car bombers between July 23 and 24th in Afghanistan. 26 killed by a suicide bomber in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 24th. Over 60 people, protesting the dictatorship, killed in Venezuela by government forces this year alone.

The list goes on, and on, and on, and on. Over 218 terror attacks were recorded in July alone and several hundred people are dead by result, plus many more hurt.

So how come we only express anger, and outrage, and publish tribute posts only when the dead are in some American or European city?

Is it because the dead or the Third World are less important? Because we don't know (and don't care) where the heck are those countries? Is it because "people of color" don't hurt as much? Shouldn't we be a bit more consistent and mindful?

---

Hoy nos sentimos indignados y horrorizados por el ataque terrorista que mató a más de 15 personas en Barcelona, y así es como debe ser. Se trata de ataques cobardes e insensatos contra gente inocente, y no le aportan nada a la "causa" de los terroristas. En nuestra justa indignación, hemos colocado hoy dos publicaciones en SpanishDict, expresando nuestra rabia y tristeza, y para honrar a las víctimas. Muy bien.

Pero me pregunto, ¿cómo es que nadie dijo ni una palabra hace tres días, cuando 18 personas fueron asesinadas por terroristas en Burkina Faso?

¿Será porque todos sabemos dónde queda Barcelona, y porque es una linda atracción turística, o será porque Barcelona es una ciudad europea agradable y "civilizada"? Acaso no merecen esas 18 personas tanto honor y lágrimas como las víctimas de Barcelona o Charlottesville?

¿Qué tal los 22 muertos por el carro-bomba suicida del 2 de julio en Damasco, Siria?

¿Los 20 muertos por un atacante suicida en Ramadi, Irak, el mismo día? 26 asesinados por un coche-bomba en Egipto, el 6 de julio. 23 muertos por un terrorista suicida en Nigeria, el 11 de julio. 14 asesinados por un suicida en Camerún, el 12 de julio. 17 muertos por un suicida en Al Karma, Irak, el 13 de Julio. Más de 70 asesinados por bombarderos o coches-bomba suicidas entre el 23 y el 24 de julio en Afganistán. 26 muertos por un atacante suicida en Lahore, Pakistán, el 24 de julio. Más de 60 personas, protestando la dictadura, asesinadas en Venezuela por las fuerzas del gobierno sólo en lo que va del año.

La lista sigue y sigue, y sigue. Se registraron más de 218 ataques terroristas en Julio pasado, en los cuales murieron cientos de personas, y muchos más resultaron heridos.

Así que, ¿cómo es que sólo expresamos nuestra rabia e indignación, y publicamos tributos sólo cuando los muertos están en alguna ciudad europea o estadounidense?

¿Serás que los muertos del Tercer Mundo son menos importantes? ¿Porque no sabemos (ni nos importa) dónde quedan esos países? ¿Será que la "gente de color" no nos duele tanto? ¿No deberíamos ser un poco más consistentes y considerados?

Ya empezaste tú. - polenta1, Aug 17, 2017

You must have put a lot of effort into this. Thanks! - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

Thanks mate , earlier in the year I opened a thread about a mudslide that obliterated a whole village and killed a ginormous amount of people in South America , and nobody cared enough to answer,I am with you on this one . Our tears flow for all peoples. - ray76, Aug 18, 2017

How are we able to react to all the over 31,000 murderous attacks since 9/11? - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

I think we have all thought and spoken on this issue, but now it's time to get back to learning Spanish/English. Please don't be offended by its closing. Thank you everyone. Please make use the Cafe where we can keep all these types of discusions together - rac1, Aug 18, 2017

Love it. - Shamelesspanish, Aug 18, 2017

Ok, well, you keep opening it. It's on your head, jeje - rac1, Aug 18, 2017

Regardless of opinions, is clearly stated in the rules that this kind of topics should not be allowed. I guess enforcing the rules is not mandatory. - 00fac92a, Aug 18, 2017

You are correct, Guillermo, and that's one reason we are here, to enforce the rules set by the site owners. - rac1, Aug 18, 2017

This post is being closed by the SD team, as it does indeed violate the forum rules. - Stephanie_SD, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 1

With all due respect, and as a third world citizen that I am (and proud of it), I do not see why this is a subject of controversy.

We are all tired of terrorism, wars, and bad news.

Pain and death do not discriminate. We live it daily and no matter where we are, we are all exposed to suffer it.

I am sure that the authors of the publications that you mention, feel no less for what happens in other parts of the world, after all, we are simply human.

Death is death here and everywhere.

We could open a thread about bad news. It would be endless and maybe we would still not be able to include everyone ....

Con todo respeto, y como tercermundista que soy (a mucha honra), no veo porqué esto sea tema de controversia.

Todos estamos cansados del terrorismo, las guerras, y las malas noticias.

El dolor y la muerte no discriminan. Lo vivimos a diario y no importa dónde estemos, todos estamos expuestos.

Estoy segura que los autores de las publicaciones que mencionas, no sienten menos por lo que sucede en otras partes del mundo, después de todo, somos simplemente humanos.

La muerte es muerte aquí y donde sea.

Podríamos abrir un hilo sobre malas noticias. Sería interminable y tal vez aún así no lograríamos incluir a todos...

Well written. I agree. I think we're all saying the same thing. The coverage may be uneven, including on SD, but we all care about everyone in this world.:) - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

Acá va mi voto. Comparto lo que dices. - 00fac92a, Aug 18, 2017

Tienes razón Coffecita. Estoy contigo. - porcupine7, Aug 18, 2017

:) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

Thanks! - 00376109, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 2

Thanks, Gekkosan for your message. You got my vote! And it will be a learning experience for me to read your message in Spanish too. I can see how you can feel that way because we don't bring up those other incidents. To me, for various reasons (lack of cultural ties, or in the case of Venezuela bad relations (The United States and Venezuela never get along) I just don't have the close connection to those areas of the world. In fact, I'm not sure we have any particpants on SD from those parts of the world.

The media in the United States does a good job covering events around the world but the media, too, emphasize events in some areas and deemphasize events in other areas. It all has nothing to do with the level of care. It just has to do with the depth of connections that we have to certain areas of the world. (I just read AnnRon's comments under Heidita's entry...she's pretty much saying the same thing about our media and how it does not have anything to do with caring or not.)

So here's the bottom line: I care as much for the loss of life in those areas that you mention as I do anywhere else. And, quite frankly, there are selfish reasons to care too because these terrorists networks are connected so we all better care what happens around the world because if we don't we will be caught by surprise when trouble comes knocking on our door. No place is immune to terrorism anymore.

By the way, I wonder how many people in Burkina Faso know that an unfriendly country in North Korea may now be able to deliver a nuclear tipped missle to my hometown, Chicago in the United States.

I strongly support what rac1 said in her entry. There's just no way we can follow everything on SD. It's up to us to stay informed.

Wow! Sassette! I wish I could vote twice! - Daniela2041, Aug 18, 2017

Thanks Daniela! - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

:) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 3

I think it's because there are so many now that one can't keep up. I don't believe anyone is trying to be insensitive. I have had those same thoughts as well as you. It's heart breaking; the senseless acts of violence by these extremists. All over the world.

We do our best to post for the ones we know about, but as I said, there is just no way we can get to all of them.

My heart truly goes out to all of the places and people these things happen. No place in this entire world is completely secure and immune to them.

We pray for our countries, our cities, our people, and our world.

Amen, - 00376109, Aug 18, 2017

¡Estoy completamente de acuedo contigo, Rac...¡Muy bien dicho! :) - FELIZ77, Aug 18, 2017

we are bombarded with bad news about attacks almost on a daily basis! it feels overwhelming at times! - FELIZ77, Aug 18, 2017

:) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 4

Gekko, I completely agree with you. A life is life and is equally valid no matter where or how it was taken away.

The difference is though, most of us on this forum identify closely with Barcelona. It's like a scenario where say a girl was raped and savagely killed in a town 100 miles away - yes it is absolutely awful, but if that same thing was to happen on your own street, then it's different. Obviously it would be much bigger news locally.

Most of the contributors to this forum (I would imagine) go on holidays to cities and seaside resorts (such as Barcelona). Most of us cross bridges (such as Westminster and London Bridge). Most of us attend music events (such as Manchester). Most of us attend festivals (such as Nice or Berlin) etc etc etc.

What I am trying to say (probably badly) is no life is worth more than any other, but atrocities such as the one in Barcelona hit home to us much more than say a suicide bomber in Iraq, for example. Both events are devastating, but one of them happened on our Block!

:) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

:) - FELIZ77, Aug 19, 2017

Answer 5

Please remember ( I posted the same on echoline's thread) :

Forum Rules:

Ten Simple Guidelines

Focus on learning. Only post topics that help with language learning. No social chatting.

A thread like this is not allowed according to the rules.

Nada que ver contigo ni con tu país. Víctimas son víctimas donde sea, y todos son inocentes, y dignos de nuestra consideración, respeto y rabia. Justamente mi punto. - Gekkosan, Aug 17, 2017

Simplemente me sorprendió ver, no uno, sino dos artículos sobre este horrible atentado, pero ni una palabra sobre ninguno de los previos atentados en otros países, y tengo que cuestionarlo. No por el lugar, sino por qué es lo dice sobre nosotros. - Gekkosan, Aug 17, 2017

A mí lo que me llama la atención es que te moleste. No es la intención, y me parece que el problema del terror es lo suficientemente grave como para insistir que no pase desapercibido donde se dé. Pero, sea. Es mi opinión como habitante del subdesarrollo. - Gekkosan, Aug 17, 2017

I think that, in the U.S. at least, it's because one has to dig past the headlines to be aware of the attacks in places other than the U.S. and Europe. Our media sources are pretty tightly focused on those. It is not for lack of caring that attacks . . . - AnnRon, Aug 18, 2017

. . . in other places go virtually unnoticed; it is lack of awareness. It shames us nevertheless, Gekkosan. - AnnRon, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 6

There have been over 31,000 murderous attacks and 100s of thousands murdered by one group all over the world since 9/11.

You all know who are responsible for them.

It is simply impossible to react to all of them.

Our religious and political leaders and our media know about this but refuse to openly condemn the perpetrators. They can't ignore what happens on our own doorsteps and that is why we hear about them.

I refuse to stay silent.

If anyone wants proof of the above - send me a PM and I will send you a link.

Now that it's open again I can vote for you. :) - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

Gracias Sassy :) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

Answer 7

Estoy totalmente de auerdo contigo.

Desgraciadamente las matanzas, guerras e injusticias de todo tipo que asolan el tercer mundo, se han convertido gracias a los medios de comunicación, en parte de nuestro día a día . Cada vez que encendemos un televisor o una radio, leemos un periódico o navegamos por la red, éstas terribles noticias martillean nuestros sentidos , no así nuestra conciencia que hace ya mucho tiempo que permanece desconectada de ésta barbarie mediante el interruptor del "que puedo hacer desde aquí " o el de "que pena me da pero yo también tengo mis problemas" entre otros, y con la tranquilidad supuesta de que ese tipo de cosas no pueden suceder en el primer mundo, es decir no nos sucederá a nosotros o a algún conocido. Pero cuando los atentados y otro tipo de desgracias suceden a pocos metros de nuestra casa , el interruptor se enciende , y la conciencia se vé obligada a despertar en medio de una pesadilla de la que tanto tiempo ha estado tratando de escapar.

cuando nos demos cuenta de que no hay distancia suficientemente grande, ni medios técnicos y policiales infalibles, cuando nos demos cuenta de que no hay un tercer mundo, ni un segundo , ni un primero, sino que solo hay un único mundo que da vueltas alrededor del sol, entonces nuestra conciencia se verá obligada a estar conectada, despierta y en guardia .Empecemos a conectar nuestras conciencia , a poner nuestro granito de arena tanto en nuestra comunidad de vecinos como en la otra punta del mundo,

Tristemente los derechos humanos solo valen el papel y la tinta en la que estan escritos.

Mis condolencias a toda la humanidad porque a todos nos afecta aunque miremos para otro lado. .

Answer 8

Estoy un poco confundida con esto de que se abre y se cierra el tema, pero supongo que se puede continuar el debate.

Por un lado, estoy 100% de acuerdo con Gekkosan y resulta innegable que occidente siempre se escandaliza más cuando la violencia golpea al primer mundo (hay muchísimos ejemplos, podemos indagar en ellos).

Por otro lado, me parece muy productivo que existan temas así en un foro de lenguaje. No se me ocurre mejor manera de practicar el idioma que debatiendo sobre temas reales. El debate se presta a la argumentación y a la comunicación, y no entiendo en qué interpretación este tema resulta más "social" que otros temas de conversación/juegos que ya existen, como aquel que hablan de las vacaciones, por poner un ejemplo.

No me mal interpreten, no me parece mal hablar de las vacaciones, es una buena excusa para practicar, como también lo es discutir sobre asuntos polémicos como este.

:) - ian-hill, Aug 18, 2017

One reason a topic of this nature is closed is because it can be disruptive in the forum. Another reason is because the Owners of this site have stated it clearly in the rules. Please read them at the top of the "Q&A" page. - rac1, Aug 18, 2017

I read it, therefore the question. If that decision is based on "Focus on learning. Only post topics that help with language learning. No social chatting." why topics such as "let's practice putting a picture" make sense? - Shamelesspanish, Aug 18, 2017

I believe that reading and writing is a good practice, that's all. But it is good to know. - Shamelesspanish, Aug 18, 2017

We have that International Cafe that Heidita started: that's social chatting. Whatever the rules, I look for two things: if there's a good chance of widespread agreement and if everyone is respecting each other. Terrorism is not controversial here... - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

...an interesting point Gekkosan brought up, and it's been fun reading English and Spanish on current events.:) - Sassette, Aug 18, 2017

This is not simply social chatting about who we met and spoke to at the bus stop yesterday, we are talking about closely linked events that impact both our Spanish and English cultures, and how we virw these events! - FELIZ77, Aug 19, 2017

Since language and culture are inextricably linked, and se are practising our Spanish writing and reading skills at he same time, this must surely be relevant! - FELIZ77, Aug 19, 2017

Answer 9

Seeing as this is still open, for whatever reason, I just want to add one statement, to make sure there are no misunderstandings.

Although I was prompted to write this thread after seeing the two posts about Barcelona, I hope everyone understands that this is not about those posts, and most certainly NOT about the people who wrote them, who are perfectly wonderful and decent people.

I wrote this just because this happened to be the umpteenth time I've come across the same situation, and it was the last drop for me.

My comment has to do with our collective behaviour as a culture, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the specific country where this latest act of evil took place, not with the good people who wrote heartfelt and compassionate posts.

Thanks all for your commentaries, and my apologies for my part in breaking the rules.

En vista de que esto sigue abierto, por la razón que sea, aprovecho para añadir un comentario tan solo para asegurar que no haya malentendidos.

Aunque mi motivación inicial para escribir fueron los dos hilos sobre Barcelona, espero que todos entiendan que este hilo no es sobre esas publicaciones, y muy definitivamente NO sobre la gente que las escribió, que son personas perfectamente maravillosas y decentes.

Escribí esto simplemente porque esta resultó ser la enésima vez que me he cruzado con la misma situación, y para mí fue la gota que rebasó el vaso.

Mi comentario tiene que ver con nuestro comportamiento colectivo como cultura, y no tiene absolutamente nada que ver con el país específico donde se llevó a cabo este último acto de maldad, ni con las buenas personas que escribieron hilos sinceramente compasivos.

Gracias a todos por sus comentarios, y mis disculpas por mi parte en la violación de las reglas.

Not sure why some of the text came up large and bold. That was not intentional, but might as well stay, as I mean it. - Gekkosan, Aug 18, 2017

This thread has been closed by Rac twice , it should stay closed. - 006595c6, Aug 18, 2017

I'm sorry to see that this is against the rules. I don't have any problems with your thread, Gekkosan. Unfortunately Heidita has a problem with it and at least one mod agrees. I just don't want to see things get bland on SD. - Sassette, Aug 19, 2017

Answer 10

This thread is against the rules, please do not post here.

the post has been closed several times by one moderator only to be reopened again by another one, who , it seems, is not aware of the rules of this forum.

It was closed by one of the administrators of this site:

This post is being closed by the SD team, as it does indeed violate the forum rules. - StephSD 14 hrs ago

I will copy the rules again:

Ten Simple Guidelines Focus on learning. Only post topics that help with language learning. No social chatting.

thank you.

I suggest someone deletes this thread Heidi. - ian-hill, Aug 19, 2017

HI ian, I guess if it is closed , it would be the same, right? in any case, you are a moderator, why don't you delete it? I agree, that would be best. thanks - 006595c6, Aug 19, 2017