The fact that Al Jazeera showed pictures and clips of both killed and injured Iraqi civilians and also dead American soldiers and captives is a remarkable thing to see. Usually, new reports in a specific country will primarily or even solely show the dead and injured of their own side. As an attacking country, it is not very profitable to show the injury among civilian peoples, especially if the news channel is very connected to the government. Similarly, a country attacked would primarily show its own injuries in the conflict to the world, as a form of displaying the brutality of the offender and a way of placing guilt. Al Jazeera however focuses on objectivity more than I imagined by showing both realities, making it a very reliable source in the conflict if one wishes to look into both sides. It strikes me as interesting that governments criticize Al Jazeera for the showing of some pictures or clips that are very brutal, because the pictures, not being fake, are simply a display of truth, of the reality of a conflict. The American who said they were here to bring Iraq peace and freedom in the beginning actually noticed that he did not have a balanced viewpoint, because he did not feel as terrible seeing pictures of hurt and dead Iraqi people as he did seeing dead American soldiers. This actually perhaps makes him a more reflective person than what the first impression told of him in the documentary, because he knows his emotions and preferences or prejudices are playing a role and is even displeased by this realization.
I found it interesting how easily and readily both the Americans and Iraqi's were ready to blame Al Jazeera about taking the others side. In my personal view, I think that Al Jazeera was just doing the job of any respectable news agency by truthfully reporting what was going on in Iraq. Al Jazeera was neither playing propaganda for the Americans nor for the Iraqis; their aim was simply to report war. That, I think was successfully achieved. No matter what American politicians can say, Al Jazeera just filmed the war as it was going on, showing casualties on both sides, and focusing on the innocent victims of Bush's conflict. Al Jazeera was the bringer of knowledge of this war, and was neither biased towards the United States, Britain, or the Middle East. Admitedly,the news company is UAE based, but that doesn't mean they fought the cause of the Iraqi. I would personally, if I could go thank Al Jazeera for upholding their reputation of the most unbiased news channel in this world. Truth is difficult to obtain, as is knowledge, but in the Iraqi war, Al Jazeera, as opposed to Iraqi or American television brought both to the world.
Matilde I never knew the details of the war in Iraq and more than that, I had no knowledge regarding the role of the journalists and the media in it all. I knew of the existence of Al Jazeera and its popularity, but with this documentary I feel like my admiration for that particular channel has risen to levels that I never thought was possible. To see a media channel, a distributor of propaganda, refuse to show nothing but the truth is worthy of all my admiration. Al Jazeera showing the world exactly what the war is causing to both sides is fantastic. I feel that the Nations usually not involved in the war do not know enough about it and do not understand the full depth of it either. For this reason, Al Jazeera showing the world what war truly is, makes the realization sink in and would force people to realize that we should have a say in it, and should work to stop all the daily losses. Though Al Jazeera was banned in many countries, I feel that people should truly open their eyes to the world and see what consequences come from their actions, and Al Jazzera did a magnificent job in that regard.
The documentary we watched during class on Friday truly opened my eyes on the role of media in times of conflicts, such as the War in Iraq. Although I had previously encountered the bias of media in political affairs, I had never realized that certain media would take such strong stands on a war. I knew Al Jazeera to be a Qatari channel, but I had never heard about the controversy they caused in Europe and in the U.S. over the War in Iraq. During the Iraq War, Al Jazeera was the only channel to report nothing but the truth, reporting both viewpoints: reporting the casualties made by both parties in this war, for example. It is quite admirable to see that there still is a news channel that is here to serve its primary goal: provide an unbiased view of the world. I find it terribly sad that Al Jazeera was banned in many countries for showing horrific pictures; in fact, they should be admired as they are at least showing the truth, unlike other media channels. Other countries, who blamed Al Jazeera for showing such pictures, are the countries to blame as they are not even capable of accepting the truth. Relating this to Theory of Knowledge, it gives us an interesting perspective on the way through which we gain knowledge. In fact, much of the knowledge we gain daily is based on the reports by large news agencies. However, as this documentary shows, the information we are provided with does not always seem to be the truth. But, where can we get the truth?
It is interesting to see how both the Americans and the Iraqi reacted on the objectivity of Al Jazeera The fact that Al Jazeera was showing uncensored pictures of what the war actually brings, caused a lot of rage from both sides. The US only published pictures of dead Iraqi, mainly to show the good sides of war, ignoring that their own men were dying out there. Patriotism is a big factor when it comes to publishing the pictures of war, by publishing the pictures of the dead enemies; they make them look like bad guys and make your own men look good. The documentary showed how the pictures published by Al Jazeera could change a person’s point of view just be being objective.
I have enjoyed reading all five of these comments and I agree, that this video does open ones eyes to the bias of the criticism of Al Jazeera. Thanks for your thoughtful and long comments.
Lynn Part 1:
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Al Jazeera showed pictures and clips of both killed and injured Iraqi civilians and also dead American soldiers and captives is a remarkable thing to see. Usually, new reports in a specific country will primarily or even solely show the dead and injured of their own side. As an attacking country, it is not very profitable to show the injury among civilian peoples, especially if the news channel is very connected to the government. Similarly, a country attacked would primarily show its own injuries in the conflict to the world, as a form of displaying the brutality of the offender and a way of placing guilt. Al Jazeera however focuses on objectivity more than I imagined by showing both realities, making it a very reliable source in the conflict if one wishes to look into both sides.
It strikes me as interesting that governments criticize Al Jazeera for the showing of some pictures or clips that are very brutal, because the pictures, not being fake, are simply a display of truth, of the reality of a conflict. The American who said they were here to bring Iraq peace and freedom in the beginning actually noticed that he did not have a balanced viewpoint, because he did not feel as terrible seeing pictures of hurt and dead Iraqi people as he did seeing dead American soldiers. This actually perhaps makes him a more reflective person than what the first impression told of him in the documentary, because he knows his emotions and preferences or prejudices are playing a role and is even displeased by this realization.
I found it interesting how easily and readily both the Americans and Iraqi's were ready to blame Al Jazeera about taking the others side. In my personal view, I think that Al Jazeera was just doing the job of any respectable news agency by truthfully reporting what was going on in Iraq. Al Jazeera was neither playing propaganda for the Americans nor for the Iraqis; their aim was simply to report war. That, I think was successfully achieved. No matter what American politicians can say, Al Jazeera just filmed the war as it was going on, showing casualties on both sides, and focusing on the innocent victims of Bush's conflict. Al Jazeera was the bringer of knowledge of this war, and was neither biased towards the United States, Britain, or the Middle East. Admitedly,the news company is UAE based, but that doesn't mean they fought the cause of the Iraqi. I would personally, if I could go thank Al Jazeera for upholding their reputation of the most unbiased news channel in this world. Truth is difficult to obtain, as is knowledge, but in the Iraqi war, Al Jazeera, as opposed to Iraqi or American television brought both to the world.
ReplyDeleteMatilde
ReplyDeleteI never knew the details of the war in Iraq and more than that, I had no knowledge regarding the role of the journalists and the media in it all. I knew of the existence of Al Jazeera and its popularity, but with this documentary I feel like my admiration for that particular channel has risen to levels that I never thought was possible. To see a media channel, a distributor of propaganda, refuse to show nothing but the truth is worthy of all my admiration. Al Jazeera showing the world exactly what the war is causing to both sides is fantastic. I feel that the Nations usually not involved in the war do not know enough about it and do not understand the full depth of it either. For this reason, Al Jazeera showing the world what war truly is, makes the realization sink in and would force people to realize that we should have a say in it, and should work to stop all the daily losses. Though Al Jazeera was banned in many countries, I feel that people should truly open their eyes to the world and see what consequences come from their actions, and Al Jazzera did a magnificent job in that regard.
The documentary we watched during class on Friday truly opened my eyes on the role of media in times of conflicts, such as the War in Iraq.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I had previously encountered the bias of media in political affairs, I had never realized that certain media would take such strong stands on a war. I knew Al Jazeera to be a Qatari channel, but I had never heard about the controversy they caused in Europe and in the U.S. over the War in Iraq.
During the Iraq War, Al Jazeera was the only channel to report nothing but the truth, reporting both viewpoints: reporting the casualties made by both parties in this war, for example. It is quite admirable to see that there still is a news channel that is here to serve its primary goal: provide an unbiased view of the world. I find it terribly sad that Al Jazeera was banned in many countries for showing horrific pictures; in fact, they should be admired as they are at least showing the truth, unlike other media channels. Other countries, who blamed Al Jazeera for showing such pictures, are the countries to blame as they are not even capable of accepting the truth.
Relating this to Theory of Knowledge, it gives us an interesting perspective on the way through which we gain knowledge. In fact, much of the knowledge we gain daily is based on the reports by large news agencies. However, as this documentary shows, the information we are provided with does not always seem to be the truth. But, where can we get the truth?
It is interesting to see how both the Americans and the Iraqi reacted on the objectivity of Al Jazeera
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Al Jazeera was showing uncensored pictures of what the war actually brings, caused a lot of rage from both sides. The US only published pictures of dead Iraqi, mainly to show the good sides of war, ignoring that their own men were dying out there.
Patriotism is a big factor when it comes to publishing the pictures of war, by publishing the pictures of the dead enemies; they make them look like bad guys and make your own men look good.
The documentary showed how the pictures published by Al Jazeera could change a person’s point of view just be being objective.
I have enjoyed reading all five of these comments and I agree, that this video does open ones eyes to the bias of the criticism of Al Jazeera. Thanks for your thoughtful and long comments.
ReplyDelete