I know that a lot of people have issues with the posting of photos of the death and degradation in the middle east.
Obviously, I am not one of those people. I think it is very important, no matter what side you stand to see exactly what is going on and what happens and then look in your heart and mind and come up with your own conclusions.
I bring you the photos of Paul Johnson who was beheaded today. Due to the graphic nature of the pictures, I am placing them behind an LJ cut. Out of respect for the deceased, I am not going to use this post as a forum to promote my political views.
For more images of Americans mutilated, please look here. I made that post before I made my decision to not present political views when showing Americans who have been killed.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Don
These photos (and all the others you've decided to display) are being used by you to promte your political agenda. A position that, simply stated, is "If we weren't in Irac this wouldn't have happened". Yet before our envolvement, these same things happened over and over again. To countless thousands. Our President, and our nation will not tollerate terrorism. We will not forget 911 or the other attacks upon our country. Why do you take your hatred out on your own president rather than the cruel and heartless animals who everyday kill innocent people? Are you so foolish to think that this cannot happen in your city, in your neighborhood, to someone in your family one day? Will you just "wish it away"? Fortunetly, here in America, we can do and say pretty much whatever we want about policy, politics, our military and our people. We can do that because men and women have died just for that right. President Bush will be re-elected because Senator Kerry has not volunteered one purposeful course of action for this country. He is a candidate without a platform and without a plan. President Bush has stood unwavering through the hardest and sadest times for America. The Democrates have no candidate, they only have smoke. It's time for Senator Kerry to put up or shut up.
2 - SFC Ski
The people that did this have laid out their plan, to kill non-Muslims in Islamic lands. They can not be reasoned with or bargained with, only resisted and killed. They see no chance of compromise on their part, and compromise on our part will be seen by them as a weakness they must exploit.
I am saddene for the loss of yet another American civilian.
3 - RJ Elliott
I'll tell you what:
If I was ever kidnapped by these evil fuckers, I wouldn't live long enough to make a video for them. I'd struggle so hard, they'd have to shoot me right there and then.
The truly sick thing is, millions of Muslims get a big fat boner off this stuff. There is a sickness in contemporary Islam. It needs to be dealt with.
4 - Natalie Davis
Hmmm... sounds to me that sickness can be found in places other than in "contemporary Islam."
Dick bin Cheney says to hunt Johnson's murderers down one by one to "destroy them."
Shame on all of you violence supporters. Saddened for the loss of another American? Who gives a crap about Paul Johnson's country of origin? He was a human being, a father, a spouse, a lover of people, including Muslims. What about being sad for the loss of any human life, regardless of nationality, including that of the head of Saudi Al Qaeda? Yeah, the beheader who was taken down by revenge seekers. Did he commit an unspeakably grotesque atrocity? Absolutely. What a tragedy when a human of potential chooses the road of evil. What kind of sickness runs through a person who would do such a thing? I suspect it's the same kind of sickness that led the people who murdered him, that leads the Shrub and Bin Cheney and Maryland Gov. Bob "Hang 'Em High" Ehrlich, and all those who support state-sanctioned killing or violence of any kind.
Much to pray about tonight. Those photos are just chilling.
5 - RJ Elliott
ND:
Comparing the guy who beheaded an American civilian to a Republican Governor and a Republican Vice-President is unsurprising, coming from you.
Everyone who isn't a complete kook understands the difference between murder and putting murderers to death.
6 - Natalie Davis
Oh I see... people who disagree with the likes of you must be kooks. Whatever.
For what it's worth, I do include Slick Willie and numerous Democrats in that group too. I repeat, what a tragedy when a human of potential chooses the road of evil.
Pay attention, dear one: If you put a murderer to death, you become a murderer too. I know that's tough for you to understand, Mr. Elliott, but that basic truth is apparent to many people.
7 - Kurt Nordstrom
The state exercises the power to wield the sword. When we put murderers to death, it is not murder, it is justice.
8 - Natalie Davis
right. i believe that. i also believe that dogs can fly, horses can handle quadratic equations, and the sky is cherry-red.
truth is, the state is terrorist. it is vile. it is without value. period. and if you follow/support a horrid state, the blood it spills and the evil it does is on your hands as well.
god, what a nauseating experience this is. i'm thinking johnson and the al qaeda guy (well, probably not the al qaeda guy) are way better off than they were 24 hours ago.
9 - Natalie Davis
and kurt... what? are you reading from a fucking textbook? man, the inculcators did quite the job with you, didn't they?
10 - SFC Ski
"Saddened for the loss of another American? Who gives a crap about Paul Johnson's country of origin?"
The terrorists who kidnapped and later killed Mr. Johnson obviously did, especially when they consciously let Muslims go free.
ND, to you all killing may be the same, but to me it is not, and I'd gladly kill 100 Muslim fanatics like the ones who killed Mr. Johnson rather than let them kill another.
Sure, I know the Bible says it is a greater thing to turn the other cheek, to forgive and forget, and to lay down one's life so that others might live, but if I was there in the room with Mr. Johnson, and offered my life for his, these men would only have taken us both, and as many others as they could get. THey refer only to themselves as martyrs when they are killed, their enemies are not given any such epitaph. Peace is found only through submission to Islam, there can be no compromise.
The mentality of men such as these is that we are less than desrving of life, we are Kafir, unbeliever, killing us is a duty for them.
You call it a sickness, well until they recognize their sickness they will not try to be cured.
Is this a condemnation of all Muslims? No, but if Islam has a future without conflict, I don't think its followers will come from the Middle East, not unless the Muslims here choose to fight the extremists and develop Islam in a more tolerant way.
I know that you are more concerned with what the US does than the actions of others outside ur country, you feel a part of it, you feel that perhaps you can change it. I applaud that, but don't try to equate the savage killing of an innocent man with the killing of a brutal murderer given a fair trial and more mercy than he deserves.
11 - Natalie Davis
You're wrong about one thing: I feel no part of it. I feel only agony, disgust, and the urge to expatriate ASAP.
12 - Shannon
Natalie, if you want to expatriate ASAP, then I say, get your shoes, your things, and get to steppin'.
Speaking as someone who PROBABLY shares a LOT of your views re: death penalties and whatnot, I will say only that there are times where - what else do you do?
Any person, be they Muslim, Jew, Christian, Caucasian, African-American, Asian, Native American, purple with pink polka-dots, who would decapitate another human being is SICK.
Sick in a way that there IS NO REHABILITATION from.
13 - SFC SKi
Indulge me Natalie, where would you go to, what country offers you a better form of governemnt? Which country is it it that handles its businees in such away that you agree with it wholeheartedly, or at least more than the US does? am genuinely curious, because I can't think of any place off the top of my head.
Secondly, while you have every right to remain in the US and believe what you like and express those views, what is the reason that you haven't left for this unknown country? YOu seem to be well-educated, you apparently have a job, so you are employable. In short, what is keeping you in the US?
This is not a "If you don't like it, why don't you leave!" rhetorical question. If there genuniely is a better place, where is it, and why haven't you gone there? Does it have incredibly stringent anti-immigration policies? Is it so remote that passage there is beyond your means? Would you be in danger from the US Government for attempting to get there?
I nean, I was in West Berlin, and I saw all the East Berliners wanting to leave their country for one that was just on the other side of a little old Wall. I had an Iraqi instructor who fled on foot over the mountians into Turkey, then made his way to the US, obviously it was difficult for him to evade the security forces and climb the steep mountains, so he couldn't just get to where he wanted to go right away, but he got where he wanted to be. I am always amazed at the obstacles people will overcome to get where they wanted to go, a better place. I am sure your tale will be equally inspirational when yu finally get there.
It's Sunday morning where I am, give me something to ponder over my second cup, we don't get the Sunday supplements here.
14 - Natalie Davis
The only reason I have not gone yet is money; I am what's known as "working poor," and I am supporting two children all alone. When I can afford to go, I shall.
As to where, right now, the plan is Canada, although I have been studying Dutch in case we change our minds about the Netherlands. And, of course, there is always France.
15 - Natalie Davis
Shannon, I don't disagree -- anyone who would behead another creature is indeed sick. But so is anyone who would kill another creature.
16 - Natalie Davis
SFC, I have no wish to indulge or entertain you. No Sunday supplements? A pity.
17 - Al Barger
At least for this one moment, I am in 100% agreement with Ms Tek. I think that everyone in the country should watch this video and see these pictures as a basis for understanding what we're dealing with -- whatever conclusions we ultimately draw from that knowledge.
Thank you Ms Tek for presenting these pictures in this way.
18 - Shark
Coupla points;
1) I hate to get technical, but Johnson and Berg were both killed before they were beheaded. (That's obvious from the photos) ie. the killers didn't have the balls to physically wrestle with their victims as they executed them, which shows some amount of weakness on the killers' part. Small consolation, but it indicates they're not Supermen.
2) They behead their [dead] victims -- knowing it's the most despicable, universal symbol of Victory combined with Humiliation.
3) In a world of 'images', they're trying to compete with the photos from Abu Ghraib prison, and doing a helluva job. ("We" set the bar pretty high, but they've shown that can top anything.)
ie. they want you to react and overreact.
This is a powerful symbol, but it's hard to know what to take from it. Some want to surrender, some want to flee, some want to go all nuclear.
It's barbaric on one level (moral/taboo),
sophisticated on another (marketing/propaganda),
and effective on any level.
4) The same book that contains "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself" also counsels "An eye for an eye..."
Take yer pick, flip a coin, but either way, kiss your ol' culture good-bye.
We'll never be the same.
19 - Ms. Tek
Nat,
Holland is lovely and they actually "get it" there. However just so you know... just because has Amsterdam which has a reputation which is not deserved, I would never say that the Dutch are "open minded". They more believe that people should have a right to live their own life as they see fit and that government should not intervene.
For example: If you get hired for a job there and after a month, you dye your hair hot pink, they cannot fire you just for that. Also, if you dye your hair hot pink and walk around there, people are less likely to stare at you, make comments, etc... This does NOT mean that they would be your friend, allow their children to play with you or socialize with you. The dutch show their disapproval in non interaction. To me, this is totally cool as that how I look, my sexuality, or what I want to watch on tv should not be regulated by government or commence but have my neighbors not want to hang out with me if they don't like it.
To sum it up: Dutch want a traditional live for themselves but they will not make laws or interfere if you should to live yours as you see fit.
I LOVE Holland and wanted to live there myself no to long ago.
Thing to note however: They are seriously cutting down on immigration there. You best bet is to seek higher education or a technical degree. Also, if you actively seek citizenship in another country, those are grounds for you US citizenship to be stripped from you. The US is pretty lax on some things... You can have dual citizenship with no problem if you get it because of marriage or it is just given to you after a time. However, technically if you were to go to the french embassy, sign the papers, then swear to France, you will use your American citizenship. In the pass, this wasn't super enforced- If you kept you American passport and just traveled on in into the US, unless the FBI or CIA were on your tail, the US would be none the wiser.
In this day and age however, both the US and EU are taking measures to better organize and even share their data when it comes to citizenship and immigration.
My suggestion to you is thus:
If Bush gets re-elected, you are going to want to get out ASAP. They are already talking about implementing more bio-metic passports and travel and immigration will become even harder for Americans if Bush's plans are implemented. If Bush loses, you should be okay for a bit longer.
The reason why I have not "left" is because I don't wish to give up my American citizenship (for all the crap that BUSH has done to this country- he is the worse that America can produce- but there are still a lot of good, intelligence, nice, beautiful people here.) I keep hoping that things are going to get better and more and more people will start to wake up. If I leave... then that is one less person to "get the word out". At the same time, I would rather live the life of the expat- I got the Yankee passport but I'll sit in the café in Portugal, watch the news and blog it away from the frontlines and won't have to worry about being dragged out by my hair but the new American Brownshirts/Culture Police.
You may want to look at this, Nat:
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=7692
20 - jadester
"We'll never be the same."
actually, we've always been this way. Such despicable acts of brutality, humiliation and disrespect to the dead have been carried out by us on us for centuries, even millenia.
We've had wars for millenia too.
The only reasons it seems so bad to us are:
1)we like to consider ourselves "civilized" as in, better culturually and spiritually to how we were centuries ago. This isn't really the case, as anyone with a little sense can see. We may *try* to be so but so far, we have failed
2)because of our now-extensive communications networks, more of us than ever can read/hear/watch these things happen, and therefore be aware that they are happening without having to exert ourselves to do so.
21 - Bob A. Booey
I think this "we'll never be the same" platitude is thrown around far too much. The reality of modern culture and media in the age of the world picture is that we are almost completely divorced from the immediacy of suffering. This doesn't mean we're cold to images of brutality -- quite to the contrary, we see so MANY of them and are moved so quickly because we interpret them as drama and spectacle. This has a lot to do with technology and its ability to manipulate our emotions -- whether it's through violence in media or the constant information about war, genocide, and terror we're constantly bombarded with, we're moved but in a way that lacks emotional content. We don't feel for the victims of suffering beyond the most limited, disposable affect -- horrific images and events flit through our attention spans, they evoke the intended response, and we forget.
I have yet to read an analysis of this post-9/11 but various cultural critics have discussed the way in which war has become a distant spectacle that we observe on our TV screens like an action movie or a video game, replete with neon tracers lighting up the sky and bodies that symbolize our stake in the "game." An event like 9/11 raised our anger, focused our blame, made us feel "patriotic," brought out our worst fears, and created a sense of general outrage and frustration. This was very real but it's very evident to me that death remains a spectacle in post-9/11 America. In fact, death becomes a commodity and a tactic -- I won't even get into the ways in which our entire moral language of the war on terror is spoken with images of death. Countless groups justify their politics with borrowed outrage and lash out with transposed emotions at other groups.
We've forgotten. We live our lives oblivious to the loss of life (or worse, lives of violence and poverty) and more supremely confident of our rightful title to a convenient life. We're incapable of being altered or shaken and remembering in any real way since we don't know how to interpret or understand tragedy as a culture.
The reality is that we're not changed by these images in any real sense, unless of course we've lost someone dear to us. We share in the outrage and the pain because we feel we're supposed to and feel as though the things and people we've always feared deserve our indignation and vengeance. The latest image of brutality will occupy our minds until the next one comes up and demands an attendant emotional response. And we'll comply without knowing quite clearly who or what we're upset about or, more importantly, what we wish to do about it. Terror is a psychological reality for much of the world -- we've certainly become more attuned to the risks of living urban life in the past three years, but I don't think that Americans who weren't directly affected have been irreparably changed in their character or beliefs. I'm skeptical that there's an increasing self-reflection or appreciation for human life in most quarters. In fact, I'm fairly sure there isn't. We move on from "tragedy" so quickly and all we're left with is a vague sense of frustration and this concept of "terror" that isn't rooted in our experience, a directionless anger and anxiety that manifests in a similarly unfocused aggression based in
our existing fears and prejudices.
There's a lot that can be said about the justification for the war on Iraq and the psychological ploys used in its defense, but I won't get into that.
I won't contend that this dilution of empathy and banalization of evil affects our most intimate relationships, although others have said as much. We still feel deeply and personally if it's our relatives or loved ones who are dying or abused. I will contend that even our intimate relationships have been subtly deadened by the commodification of feeling and sentiment (particularly in our notions of romance and the nuclear family), but that's a huge topic in and of itself.
We don't have morality so much as we have temporary, easily manipulated emotion. We don't have ethics so much as we have the language of personalized offense and insecure aggressions. We don't have unity so much as we have exclusions and arbitrary group designations we cling to. We don't have faith so much as we have an infantile sense of entitlement and election. We don't have meaning so much as we have consumption of the IDEAS and IMAGES we are sold as representing the good life.
And we don't have death so much as we have our own deadness to suffering and tragedy. We're numbed to evil, surrounded by evil, compromised by evil, and we don't recognize it as such unless we are given the most base, visceral stimuli: images of horror and degradation are cheap and common. They don't make us better human actors, they don't motivate us to change ourselves or the world, they insulate us in our belief that evil is external to us, that we're justified in our own lives and deserve the "security" of our indifference. Our political opposition is a cheap product as well: we resort to blanket dismissals, cheap slogans, and even cheaper jokes about the cynicism of power without realizing our own cynicism and complicity.
Death isn't available to us. I don't just mean this in the narcissism of perpetual youth and mid-life crises in our culture. I mean it in the sense that we don't view our bodies as sites of struggle for life and death, survival and pain. We are afforded the luxury of avoiding any discomfort, intellectually or physically, and don't have to question our tenuous worldviews.
More importantly than the fact that we don't possess death in an immediate way is the fact that death doesn't possess us. It doesn't grip us or shake us. It doesn't change our lives the way it perhaps once did. I think this is endemic to our culture. We assume we have control over death and the license to administer it as needed for vengeance or to improve our own lives. The problem is that we don't have any understanding of what our lives mean or any connection to anything beyond ourselves and our anxieties and obsessions so the loss of life doesn't register.
I realize this is all a bit abstract, but I think this is an important discussion people rarely have. I also realize that certain people, by virtue of their more "practical" communicative practices, will simply respond to such examination as nonsensical. You'll think: "Of course I was moved, of course I love, my life is meaningful because I defend my values and don't worry about death. God Bless America."
That's a delusion and an evasion that reflects your inability to engage death as a real possibility or life as an artifice and an impossibility as we live it.
I don't think evil or death mean anything to our culture beyond the buzzwords and postures we take toward the images we associate with them. Lots of people have remarked upon how banal death and evil have become even as we attribute more emotion and meaning to life despite our inability to articulate life's value. This isn't something we should take lightly because it says everything about our culture's ethics and the way we conduct and regard ourselves.
I realize this is a hard comment to respond to if you've been able to follow it without dismissing the very possibility of self-criticism, so I'll ask a more concrete question:
What does evil mean to you and how do you recognize it? What is evil in your life? How does it affect the purpose of your life?
What does death mean to you and which deaths mean something to you? What is death in your life? How does it affect the meanings and fears of your life?
Or you can pretend this comment never happened just like you forget the images you claim change your lives or offer a shallow, pat comment that makes you feel self-justified.
22 - Bob A. Booey
One last question: what is your everyday experience of suffering?
Thanks.
23 - Bob A. Booey
That severed head pictured above is a totem. We consume it as a gory product that compels us to emote. It's there to make a statement, both in the brutal, symbolic act and in our use of the image (like Tek posting it above).
The question is: what does it mean to you? Why is it important enough to show each other? Why do you say it moves you?
24 - Ms. Tek
i like to post...
25 - Ms. Tek
several times in a row...