Yes, I've seen the beheading. Once purposely because of The Need to Know. A couple more times inadvertently because I did not look away fast enough. Your correspondent has a low threshhold for violent images. I tend to replay them in my mind or have nightmares about them. So, in the interest of mental hygiene, I avoid photos and videos of beatings and beheadings.
(You guessed it. The Diva will not be seeing Kill Bill, I or II.)
So, what does it all mean? All, in this case, being Americans tortured innocent Iraqis and Al Qaeda has retaliated by beheading a contractor from the United States on video. Writer and blogger Rick Heller anticipated some of my thoughts at the Centrist Coalition Blog.
Did Pictures Cause A Beheading?
An American has been beheaded by Al Qaeda, supposedly to avenge American prisoner abuses.
I've been uncomfortable about the release of pictures of American abuse. Avenging humiliation is a basic part of the culture in that part of the world. If those pictures create an emotional response in Americans, you can imagine how the people who identify with the person in the dog collar are feeling.Arguably, Al Qaeda wants to kill Americans, and doesn't need an excuse to do so. But I feel the Army was right to try to put a lid of the pictures, even as it should investigate what caused the abuse to take place.
I agree with Heller that the pictures of prisoner abuse are likely the proximate cause of today's beheading, in regard to motivation. However, I still believe, as I said in an earlier entry, that the photographs and videos of abuse in Abu Ghraib deserve our attention. Part of the reason may be that, according to some of my friends from law school, I have reporter's ethics. I respect leaks and the people who make them. The effect of most leaks is to add more information about a situation to what is available through official channels. That allows people to make more informed decisions. I will stop there because I am not really an advocate of the John Stuart Mill perspective on free speech. I do not believe that truth necessarily trumps falsehood. Power often decides what most people consider 'truth' in my opinion. But, I do prefer to have as much information as possible become public.
![Apple iLife '04 [Old Version]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G7P0JXRJL._SL120_.jpg)
![Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZQRRJZA5L._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - bhw
Ignorance is not bliss. I won't be watching the Berg video because the text descriptions have been enough to give me chills and turn my stomach [literally]. But I think we should know what's going on in Iraq.
I feel for Nick Berg's family, though. I simply cannot imagine their agony at how he died and the fact that others are able to watch it.
2 - Mac Diva
I hope the family is not opposed to using the mental health system. They are going to be embroiled in depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc. I hope they get the help they will need.
The Berg murder seems close to home because I've lived in Philadelphia and visit it regularly. He could be someone I walked past at the Italian Market, shared a seat with on the subway or bumped into at Urban Outfitter's.
It is good to hear that I am not the only one who has a seeming natural adversion to violent images, bhw.
3 - SFC Ski
The peace loving members of Al-Qaeda beheaded an American to show solidarity with their Iraqi brethren. Hold the tears, MD.
Iraqis were not being abused in prison for any type of revenge, but because a few soldiers (I hate to use that term for these criminals) who were horribly flawed in their character had the opportunity.
It would be more fanciful that we soldiers are all driven by passionate thoughts of revenge, leading us to kill those we came to liberate, blah, blah, but it is not that way. Besides, according to you, most of us are so underprivileged that we couldn't possibly have such high ideals.
I am saddened by the killing of MR. Berg, but more saddened that people like you and Mr. Heller are more than willing to lay the blame on America, rather than see that there are people that will kill you or I simply because we are not like them, we are infidel, fit only for death or enslavement.
It's OK, you're safe at home, have a great day.
4 - boomcrashbaby
...rather than see that there are people that will kill you or I simply because we are not like them, we are infidel, fit only for death or enslavement.
That's funny. That's not the reason they give for killing us. But that is the reason we give for nation building.
5 - Jim Carruthers
Excuse me, but the lineup is over there: behind the Creationists, the Lindburgh babies, heirs to the Romanov dynasty, -- ah jebus, Elvis is yelling he needs another cheeseburger, could somebody help that fat man out? -- the Moon Landing Nuts and John Ramsey.
Where's the evidence. You don't even know what happened. What, they showed their Al-Qaeda membership cards?
Just more jingoistic bullshit from the United Secret Society Revolution (USSR).
The peace loving members of Al-Qaeda beheaded an American to show solidarity with their Iraqi brethren.
6 - Mac Diva
Ski, I don't consider the torturing of people the result of "high ideas." Just the opposite. I think abuse is often a way for 'small' people to make themselves feel poweful. After all, who would ever have ever heard of West Virginia trailer park escapee Lynndee England, but for her role in the prisoner abuse scandal?
I also don't consider Americans 'enlighteners' who went to Iraq to 'improve' the culture there. We are occupiers. Does that justify the beheading? Not at all. Berg was no more guilty than the tortured Iraqis. He was killed because he is a member of a hated group. They are being tortured for the same reason. I know this in direct conflict with the 'Americans are better than other people' propaganda one is supposed to spout, but I believe it to be true.
7 - RJ Elliott
MD:
What's worse? Putting a dog collar around a terrorist's neck and snapping a photo?
OR
Sawing the head off of an American civilian on camera, and chating "God is Great" while doing it?
8 - Barticus
Rj....get with the program! It's all the same! Has'nt your conscience been seared yet? lol