“Let’s just listen.” – CNN reporter, yesterday as they were replaying the attack
I’ve tried to not mention the war. Not because I don’t have strong feelings about it. Actually, it appears I have strong feelings about everything. This war is complicated for me. I assume it’s complicated for most people unless you are at one extreme end of the issue. Don’t get me wrong; I think all war is bad. War means people will die and, no matter what the cause, people dying is a terrible tragedy. There’s no doubt it my mind about that.
Having all my family in Turkey and living in New York City and being Jewish makes me just about as involved in this war as I can possibly be. To add to the joy, I am unemployed and thus available to watch TV 24/7. I have officially become a CNN-addict. Thanks to the Tivo, not only do I get to watch it when I’m at home, but I get to cache it when I’m not. To be honest, I think I’m suffering from too much thought about the war to be able to sit and put it all into words. I’m not ready, so I shall not.
I will, however, talk about some other, but related, matters:
I am frustrated by the “Real World”, the TV show, attitude CNN is taking towards this war. This isn’t some fucking TV show, it’s real, it’s serious and it’s horrifying. Those are not firecrackers; they are bombs. I don’t appreciate having them suggest that we be quiet and listen as bombs drop all over Iraq. No matter how one feels about whether this war is justified or the right thing or unjustified or the wrong thing, watching it all “unfold” is not a nail-biting suspense thing. It’s making me angry that they are sensationalizing it so much.
I saw my first anti-war rally today. It was an unbelievable experience for me. I don’t know how many people were part of the march but the number was definitely in the thousands. There were men, women, and children. Pretty much all races were represented. Multiple nationalities were present. Several issues were being voiced. Some posters were funny, some clever, some thought-provoking, and some downright scary. Here’s a bunch and I have a ton more here. I couldn’t stop taking pictures.
I remember being in Istanbul during the Gulf War and watching it all unfold on TV. I remember very little about how I felt and I know my daily life wasn’t really interrupted. I am confident that, at least so far, the same is now true for my family back home. But knowing that doesn’t stop me from worrying. When I’m not at home and watching TV, I jump each time the phone rings, worried that it might be my mom with some horrifying news.
I’m sorry I can’t be more eloquent or pithy. All I know right now is that watching a lot of TV is bad for me but watching this many hours of CNN is exponentially more detrimental to my well-being.
Or lack thereof.
I know what you mean about the attitude of CNN/BBC – I have seen them give us weather reports and playing with their toy planes/tanks like the whole war is a game.
In fact, the other day I saw some general/officer of some American troops in a conference saying ” …when the President gives us the signal, it’ll be hammer time! ”
Very disturbing.
I’ve marched down the main street in Montreal with every nationality, thousands strong. Yesterday was the largest peace march in CANADA! Our Prime Minister has said we won’t go to war yet thousands of us are appalled by what is happening overseas. Let me ask one question…With all the signs, in all the languages, why is there not a sign demanding that Saddam give up his weapons of mass destruction?