Does Being a Victim Make One an Expert?
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com
Many members of the American media apparently believe that being a victim (or a family member of a victim) automatically makes one an expert on the kind of activities that created the given victimization.
How else can one explain why news programs and talk shows trot out terrorism victims and/or their families to explain to how best to prevent terrorism? They have these people on, offering their advice, almost every time the subject turns to terrorism. Why? Most cancer victims and survivors do not claim to be experts on cancer, nor are they generally treated as such.
So how much sense does it make to look to terrorism victims as if there were experts on terrorism? The obvious answer is that it makes no sense at all. While these people have my utmost respect and sympathy, most of them don't know any more than the man in the moon about the subject of terrorism prevention. The media should stop calling on them every time an actual or foiled terrorist attack occurs. When called upon anyway, these people should respectfully defer to someone who actually knows what he or she is talking about.This Article has been viewed 252 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I'd have to agree with this.Gregory, thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you agree.
There is a thin line of attitude between one being a victim and one being a a hero and I venture to think that the latter category is perhaps being exploited by the media.Some good salient points made here, notwithstanding; Paul SchroederYes, Paul, perhaps they are being rolled out because their hero status. But the operative word here is "exploited." Thanks for reading and commenting.Yeah, I think it would be hard to argue that we can depend on passenger tackles as a reliable first line defense. Must feel good to be in the hog pile though, and know you saved a whole bunch of people.Gregory, good point. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.