7 years ago
Saturday, November 10, 2007
How Far Would You Go To Get The Story?
THE CONCEPT OF WATERBOARDING became a huge sticking point during the confirmation hearings of new attorney general Michael Mukasey.
But what exactly is waterboarding? It is a technique used by the military to get information from suspects, and some people consider the practice to be torture.
Since so few people are aware of what waterboarding looks like, a journalist underwent a simulated version for Current.TV.
I'm not looking for reactions to whether the practice is torture and should or shouldn't be condemned. I'm curious whether you believe this is good journalism or not? Would you do it? Is this overly sensational or is this something that the public needs to see?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I don't think it is good journalism because it doesn't accomplish anything. The journalist knows that this was a simulation, he knows he has nothing on the line here, no reason to worry. I don't think it really shows the public anything other than this is what the act of waterboarding "could" look like.
That was terrible and unnecessary. The description of waterboarding doesn't leave much more to the imagination. It's a stunt.
And not only that, this is a consequence of media. It's like how the news reveals military tactics, instructs people on how to make bombs or steal money from store gift cards. We don't want stupid kids trying this at home.
Enea said...
I don’t think that the public needs to see this, because there is not point in watching this. I also think that this is too graphic for TV. Would they put this clip in a PG or PG-13 movie?
It is good journalism. Does it not keep people entertained while informing them of realities? From what most of what the media is today, couldn't one come to the conclusion that people like to see others suffer? There is no way better then to show them then the actual suffering, first hand, in its rawest, most dramitized form, that leaves nothing to the imagination.
On the flip side, i do agree with Doanh in that, "We don't want stupid kids trying this at home."
Nontheless, its effective and provokes dicussion, doesn't it?
Wow...
This is part ridiculous, partially informative. Had the clip not been shown, I couldn't have explained to you what waterboarding was. Nonetheless, it's a reinactment so it doesn't really carry the weight of the real practice. He was contained (vs. the suspects who I'm sure would fight back) and they weren't drowning him (which I'm sure they come close to doing when dealing with suspects).
The fact that he put himself in the demonstration gets him a point or two, but I think he could have got this message across a bit differently.
-FG, famous girl :)
Post a Comment