'Bastards!' I recall this headline in the Daily Mirror after the London tube bombings one year ago. It was also expressed spontaneously, soon as many of us heard about Bombay now.
Today, a bunch of hatemonger killers left explosives on trains across Bombay and got off, before hundreds were blown up. A curse on these godless heathen.
All Cities Do Step Up During Tragedies
Now about the media that covers Bombay's tragedies. Oh, the city is used to it, right? The city is 'resilient', and it's residents will rise to the occasion, Bombay's spirit shall ne'er die, this is after all 'Bombay'.
Where doesn't this happen?
What city isn't resilient, where don't citizens step up and help each other after a disaster? It happened in New York, London, Madrid, and in any other terror zone. Why does the media keep on about how each city is unique and shall rise from the ashes. Come on, they all do, and it's not extraordinary. Because it's a question of staying employed, not losing an earning opportunity - there isn't a choice for most ordinary survivors. And people will always reach out during a tragedy, like they do in Bombay everytime.
Excitement For Some Of The Unaffected
However I saw a different kind of 'resilience' on television. There were resilient people in Bombay grinning on camera, yelling, laughing as they waved to viewers, and overall having a good time as clueless reporters asked for soundbites. Happens every time, and so terribly crude when viewed against the background of tragedy.
They were obviously not directly affected by the bombings - no damage, no injuries, no loss of life, and for such people this was some welcome excitement. Trains were bombed in the city where they live, nothing happened to them, but wow how exciting - be all buzzed and do nothing. A diversion from their monotonous daily lives. For every genuine donor, facilitator or life saver(there were many), there were several of these jokers on the sidelines. One of them even said 'It is a sad day for Bombay', smiling cheerfully.
News Coverage - Watch Us, We Sensationalize More.
Do any of us care for reporters and news anchors' faux expressions on Indian TV channels? . Those affected are tired of cliched comments about 'spirit' and how 'Bombay is different'. Did anything change for them since the last tragedy? As always, rookie and familiar reporters were competing for stories by asking the most inane questions:
'How do you feel after these explosions?' (I feel great. What do you think?)
'Do you want to go home now?' (Nope, thought I'd standby until the wee hours)
'Will your family be worried about you?' (No, they're hoping I'd be taken)
'Are you going to get on a train now?' (No, heading to the airport)
'Do you feel different than the last time Bombay was attacked?' (Yes, this time I feel really awful. Last time I was happy.)
'Do you think Bombay will get back on its feet?' (Difficult to say. Let me watch and get back to you in 6 weeks.)
Bad enough when posed to dazed victims, and incredibly worse when asked to the grinning/excited folks above. Completely unaffected, their cheerful smiling demeanor, even as they professed sorrow and shock, should make anyone recoil with disgust.
Speaking of expressing disgust, do read this column. Are these attacks a surprise any longer? No.
9 comments:
Its so disgusting that media asking such questions. They could have played a better role by publishing the list of people who are misplaced/injured, requesting for help etc.
You're absolutely right about those people grinning into the camera. Even I wondered whether they were retarded or what! In the face of such tragedy also all they care about is that they are being shown on national TV...so say cheese!!
Today the Times said (probably cos of so many cliched resilience stories in its own pages), that Bombay had lost its verve this time. This was inconsistent. The other sections and columns were going on about indomitable spirit, like the news channels.
I was actually at Mumbai, driving to the airport when this whole detestable series of detonations went off, one by one. You are right about many things. However, the one thing that really irks me no end, whenever a calamity, be it natural or man made, occurs, the media get into their act....it is just sensational journalism at any cost.....u talked about some jokers grinning on TV....I wouldn't blame them half as much as I would, the educated jokers who were wielding the mikes and cameras in their direction....It really is sickening to see how these media artistes put our best known hollywood, bollywood and kollywood actors to shame, with their performance....turn on any channel, and each one is competing with the other to bring you gory detail after gory detail.
Only way this will stop is if we stand up and ignore these shenanigans....To all you journalists, newscasters, please do report disasters and calamities, but don't lick your lips in anticipation of being in the limelight and dream about a pulitzer for this coop.......don't be so sadistic that you try to create an opportunity out of the sufferings of countless innocent people....ask yourself if you are any different from vultures circling above a person about to die....
India's response? As opposed to Israel's retaliation this week and last - Lebanon and Gaza. They come in and bomb Beirut, its airport, and also the Palestian's president's house. And they respond this way every time.
See the difference?!
Nutty, you're right on with your comments. We completely agree. Couldn't have expressed it better about our news-force! Shameful, man.
http://tinyurl.com/2g5yach
http://tinyurl.com/2g5yach with regards to the 7/7 London bombings have you seen this http://youtu.be/Tb_MmqgdCWI
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