What are the media’s moral obligations in making society aware of extreme poverty in the world?

[Jozefo]

The media reports as news stuff that is *new *–they report on changes. There is little reporting done on an on-going situation unless changes occur.

For example, altho there was great interest generated about the Zimmerman case, in between the initial reports and the trial, very little was reported because nothing changed. In the same way, we are aware in the background of what Mugabwe is doing because it was reported when it started, but since not much has changed, it’s not in the news.

I think that’s a good poiont, about the media reporting on new things. It’s called the ‘news’ for a reason. Although some people think ‘news’ is an acronym for north, east, west, and south. They may be right, for all I know.

 

[Justin83]

The media reports as news stuff that is *new *–they report on changes. There is little reporting done on an on-going situation unless changes occur.

For example, altho there was great interest generated about the Zimmerman case, in between the initial reports and the trial, very little was reported because nothing changed. In the same way, we are aware in the background of what Mugabwe is doing because it was reported when it started, but since not much has changed, it’s not in the news.

Are you comparing the George Zimmerman case to the crimes against humanity? Crimes against humanity need to be reported every day!

 

[Jozefo]

If the Holocaust was happening today, but the horrors were not changing over time, would not the media still have an obligation to report it?

What is the source of this supposed obligation? Did the media make an agreement somewhere, promissing to report on things like the Holocaust?

Would not our government have the moral responsibility to intervene if the Holocaust was happening today?

Same question; what would be the source of this obligation?

 

[Robert_Sock]

What is the source of this supposed obligation? Did the media make an agreement somewhere, promissing to report on things like the Holocaust?

Same question; what would be the source of this obligation?

I’m talking about moral obligations, not legal or work obligations. Crimes against humanity ought to be reported as such and the government is morally obligated to intervene! The same is true with Syria. Such crimes should not be tolerated, even if public support is lacking. Peace talks are alway the correct course of action, but once they fail, take action.

 

[Jozefo]

I’m talking about moral obligations, not legal or work obligations. Crimes against humanity ought to be reported as such and the government is morally obligated to intervene! The same is true with Syria. Such crimes should not be tolerated, even if public support is lacking. Peace talks are alway the correct course of action, but once they fail, take action.

Well, I don’t think one can impose an obligation on someone - whether moral or legal - without their consent.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Well, I don’t think one can impose an obligation on someone - whether moral or legal - without their consent.

What if your loved ones were killed by chemical weapons by some loony? Would you not demand that it get reported as a crime and that the police take immediate action? If you say that it’s the police’s job to take action, isn’t it the government’s job to take action against crimes against humanity no matter where they are committed?

 

[Jozefo]

What if your loved ones were killed by chemical weapons by some loony? Would you not demand that it get reported as a crime and that the police take immediate action? If you say that it’s the police’s job to take action, isn’t it the government’s job to take action against crimes against humanity no matter where they are committed?

I might demand some action, but that wouldn’t obligate anyone to do what I wanted.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I might demand some action, but that wouldn’t obligate anyone to do what I wanted.

Would you feel that the media and police were obligated?

 

[pnewton]

So, has anyone come up with any doctrine from the Church about this moral obligation to daily report a specific thing?

 

[Jozefo]

Would you feel that the media and police were obligated?

I might feel that way, but reason would tell me that there is no obligation. If someone in Mexico steals something in Juarez, are the police in Brownsville obligated to respond? No.

Some crimes might actually be a different story, since treaties may impose obligations on authorities on both sides of the border. See how obligations work? They are proposed and accepted by at least two parties.

 

[gracepoole]

During the war? Was buying German goods really done during WWII?

By “from the period” I meant 1933-45. The boycott took place in '33.

 

[pnewton]

By “from the period” I meant 1933-45. The boycott took place in '33.

Then what does that have to do with the Holocaust? That occurred during WWII. This is the problem when we get into illogical rhetoric. Godwin’s Law may be humorous, but the reason for it is shown over and over again.

 

[gracepoole]

The media reports as news stuff that is *new *–they report on changes. There is little reporting done on an on-going situation unless changes occur.

There is plenty of daily news (as in *new *news) to be had about poverty in various parts of the world. It’s better to ask why news corporations don’t report – at least a good portion of the answer must be related to the lack of receptiveness from audiences.

Well, I don’t think one can impose an obligation on someone - whether moral or legal - without their consent.

? One doesn’t have to consent to viewing murder as morally or legally out of bounds, but he or she is still required to abide by the obligation to not murder fellow citizens.

 

[gracepoole]

Then what does that have to do with the Holocaust? That occurred during WWII. This is the problem when we get into illogical rhetoric. Godwin’s Law may be humorous, but the reason for it is shown over and over again.

The Holocaust is typically discussed in terms of lead-up and the actual genocidal actions. One can’t really assess the Holocaust without discussing Kristallnacht, for example, or the Nuremberg Laws – both of which took place before the Holocaust formally began. Again, I’m not saying the Holocaust is an apt analogy here – just pointing out that while the international community likes to feign ignorance about what was going on, that is not what the historical record bears out.

 

[Jozefo]

? One doesn’t have to consent to viewing murder as morally or legally out of bounds, but he or she is still required to abide by the obligation to not murder fellow citizens.

“Do unto others” is axiomatic, in that it is right for a person to be treated exactly and to the same extent that he treats others. By murdering someone, he consents to his person coming under the same treatment.

So the responsibility is borne by the individual, and is not imposed on him by society.

 

[pnewton]

The Holocaust is typically discussed …historical record bears out.

And none of this has to do with the topic. Those that have to keep resorting to Hitler, Nazis, or drowning kittens fail to miss the point. Morality is not a comparison. A persons actions are taken on their own merit, or lack of merit.

In this case, inaction. For something to be sinful due to inaction, it must be established that a specific person, or persons, have a moral imperative to commit an action. As of yet, no one has shown where this moral imperative to report poverty exists at all in the Bible or in Church teaching, much less to report poverty to an extent that is being asked for (daily?, For real?) If the Church doesn’t say it, it doesn’t exist, except as a personal imperative between one person and God.

Oh, here is Godwin’s Law. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Godwin said that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably makes a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis.

In other words everything is about Hitler or Nazis.

 

[gracepoole]

And none of this has to do with the topic. Those that have to keep resorting to Hitler, Nazis, or drowning kittens fail to miss the point. Morality is not a comparison. A persons actions are taken on their own merit, or lack of merit.

In this case, inaction. For something to be sinful due to inaction, it must be established that a specific person, or persons, have a moral imperative to commit an action. As of yet, no one has shown where this moral imperative to report poverty exists at all in the Bible or in Church teaching, much less to report poverty to an extent that is being asked for (daily?, For real?) If the Church doesn’t say it, it doesn’t exist, except as a personal imperative between one person and God.

Oh, here is Godwin’s Law. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Godwin said that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably makes a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis.

In other words everything is about Hitler or Nazis.

Yeah, I know about Godwin’s Law. And I’ve said twice now that I’m not supporting Robert’s comparison of world poverty and the Holocaust. I just wanted to clarify the factual information that’s been circulated here. That’s it.

 

[Robert_Sock]

And none of this has to do with the topic. Those that have to keep resorting to Hitler, Nazis, or drowning kittens fail to miss the point. Morality is not a comparison. A persons actions are taken on their own merit, or lack of merit.

In this case, inaction. For something to be sinful due to inaction, it must be established that a specific person, or persons, have a moral imperative to commit an action. As of yet, no one has shown where this moral imperative to report poverty exists at all in the Bible or in Church teaching, much less to report poverty to an extent that is being asked for (daily?, For real?) If the Church doesn’t say it, it doesn’t exist, except as a personal imperative between one person and God.

Oh, here is Godwin’s Law. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Godwin said that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably makes a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis.

In other words everything is about Hitler or Nazis.

The similarities between the starvation of innocent civilians in the world and the Jews in Nazi Germany are too pronounced to ignore. To try and undermine these similarities by quoting Godwin’s Law is to sidetrack the tragic atrocities that are at hand.

 

[St_Francis]

And none of this has to do with the topic. Those that have to keep resorting to Hitler, Nazis, or drowning kittens fail to miss the point. Morality is not a comparison. A persons actions are taken on their own merit, or lack of merit.

In this case, inaction. For something to be sinful due to inaction, it must be established that a specific person, or persons, have a moral imperative to commit an action. As of yet, no one has shown where this moral imperative to report poverty exists at all in the Bible or in Church teaching, much less to report poverty to an extent that is being asked for (daily?, For real?) If the Church doesn’t say it, it doesn’t exist, except as a personal imperative between one person and God.

Oh, here is Godwin’s Law. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Godwin said that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably makes a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis.

In other words everything is about Hitler or Nazis.

I think the reason dor that is that the Nazis are about the only people secular humanists can bring themselves to admit are evil. If we had other examples that were generally accepted as evil, we’d use them as examples as well (I notice that abortion comes up frequently in Catholic circles).

 

[St_Francis]

Are you comparing the George Zimmerman case to the crimes against humanity? Crimes against humanity need to be reported every day!

I used the case as an *example, *which are generally necessarily simpler and often less serious than that if which they are an example.