Does the U.S. Care?

[dr nick]

pull your head in Goodman. do you really think america entered the second world war to help us? helping us was just a consequence and besides that... where do you get the idea people hate america?? it is fact that they care primarily about their own, and will never get involved unless it is in their best interests. but people (at least most of them) arent hating america and taking joy out of the terror reigned upon them

 

[The Rewboy]

To the bunch of w@nkers who obviously have no life, and therefore no clue about life, go 'forth and multiply'.

Of course the Americans care.

The bombings are heading their news bulletins, and the bunch of speculative ****tas who posted on here 'that Americans didnt care' obviously have nothing better to do than to compound a nations grief further.

Shame on you all.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by The Rewboy
To the bunch of w@nkers who obviously have no life, and therefore no clue about life, go 'forth and multiply'.

Of course the Americans care.

The bombings are heading their news bulletins, and the bunch of speculative ****tas who posted on here 'that Americans didnt care' obviously have nothing better to do than to compound a nations grief further.

Shame on you all.

the bombings are definitely NOT heading their bulletins. go have a look at CNN or the new york times.

and yes, they do care, correct, but the simple fact is it is not big news

 

[swansgal]

Bush took so long (2 days) to make a response about the events in Bali because he is basically peeved that the tragic events there have necessarily deflected attention away from his "plans" for Iraq.

 

[robbieando]

In the US on Sunday the Bali bombings were big news and lead the news coverage on some stations. NBC Today had an in depth look at it on Sunday and did quote that Australian had the most dead. On Monday Today had it leading its news.

Of course they care, but as was said above the news networks and print media do focus on the dumb people and write for them. The fact only 5% of Americans have passports tells you something.

Also don't forget the they have the sniper case which is in their own country.

In the UK, the media has been focusing of their dead before ours, yet no one claims them to be wrong

 

[USAEagle]

Yes we care

Seattle Times Article

You knew I was going to pop up here.

OK. America is not perfect. But women are now allowed to go to university in Afghaistan. That is America's fault. Iraq is out of Kuwait (old news I know). Bloody Americans. Oh yeah, almost every sack of Grain that is delivered to famine stricken areas in Africa, has USA stamped on it. Hate those bloody Yanks.

It would take far too long to put down what America means here. Everyone criticises the US for Arming Osama Bin Laden in the 80s...how come no one is criticising the Soviet union for invading a sovereign nation - Afghanistan - and forcing them to their way of thinking. Tell me the last time the US did that unprovoked.

Osama bit the hand that fed him. Do I regret that the US helped the Afghans drive out the Russians? No. The old Soviet Union were a cancer on the face of the earth, and they died a natural death. That was the nation that gave us Chernobyl, Korean Airlines Flight 007 and the Siberian Labour camps.

Let's see...the Americans dropped a couple Atom Bombs...not nice, but it prevented a full scale invasion of Japan, which would have happened, and would have caused something in the neighbourhood of 2.5 million allied casualties, (Americans Australians and British) and 10 million plus Japanese military and civilians, because they would not have surrendered.

What good has come from America? Ford and GM for all you rev heads. How about Democracy? The US was the first nation of the modern era to embrace and make law complete freedom of speech, press and religion. Not perfect, but you get that when you give people self determination.

What I am trying to say to us all here is to look at ourselves rather than pointing fingers at others. Do Australians care about the Washington Sniper, or do they just scoff and say, "Only in America? Just don't forget Port Arthur if you do.

I can only think of two decent countries to live in anymore. Engand is too cold - I used to live there. The US and Australia: equal first. After that there is daylight, and lots of it.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by nicko18


the bombings are definitely NOT heading their bulletins. go have a look at CNN or the new york times.

and yes, they do care, correct, but the simple fact is it is not big news

Funny that- Except taken from CNN.com

MORE TOP STORIES

• 2 men intensely questioned in Bali blasts | Video

 

[Chicago1]

What a bunch of bullcrap! The Bali bombings were front page news Monday and Tuesday in the two Chicagoland newspapers we subscribe to - The Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald. There was extensive coverage on national free to air news programs and much more on cable networks. I have seen Australians being interviewed on cable's MSNBC, FoxNews and CNN. Both Alexander Downer and John Howard have been on our screens. Hugh Rimington of Sydney's Channel 9 was interviewed Monday on CNN. I saw a report on one channel explaining that Bali is to young Australians as Cancun is to young Americans. Australian survivors returning to Sydney were shown and interviewed. Nurses in the hospital that my mother is in, mentioned the bombings to me on Monday, knowing that I lived in Australia for 25 years. They commented on the number of young people killed.

An Australian who posts on an Australian/American site which I frequent, wrote the following in response to the Age article. I find his perspective refreshing. :

"I think it's perfectly normal for a countries press to concentrate on the perspective from that country and it's people effected. Australian press is just as guilty of this. If something happens in Australia, the US, or the UK, it gets heavily reported. Not so if it happens in Africa, South America, Central Asia, etc.

For example, how much coverage of the following recent events are you aware of: 70 killed in a drifting boat in Somalia. 23 killed in boat collision in India. 7 killed by security guard in Italy. 7 killed by bomb in Finland. 52 killed by army in Uganda. All these things happened in the last week.

I think part of the reason that the Australian press reports so much on overseas happenings, is that it struggles to find enough local newsworthy events to fill a newspaper or TV news bulletin. And more importantly - it sells. This is probably not the case in, for example, the US. Australians want to hear & read about things that effect Australians. Americans want to hear and read about things that effect Americans. There's nothing wrong with that.

I can recount many times where the Australian press have reported of international air disasters, etc and one of the first things they say is "There were no Australian on board" or something similar. Remember that traditionaly the press caters for particular geographical areas, and only now with the Internet is it so possible to read reports in the press from other parts of the world. However, the press, particularly the print media, are still relying on their local consumers as the "paying customers", and that is what drives their content.

I remember years ago during the Ash Wednesday bushfires in Australia, and the opening report on the TV news went along the lines of "These bushfires are so devastating that they're now making the news in the US". It then showed footage of a US news bulletin, with the reporter discussing the bushfires in Australia. Are we that inadequate that we feel it's more important to show how the rest of the world sees us, than what is actually happening in our own backyard?
When the canyoning accident happened in Switzerland a few years ago, it got lots of press in Australia, because many Aussies were killed. Same with the Aussie athletes killed at the Maccabiah Games in 1997. I'm sure that if there were no Aussies in the group, it would hardly have got a mention in the Aussie press. Does that mean that the people of these countries should be jumping up and down because the Australian press is not giving them enough coverage?"

I have not commented on things political on this site since the Sept. 11 tragedy. And no..... I did not vote for George W. Bush in 2000. Most Americans who voted, didn't! Just don't get me started on the Electoral College!

Edited to add:

I just turned on FoxNews at 12.25pm Wed (Chicago time) and a story on the Bali bombings was on. It compared the number of Australians killed per population to the US equivalent. Alexander Downer was shown speaking to President Megawati Sukarnoputri. The reporter called October 12th, Australia's September 11th.

 

[jim boy]

These sort of questions are sort of weird. Any time anything happens that involves Australia, we seem to feel the need to get noticed, as if we were standing behind the sticks when a goal is scored and you ask all your friends if they saw you on TV.

Are we any less of a nation if the response isn't what we hoped, I mean, does it really matter?

 

[Kenny_01]

Originally posted by Jim Boy
These sort of questions are sort of weird. Any time anything happens that involves Australia, we seem to feel the need to get noticed, as if we were standing behind the sticks when a goal is scored and you ask all your friends if they saw you on TV.

Are we any less of a nation if the response isn't what we hoped, I mean, does it really matter?

Top call.

 

[wagstaff]

Re: Yes we care

Originally posted by USAEagle

OK. America is not perfect. But women are now allowed to go to university in Afghaistan. That is America's fault. Iraq is out of Kuwait (old news I know). Bloody Americans. Oh yeah, almost every sack of Grain that is delivered to famine stricken areas in Africa, has USA stamped on it. Hate those bloody Yanks.

It would take far too long to put down what America means here. Everyone criticises the US for Arming Osama Bin Laden in the 80s...how come no one is criticising the Soviet union for invading a sovereign nation - Afghanistan - and forcing them to their way of thinking. Tell me the last time the US did that unprovoked.

Osama bit the hand that fed him. Do I regret that the US helped the Afghans drive out the Russians? No. The old Soviet Union were a cancer on the face of the earth, and they died a natural death. That was the nation that gave us Chernobyl, Korean Airlines Flight 007 and the Siberian Labour camps.

Let's see...the Americans dropped a couple Atom Bombs...not nice, but it prevented a full scale invasion of Japan, which would have happened, and would have caused something in the neighbourhood of 2.5 million allied casualties, (Americans Australians and British) and 10 million plus Japanese military and civilians, because they would not have surrendered.

What good has come from America? Ford and GM for all you rev heads. How about Democracy? The US was the first nation of the modern era to embrace and make law complete freedom of speech, press and religion. Not perfect, but you get that when you give people self determination.

What I am trying to say to us all here is to look at ourselves rather than pointing fingers at others. Do Australians care about the Washington Sniper, or do they just scoff and say, "Only in America? Just don't forget Port Arthur if you do.

I can only think of two decent countries to live in anymore. Engand is too cold - I used to live there. The US and Australia: equal first. After that there is daylight, and lots of it.

Typical garbage concotion of lies, half-truths and cynicism coming from someone defending US imperalism.

Couldn't be bothered refuting all your "arguments" now, suffice to say to be defending America as a beacon of democracy while virtually admitting the terrorist forces of Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden that are currently terrorising the world were created, fostered and developed by US authorities is hypocrisy maxmised.

 

[Au_Blue#24]

im in the us at the moment. There has been alot of mention about bali and australians. Lots of al queida refference as well.

Also, the whole country is focused on this serial sniper guy. People are very paranoid for a # of reasons.
(1) it detracts authorities from other terrorist policing duties
(2) people are worried about the copy cat affect.

Catcha

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Zombie


Funny that- Except taken from CNN.com

MORE TOP STORIES

• 2 men intensely questioned in Bali blasts | Video

yes, in tiny type on the side, certainly not the focus of the page. but actually i was referring to the tv. obviously you havent been watching it

 

[Davo75]

Originally posted by The Rewboy
To the bunch of w@nkers who obviously have no life, and therefore no clue about life, go 'forth and multiply'.

Of course the Americans care.

The bombings are heading their news bulletins, and the bunch of speculative ****tas who posted on here 'that Americans didnt care' obviously have nothing better to do than to compound a nations grief further.

Shame on you all.

Which Lamb are you??????

Have your head buried somewhere!!!!!!!

 

[Smokin]

Um Nicko - do you have CNN?

There has been heaps on the Bali blast on CNN - $hitloads actually.

Obviously I must be watching a different CNN channel.

It must also be remember what has happened here - the blast was in Indonesia, hardly a hotbed state of peace and normality.

How much news time would a bomb blast in, for arguments sake, nicaragua killing predominatly Americans get in Australia. A fair bit, but nothing huge I wouldnt have thought, cant compare it to Sept 11.

But to say CNN or foxnews isnt covering this incident is absurd.

It has dominated CNN.

There seems to be a fair few anti-US people on these boards.

I love their arguments though. If only this world was perfect.

 

[Mcchawk]

The US ****es me off, Australia to help the US with everything. But when the shoe's on the other foot where are you George W? Can't believe the rudeness of this prick and his inability to look outside his own backyard, wouldn't be because it'll get you no votes by any chance? You fool Johnny Howard, at least the British have more respect for us.

 

[dr nick]

hmmm, well when i watched CNN on monday night it was their 3rd or 4th story.

fox news covers it heaps, i know, but that night i particularly tuned into CNN to see the american media reaction, and was minimal

 

[gbear]

Originally posted by mandy5


Too true.



US press ignores Australia's pain
October 15 2002

The British press has dubbed the Bali bombings Australia's own September 11.

But in the US, Australia is hardly rating a mention.

One report in the Washington Post about the twin night club blasts at Kuta Beach states: "Many of the victims were from Australia, south of Indonesia".

But readers of the Miami Herald online would be in the dark about Australia's death toll now believed to be the majority of the 183 confirmed dead.

The online paper refers to two Americans killed and three injured in the blast.

As for the rest: "Most of the dead are foreigners," the article stated.

Australia is mentioned only in a reference to the packed night club where most of the victims were killed.

"The Sari Club ... was a popular nightspot for the 20-something sun, sand and surf set, especially from nearby Australia," the report said.

Meanwhile in Britain, Australia's loss of life has totally dominated headlines.

"Hardly a town in the massive country was untouched by the horror - the nation's own 9/11," The Sun reported.

The Times said: "Australia was robbed of its innocence" with the death of "scores of citizens" ... "Australia's worst loss of life outside wartime".

According to the Guardian Unlimited, another online paper, it was "Australia's blackest day since World War II".

An analyst at the BBC online said "the Bali bombing is fast emerging as the biggest single tragedy in Australia's post war history".

"Australia is a country that has been blessedly free from terrorist attacks," the news site said.

"But there has never been anything on this scale and no-one would have believed that so many Australians could be targeted in one go.

"That has now changed - and the Australian public are now aware that they are equally vulnerable to violent, unexpected tragedy."

It is typical of Americans, most of them are just so self absorbed.
God Bless Britain

 

[Smokin]

Um - what do you people want the US to do, more than they are doing?

The bombing was in INDONESIA...they have sent people there, just like Australia has sent in an investigative team up there!

what else is there to do? what can we reailisticlly expect?

If a blast a Latin American club killed Americans - what would you expect Australia to do?

 

[Sydneyfan]

The letters to the editor sections today in The Age and The Australian newspaper websites contain several messages of condolences and support from US citizens and there's one on the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper website.

I think that many Americans are as shocked and upset about the Bali attacks as we in Australia are and the US Government are taking this attack very seriously.

US baiting is a popular pasttime in Australia and one which I've quite regularly participated in to, but I don't think it is warranted too much at the moment. They do have FBI officials in Bali helping with the investigation it's not like they're doing at all.

 

[Crowaholic]

Originally posted by Davo75
Will the United States have similar compassion for Australians and other victims of the Bali tragedy? As we were supposed to have for them?

mmmmm

What do you think?

America already has given compassion. It was on the news the other night I think. Bush was saying how tragic it was and again was saying about how barbaric etc... they are.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by Davo75
Will the United States have similar compassion for Australians and other victims of the Bali tragedy? As we were supposed to have for them?

Considering it didnt happen in Australia then i dont think he'd have a lot of compassion for Australians.

If someone bombed something IN Australia then i think he would yes.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by Smokin
Um - what do you people want the US to do, more than they are doing?

The bombing was in INDONESIA...they have sent people there, just like Australia has sent in an investigative team up there!

What i would like to know is why on earth our country is "taking credit" for this bombing. Why was this an attack on Australia? Why are we taking credit for it?

It happened in a DIFFERENT COUNTRY! There were bombs goin off in Indonesia all last week. Yet the majority of the population act as if Ayers Rock or a full Opera House was blown up. WHY???

Just because there were Australians in the nightclub at the time doesnt mean its an attack on Australia. There were Australians in the Trade Centers as well - maybe we should claim that to be an Australian tradegy as well.

This was Bali's disaster - not Australias.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by nicko18
reading that article about the americans... 2 dead, the rest are foreigners... is really pathetic, like we are a lower life-form.

Its an American paper for heck sake what do you want them to say! Of course they are gonna mention the fact that some of their own have died/been injured. At least they arent passing it off as an American tradgey because some Americans were there.

australia, south of indonesia?? yeah like that would help them?? how the frigg are they gonna know where indonesia is if they dont know aust??

The blast HAPPENED in Indonesia. I have nothing wrong with them saying Australia, which is South of Indonesia WHERE THE BLOODY BLAST HAPPENED.

 

[Macca19]

There were people from a lot of nationalities that have passed away from this, not just Australians - but you wouldnt know it reading the stuff on here and from the media. Youd think it happened in the middle of Sydney and that only Australians have died from this the way the media and some people are reacting.

People have a go at Americans being self absorbed, but have any of us actually recognised that people other than Australians have died in this tradegy? Talk about being self absorbed, we are trying to pass this off as our own tradegy. Sure a lot of Australians have died....but this is not an attack on our country or our people. It was an attack on Indonesia which has been going on for a while now. Yet the majority of our people are passing this off as our own tradegy and some major terrorist attack on Australia. Its like we are just screaming out to have our own Sept 11 so that the whole world can feel sorry for us. It didnt even happen in our own country for heck sake. Yet for some reason, a lot of people are saying this is a terrorist attack on Australia. If you want self absorbed - maybe we should look in our own backyard first before having a go at other countries.

****ing Pathethic.