NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm going to assume that the results will be different here in NS where most of the people are more politically aware than the average citizen of the world...


Raise your hand if you have heard of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, a disaster which killed 3,030 people in 2001.

Now, raise your hand if you have heard of the Second Congo War in Africa, a disaster which killed 3,800,000 people (that's over 1,000x as many, folks) from 1998-2003.

Does hearing about them just now from you count? :)

Was there a video game on it?

Was there a video game on it?

:p

I've heard of both. It's a shame that only one of them had the world media's attention. And still has got it. And I hear about it every fucking day.

Yes, it was sad. But 1 person dies every second. In about an hour as many people die of other causes as died in 9/11.

Unfortunately I have never heard of that war...because white people still make the textbooks and run the news...

Unfortunately I have never heard of that war...because white people still make the textbooks and run the news...
It's nothing to do with 'white people'; it's to do with the length of the conflict and its political importance. In other words, it in no way affects us in the Western world, and it simply went on too long for it to be of interest to the news. Not very nice, perhaps, but the truth.

Don't try to hide behind racism because you've never looked something up for yourself.

It's nothing to do with 'white people'; it's to do with the length of the conflict and its political importance. In other words, it in no way affects us in the Western world, and it simply went on too long for it to be of interest to the news. Not very nice, perhaps, but the truth.

Don't try to hide behind racism because you've never looked something up for yourself.
I've seen plenty of coverage here in the Netherlands.

I've seen plenty of coverage here in the Netherlands.
The coverage I've seen here in Britain can hardly be described as 'plenty,' but I am aware of the conflict. But, ultimately, my original point stands; it is never going to be covered that extensively, because it is of little relevance to the West. News moves on and people get 'disaster fatigue'; even the tsunami struggled to hang on to the headlines for very long.

Unfortunately I have never heard of that war...because white people still make the textbooks and run the news...
It's not so much race, as nationality. There's a famous quote along the lines of '100 people dying in your coutnry is equivalent to 10000 dying abroad' (I can't find it in Google though, damnit).

It's the way things are with almost all nations, concern only for one's own affairs, and frequently blowing them out of proportion.

I heard about it. The BBC has, from time to time, reported on it. And there were a few Nightlines.

However, it happened in Africa so officially no-one cares. Had they wanted attention for their war, they should have painted themselves white and gone to Yugoslavia. That way, right minded europeans would have quickly got their knickers in a twist about it.

However, it happened in Africa so officially no-one cares. Had they wanted attention for their war, they should have painted themselves white and gone to Yugoslavia. That way, right minded europeans would have quickly got their knickers in a twist about it.

Well said!

never heard of the second Congo war but the fact that I was 8 when it started is a pretty good excuse

*sigh* I wish I was 8 again

never heard of the second Congo war but the fact that I was 8 when it started is a pretty good excuse

In 2004, there were still around 1,000 people dying each day due to continuing fighting after the official end of the war. :(

In 2004, there were still around 1,000 people dying each day due to continuing fighting after the official end of the war. :(
And it's still not exactly going peachy these days.

In 2004, there were still around 1,000 people dying each day due to continuing fighting after the official end of the war. :(

*shrug* never heard of the 1,000 people dying each day but the fact that I was 14 at the time its a pretty good excuse

*sigh* I wish I was 14 again

note that everyone knows about Star Wars yet that happened a long time ago in a galaxy far far away it must be the typical “its Africa” point of view that causes this which in IMHO is due to the adverts showing poverty that we see of Africa (that being the only thing we ever do see)

:(

I daresay I have not heard of the Second Congo War. Damned stupid American news...I only recently started looking up news from other sources...

And it's still not exactly going peachy these days.

fine have it your way "I call to power am an ignorant A-hole who cares little for the problems of Congo"

Considering that the EU is sending troops there now, and that the debate about that lasted for months and months...yes, I've heard of it before. :)