May 13, 2024

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  • The Nick Berg Video, the Press and the Net

    I noted yesterday that I did not personally want to see the Berg video--just knowing it happened and reading text descriptions is more than sufficient. Further, I have no illusion about the evil that these men are capable of that needs to be dispelled. I can even understand why US TV networks haven't shown it.

    If anything, however, the radical amount of internet traffic that has been generated over this clip (and the fact that it was distributed by the internet in the first place) underscores the revolution that has taken place in terms of news and information dissemination. Not only is it now possible to directly access information even if the mainstream press chooses not to provide it, but because of the nature of digital media, the information in question can be copied and stored elsewhere, and can be distributed with relative ease. Indeed, both this event and those in Abu Ghraib demonstrate how digital cameras and video, coupled with the internet, have taken the traditional role of the mainstream press as information filter out of their hands. This is a revolution as great, perhaps greater, than the usage of satellites in mass media.

    Of course, even so, the utter demand for this video clip has caused several sites to cease linking to it--having caused the site to have been shut down--LGF links to two such sites and Stephen Green removed his to link to his stored version of the video, due to corrupted files. Elsewhere Wizbang has several links to the video and the most comprehensive set of links to the clip is here: Backcountry Conservative: Nick Berg Beheading Video.

    Hopefully those seeking this film are doing so because they simply feel the need to have the information, and not for the purpose of a cheap thrill.

    If anything, it is tragically sad that this young man went from anonymity to this most horrible kind of celebrity.

    UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds has a lengthy post on the internet v. Big Media on the topic of Abu Ghraib and Nick Berg--inlcuding both Big Media statements and lots of blog and 'net-related info.

    Posted by Steven Taylor at May 13, 2024 01:29 PM | TrackBack
    Comments

    I wanted to see the video so I could always keep in my memory what the murderers are capable of. I did not want the Abu Graib pics to be the last word for me. That's the difference between wanting to see it for "thrills" and wanting to see it as a reminder of true atrocity.

    Posted by: Rulen at May 13, 2024 02:11 PM

    Which is a legitimate reaason, in my opinion.

    Posted by: Steven at May 13, 2024 02:14 PM

    i wont to see it

    Posted by: zackgilmore at May 13, 2024 02:18 PM

    To paraphrase the favorite American reality phrase, borrowed from hideous money grubbing ass Donal Trump;

    Nick berg was fired!!

    Posted by: Truth Serum at May 13, 2024 02:25 PM

    man will never change, he eats - sleeps - he grubs
    for power - pussy - money / wipes his ass and doesn't give a damn about anybody else, until
    these priorities are put into a unified global perspective and people begin to really care about all people man will never change...

    Posted by: mark at May 13, 2024 02:54 PM

    man will never change, he eats - sleeps - he grubs
    for power - pussy - money / wipes his ass and doesn't give a damn about anybody else, until
    these priorities are put into a unified global perspective and people begin to really care about all people man will never change...

    Posted by: mark at May 13, 2024 02:54 PM

    man will never change, he eats - sleeps - he grubs
    for power - pussy - money / wipes his ass and doesn't give a damn about anybody else, until
    these priorities are put into a unified global perspective and people begin to really care about all people man will never change...

    Posted by: mark at May 13, 2024 02:55 PM

    man will never change, he eats - sleeps - he grubs
    for power - pussy - money / wipes his ass and doesn't give a damn about anybody else, until
    these priorities are put into a unified global perspective and people begin to really care about all people man will never change...

    Posted by: mark at May 13, 2024 02:55 PM

    Hey, Mark, you forgot the part about "pushes the 'post' button like a palsied monkey."

    Posted by: Lynxx Pherrett at May 13, 2024 03:33 PM

    This video is something that should have never been publicized. But since we cannot change that, maybe this video will make people wake up and see how awful these people really are. That these men do not have the balls to show their faces.It takes these kind of things to show America that there really are sick people out there. This man Nick Berg had to go thru a death that no man would ever want to face. God bless him and his family. In the end they all will pay severely.

    Posted by: Timothy Todd at May 13, 2024 03:43 PM

    Timothy,
    These videos should have been published. And I'm glad that so many people worldwide have seen them. I'm glad that so many people finally get the kind of animal we are up against.

    Posted by: Beth Donovan at May 13, 2024 04:05 PM

    Gee, truth serum, that was good. really good. you are talented. Now please go back to your corner and continue masturbating.

    Posted by: rod at May 13, 2024 04:29 PM

    Steven,

    Your analogy to the internet enabling by-passing the newsmedia filtering control is very apt. I see it also as being close to the Gutenbberg Press technology that made knowledge more accessable. The internet does the same by circumventing newsmedia information control to fit their agenda.

    Posted by: RCP at May 13, 2024 05:19 PM

    I wanted to see the video, I know that people don't want to have their child's murder on the internet but it could be a good thing, a wake up call for everyone to know that no ones safe and to know just what pepole can really do to you.

    Posted by: Amber at May 13, 2024 05:28 PM

    Its about time people get pissed all you hear are these little crybabys look war aint pretty and you want to cry about iracy prisoners how do they treat ours they kill them ! Its about time we americans stop being pussy and little helpers that should be the 51st state and if they dont like law and order as new american kill them all war aint pretty i know we are to nice so let go who wants to leave to anther country and then kill the rest if the milatary would stay on and in a agressive mode there would be less american deaths we need to be the hunter again

    Posted by: Shawn at May 13, 2024 05:38 PM

    I think that showing the video could serve as a harsh reality of a war that should not have been!!!!!The only way to ressolve any issues is to totally remove the BUSH administration!!Upon doing so we all need to come together as a nation!!!!

    Posted by: barbara at May 13, 2024 05:43 PM

    I think that showing the video could serve as a harsh reality of a war that should not have been!!!!!The only way to ressolve any issues is to totally remove the BUSH administration!!Upon doing so we all need to come together as a nation!!!!

    Posted by: barbara at May 13, 2024 05:43 PM

    I think that showing the video could serve as a harsh reality of a war that should not have been!!!!!The only way to ressolve any issues is to totally remove the BUSH administration!!Upon doing so we all need to come together as a nation!!!!

    Posted by: barbara at May 13, 2024 05:43 PM

    This is Sick. You chicken headed pigs. If don't go around and cut innocent bystandards. You should fight like a man and make your self visible to enemies. You don't start something and go hide behind, women, children and mosques. This is shame. You don't start something that you can't handle. Suck my dick-

    Posted by: your Daddy at May 13, 2024 05:49 PM

    im a high school student and i heard about this in US history class so i looked it up on the internet and found the video... ive never in my life have seen anything of what i saw...i got scared so i put the volume down....its just really terrible and i think it has opened my eyes to c that were not up against other people, were up against animals..... just what r we fighting for again?

    Posted by: casandra at May 13, 2024 05:53 PM

    Barabara,

    The country decided to go to war. This was done through a process that has evolved over hundred's of years. It can trace its lineage back to the Magna Carta. Its called democracy and rule of law and consent of the governed. With all due respect to your opinion, I would implore you to come together and support the effort... at least until we next decide who will govern us...

    Posted by: Mark at May 13, 2024 06:05 PM

    I have not seen the video. I heard about it on the news. War=horrible things that happen to people. When will people learn all people that love and peace are the only ways to win the hearts of all men. If power is what you want then you will not find love-

    Posted by: Stacie at May 13, 2024 06:05 PM

    Stacy,

    I assume you are appealing to the people who sawed off Nick Berg's head?

    Posted by: Mark at May 13, 2024 06:09 PM