Media's Reactions to Groups

     We're all members of groups. Be that an age-group, a religion, a society, a political party, a gender, the human race. So why is it some of these groups are tarnished because of individuals, whilst some aren't? Why when mentioning The Beach Killer in Tunisia, does media feel it is important to mention his religion, but not his age, his political status, his sexuality, his job? Why, in a similar terrorist attack in Oslo, was it not mentioned that the shooter was Christian? Why did the media focus instead on his age and political allegiances? Finally why in Tunisia is it a Muslim who shot innocent British civilians, yet it is Tunisians who formed a human shield to protect further casualties?

     Media attention to the Tunisian has baffled me in all honesty. Certain media outlets are forgetting that innocent people lost their lives in a brutal attack, and it's these people who should be getting air time. Not a Heretic, disowned by his own religion. Not only that but why, if he has indeed been disowned by his religion, is his religion worthy of comment? The Tunisians who bravely formed a human shield were almost certainly predominantly Muslim, yet in the media they're merely Tunisian locals. If religion is worthy of note in the person committing acts of atrocity, surely religion is equally worthy of note in those who bravely stood up against him?
   
     Now, as hypocritical as it may be at this point in the post, I must divert my attention to the people who really matter; the victims. Recently I've been watching Criminal Minds (as a side note it is brilliant, a must watch), and there's an episode where a conversation takes place saying how it's a sad state of affairs where, in the episode's context, serial killers names are remembered, but their victims aren't. Reading and watching the media the last few days, this conversation has really resonated in me. In 10 years time it won't be the victims names talked about, it'll be the killer (who I'm refusing to dignify by naming). How can that be right? How can it be right that throughout history it is the evil that is remembered? How many people can really name 9/11 victims (except for those personally affected)? How many people can name the 7/7 victims? Even the afore mentioned attacks in Oslo? Not many, yet people know the event, and people are far more likely to remember the people responsible.

     All that remains to be said now is remember what needs to be remembered.