Why weren't Americans so hyped up when Augusto Pinochet died?

Question

Augusto Pinochet died like 3 weeks ago but we didn't see alot of reaction from the American public as we are seeing in regards to Saddams death.

I ask people: What's so important about Saddam's death? They say: "Because he was dictator", "Because he was evil", etc. . .

But is that the real reason? Isn't this more political than what Saddam actually did? I mean Augusto Pinochet did things just as bad as Saddam Hussein but his death was never rejoiced like Saddam's is.

Why weren't Americans so hyped up then? If this is about tyrants and dictators dying then why didn't Augusto Pinochet's death get any attention? I mean it's not like Saddam was an active dictator. Like Pinochet, he lost power years ago.

I'm not trying to make Saddam look good but some people need to be more consistent and practice what they preach. If you're gonna be against tyranny and if you're gonna celebrate their deaths, treat them equally and educate yourselves about world affairs. There are . . .

There are far more dictators and tyrants than those who worked for Saddam. Saddam is only one man. There are thousands just like him who don't get any public attention, just because the media doesn't give it to them.

HC, so you're saying that most Americans believe that terrorism/dictatorship is okay as long as it doesn't affect the US?

"your right, but he was not a threat to the USA, Saddam was"

But I always thought that the war on terror was global and that the US would fight ALL terror, not just anti-American terror(sarcasm/on). I thought that we were going against all terrorists, not just the ones that threaten American.

elliebear, why don't you turn on the news to CNN or the last 100 questions regarding Saddam Husseins execution on this website and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Answer 1

Most Americans get their "news" from Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh and they are misguided into thinking some things are more important than others when it's actually the other way around, or, worse, they are made completely unaware of world events that don't affect them directly, but are still very important. The state our media is in is terrible.

Answer 2

Hussein was a direct threat to the livelyhood of the United States of America. His death represents a push towards victory in the fight against terror and tells those who wish to destroy the USA that that type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated.

While this may or may not be how I feel, I felt like that's kind of where most people are coming from.


*Edit: Sorry if my comment about Saddams direct affect on the USA offended you. I'm not saying that terrorism does not exist if it doesn't affect us, I'm saying that the reason it's so vital to US citizens is because of the danger that his power imposed on people that live in the US.

Perhaps the reason we do not rejoice in the fall of other dictators and tyrants throughout the world is because they have not (as much) directly effected the lives of US citizens. Having been raised in a military household, I rejoice in his fall because of the effect that his actions had on the military years ago. I consider myself to be extremely passionate about supporting our government in their decisions to bring down any evil dictator who threatens the lives of innocent people but as the death of Pinochet did not mean great strides in the American effort against direct terrorism and threats towards my livelyhood, I paid less attention.

I hope this makes sense to you.

Answer 3

I spent my time in Peace Corps Guatemala coping with aftermath of a 40 3 hundred and sixty 5 days civil conflict and genocide that replaced into additionally delivered on by employing similiar movements. i'm no longer a Brit, yet i'm appalled by employing this. The movements of his dictatorship are properly ordinary and Chile continues to be therapeutic. an effectual chief is one that is likewise a humanist.

Answer 4

I don't know any Americans that are hyped up
on his death, or what you had for breakfast.
It's not all about you. I have never celebrated a
death in my life. Educate yourselves on "World affairs,"
you don't know us at all. Sad.

Answer 5

Most Americans probably don't know who Pinochet was.

Answer 6

your right, but he was not a threat to the USA, Saddam was.