An article on CNN explicitly mentions that the 14 year old shooter at a Cleveland high school yesterday was an "atheist". The religion of the dozens of school shooters before him, mostly Christian, has never been discussed in the news. And to make matters worse, this particular article, although it states that the shooter was an atheist, it fails to mention that what triggered the rampage. This kid was had been beaten up by Christians just a few days earlier for not believing in god, an imaginary being. What a world we live in.
2007-10-11 08:33:05 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe that they portray most atheists in a negative light because sixty percent of the country still believes in a God of some sort, and because of this majority, the minority is made to suffer. By picking on the minority, the majority feels strengthened, even if it is only temporary. However, news articles aren't always the most factual bits of culture, and are often misleading. The propaganda surrounding the actual events is unfortunate, and has not made the situation any better. I only wish that the mentions of him being an atheist were countered by the mentions that he was persecuted because of his beliefs. Sadly, society has failed to properly inform us, yet again.
2007-10-12 13:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Negative are hype shows like Springer or Maury, anything with a steriotype without thought. As much as I find Will and Grace amusing, it's even negative to a degree. Positive, or at least a step in the right direction, is the new show I watch on Showcase "The Riches". They have a crossdressing/maybe transgender son 'Sam' and it isn't a punch line that they beat on. Sam isn't an over the top character, he's just an average 8 year old in girls clothes. I really respect the makers of this show (that is over the top in every other way) for even having Sam on the show. Showcase in general, I like their LGBT friendly programing. Makes me feel all fuzzy on the inside.
2016-04-08 03:31:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the world we live in.
Remember the V-Tech shootings? The Media focused more on the fact that the shooter was a fan of violent films such as Oldboy (which is amazing btw) than on the fact that the shooter was suffering from obvious mental problems.
What about Columbine? The Media focused on the fact that the shooters were Metal fans.
It's the way the media works, it's how it always will.
2007-10-11 08:46:21 · answer #3 · answered by The Return Of Sexy Thor 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because CNN is the AntiChrist and wants to create an Us(religious folk of all stripes) and them(Nonreligious folk) so that there is another scapegoat when someone in government does something stupid. Also bear in mind that mentioning that Christians were beating up this guy would be seen by some of the more paranoid as advocating the boy's attack against Christian folk.
2007-10-11 08:45:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
if I had to guess, I would assume the shooter was too young to be a viet nam vet....
who really cares what someone who shoots claim to believe. The schools have been telling them that they are nothing but a fluke in the universe and while they might be conscience, they just as well could have been some other animal in this meaningless existance
we have asked God to get out of our schools, our government and everything else EXCEPT for the military.
in a world where there is nothing but what you see, why should behavior really matter
but if there is a God, then all that is out the window
2007-10-11 09:10:39 · answer #5 · answered by magnetic_azimuth 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I dont think its always a singling out of atheists, although they do get their share of kicks . . . I think the media in general likes to go with sensationalism at the expense of accuracy for entertainment value. Remember the Nightstalker, Richard Ramirez? The fact that he was a nutcase with a heavy addiction to cocaine all were seemingly eclipsed by the fact that he was an avid fan of AC/DC. (Heavy metal makes you kill people, ya know.) It's just yellow journalism. As long as they get a story that makes you watch, they don't care about anything else. Ask Richard Jewell.
2007-10-11 08:42:29 · answer #6 · answered by Runa 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I didn't know it was like that. Fox news I could have understood but CNN? That's really troubling. I'd always wanted to move to the states, too.
As if anyone was ever killed because of atheism. 'Death to the infidels in the name of all the gods we dont believe in!' Yeah right.
I guess America isn't in danger of being highjacked by the nutty religious right... because it's already happened.
2007-10-11 08:53:56 · answer #7 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
mowsermae.... We see other religious backgrounds ONLY when the religious sect WAS THE CAUSE! When religion is *relevant*.
This shooting was not in the name of atheism.
And for those who are going to say, but atheism is the cause, because he didn't have God.. Stop ignoring the Christians who do the same thing! They have God and do the same thing! They didn't do it in the name of God, but they had God, and having God didn't stop them from committing horrible crimes!
2007-10-11 08:45:20 · answer #8 · answered by word 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Because the media panders to the advertising agencies that support the news programs, and the advertising agencies cannot afford to do anything that might cause ripples in the status quo.
2007-10-11 08:37:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
Remember, it's his fault he's an atheist, and the people who beat him up were either a) trying to lead him to the light or b) Not True Christians (tm).
2007-10-11 08:39:32 · answer #10 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋