There was a terrorist attack in Tunisia on March 18th. Did you know about it? I didn’t. However, Wanda Waterman of The Voice Magazine did, and went to attend the anti-terrorism rally that happened eleven days later on March 29th. She brought back to us an article about how a non-western nation is dealing with, not just one, but a multitude of terrorist activities. Activities that we here in the western world barely get any notice of. She’s also brought back pictures of what it was like to be in the rally, a humanizing view of a people who have decided that terrorism will not cow them, and how they are dealing with it not through an array of new laws prohibiting freedom, but rather with a celebration of the country they have and promises of increased tourism in spite of, even because of, the extremist activity.
Reading this article, and realizing that I knew absolutely nothing about this attack beforehand brought how to me just how the media and the terrorists often work hand in hand, both needing and feeding off of each other. A terrorist attack in a nation full of brown people, one of many That’s happened over the last several years is hardly any sort of news in the western world anymore. But a single attack in France captured the headlines for days on end.
In part, It’s probably because the closer the victims are to us, the more we’re able to identify with them, and the more resonance the story has. The media does not seem to care about the effects of its actions on our social landscape, merely about doing what is required to gain the most eyeballs. Quite simply, the notion of violence in a country with significant poverty is not considered news. That kind of violence is just a normal part of life in those situations, right? And since we’re not that poor, it won’t affect us, so doesn’t matter to us. I have to wonder though, what would happen if the media just decided to stop reporting on any terrorist attack at all? If they decided that journalistic ethics should prohibit them from advertising the terrorists? work.
If That’s too depressing, however, this Easter weekend edition of The Voice Magazine also has our latest Meeting The Minds. In this issue, we have the first part of a three-part interview with the founder of connectivism, Dr. George Siemens.
And as an AU student, I’m sure most of us have had the experience of waiting tensely for that mark on an assignment or exam to come back. And the frustration that can happen when the tutor doesn’t meet the defined service standards. It’s bad enough having to wait at all, but then to go past when the standards say you should expect the work can be infuriating. Deanna Roney looks at the issue of Tutor Time this week, and considers it from the other side of the fence.
Finally, I want to make sure to draw everybody’s notice to the upcoming AUSU AGM. If you haven’t found out already, you can see the full announcement on the AUSU web page, or see the small version in this week’s AUSU update. The AGM is the time when all students can have their say into exactly how Council is operating, so It’s a great time to get involved if you’ve got something on your mind.
Enjoy the read!
