Read the following article from the New York Times, and comment, either below, or on your blog, about your reactions as a blogger. If our country was at war, as Syria is, would the rules change here?
Post due by March 28.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/world/middleeast/anhar-kochneva-ukrainian-blogger-escapes-her-syrian-captors.html
Thankfully, I believe that the rights of bloggers would still be protected in wartime. With the rights given to us by our founding fathers, we're allowed to voice discontent with the government, including political issues such as war. However, when your blog begins to publicize things that could potentially harm our troops or the war effort, such as private or specific information, you forfeit your right to free speech.
ReplyDeleteI think war changes the atmosphere for any writer. When your country is at war writers become a little more sensitive to what they write. Not saying all writers do, but the audience, wither is be a follower or a passer by, will react differently to what the blogger is saying. War changes peoples emotions and is a touchy subject. Anytime a writer writes during a time of war they have to be prepared for backlash from people who disagree or does not like what is being said.
ReplyDeleteBeing from a country where the very first amendment is the right of free speech, I would hope (to an extent) that our rights wouldn't change because we were at war. Isn't war protecting your nation anyway?
ReplyDeleteI think that the blogger was courageous enough to expose the truth that is happening in Syria. She is confident in her work, and is not afraid to take a risk. If my country was at war, I would tend to have more of a filter on each of my posts. I would ensure that my posts were non-biased and exposed the truth to both sides of any issue.
ReplyDeleteWhat it all comes down to is freedom. In America we have the right to voice our opinions, even at wartime. However, I think it is our duty to be responsible as journalists and to keep in mind the effect your words will have on those who read them.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a well known blogger you will obviously draw more attention to yourself and could be at risk of some evil doer to increasingly want to cause harm to you. I would hope in the states here in America that our laws would protect us in some way but the reality is even if you do not live in a war torn country there is a risk of being harmed by the mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteThe rules are already gradually changing without any war in our country. But, if ever we are at war, it would be even worst. People in power is doing whatever they can and utilize their control over people to take away certain rights from us. For what reason? I don't know, but it is definitely not a good idea to change rules in expense of other people. People should always have the right to voice out their opinion with of course a sense of responsibility to whatever idea they propose.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that war does change things for journalists, and by extension bloggers who write about the war. However, I admire Ms. Kochnova for her courage in reporting the truth. My hope is that I could show such courage in any work I do whether war is involved or not.
ReplyDeleteWar certainly changes the dynamic of all industries especially journalists/blogger. Fortunately, journalism/freedom of speech is prized and a right in this country and if war infringed upon those rights there would be protest and I do think the government would try to censor/stop certain journalism/blogging.
ReplyDeleteI admire this woman and her dedication towards relaying crucial information. Her enigmatic escape somewhat reminds me of Argo.
War will change the way the journalist to write because the issues that comes out of war will raise more topics for a journalist to discuss. Luckily, Americans have the right of free speech, I don't believe it will change but until we experience a similar scenario, there's no telling what will happen. As long as the writer is safe and aware of content being discussed then there is no harm done.
ReplyDeleteWar changes everything for a country. As far as a newsblogger is concerned, they are very likely to be in harm's way. Just as we have seen reporters placed in dangerous situations. While terrifying, we should be thankful to those who seek the truth so vivaciously that they risk their lives for it. Will laws change? That remains to be seen, but I don't think blogging laws will. That creates a censorship that I don't think Americans will ever allow.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows war changes everything. From the mundane to the more exciting things about life. War changes not only the country as a whole in terms of laws, rules, and regulations but as well as the people in that country experiencing seeing and or hearing of their loved ones falling. I say that war would limit the use of journalists freedoms in publications because there are always things that happen that our government covers up or will not allow certain people to write about. As far as being able to blog about it, well the post doesn't have to go through editors or publishers, so in that case no it would not change.
ReplyDeleteI think that war does change everything. It may not seem like it, but it does. The atmosphere in the country changes and people are just ready for it to be over. Hopefully, war does not hinder the kind of courage that Ms. Kochnova showed.
ReplyDeleteThat woman was lucky she was captured and kept out of the crossfire. She also purports a pro-government perspective that might have been contrary to their cause. At any rate,
ReplyDeleteit is good that she survived.
The Free Syrian Army is fighting a dictatorship deemed unfit for control of Syria. They are also killing their own people in the struggle.
A stable running government will keep its people in relatively good condition and economy, but
the right to rebellion is sometimes necessary.
It's like the Iraqi revolution or Libya.
It's important to keep the rebels point of view in order, especially from the American side. America has a history of supporting awful governments. In Cuba, we supported the despotic Trujillo family against Fidel Castro, a brilliant tactician who kept most of his people from dying.
Yet, Americans are conditioned to despise Fidel Castro for being a dictator.
Their are many points to be made on war. If a rebellion occurs in America, then it would be quelled with a swiftness and absolution so efficient that it would haunt the dreams of its citizens forever.