Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Oct 21, 2011 at 5:35am
I'm shocked by the eagerness of the entire universe to forward the footage of Gaddafi's last minutes with titillated cries of "disturbing!" No one should be looking at this if they don't have to. The willingness to luxuriate in this grotesque footage as if it's a Discovery Channel special is sick, coarsened and deadened. I didn't watch it until the fiftieth person forwarded it to me, and I'm sorry I did.
Did he deserve it? I'm not weeping for him. Do I want to watch it? No. There's an unmistakeable sense in the air of a world that's collectively getting off at the sight of savagery. Count me out.
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Jan '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I watched it. I wasn't interested in being titillated. I was interested in seeing if he was actually dead. I don't find those sorts of videos worth watching. I've never watched the Daniel Pearl video or the Sadaam Hussein video. I don't enjoy seeing gruesome things. But just as it seemed appropriate to see proof of death of Uday and Qusay, and for the same reason I wish I'd seen some final proof of Bin Laden (yes, I believe he is dead) I thought I'd like to see the proof of Qaddafi's death. It was disturbing, and I wish there had just been a shot of his dressed body. But I don't agree we should just take the press's word for matters like this, and I don't think we as a society should be shielded from the ugly parts of war that our tax dollars are going to fund. We spent millions of dollars to assassinate this man as a nation. I think there is some value in showing the public what that actually looks like.
Edited on Oct 21, 2011 at 5:57amMay '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I did not watch it and am not interested in watching it.
As much as I think we tend to go overboard with it, I think the contrast between the way Qaddafi was killed and the way we kill our enemies (those who rightly deserve it) shows a higher level of humane-ness. Sometimes it feels unmerited (after all, Bin Laden showed no such humanity to our people) but sometimes I'm glad we don't go all crazy on our enemies like this either.
Edited on Oct 21, 2011 at 5:59amJun '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
The video can also indicate what the climate is like, in Libya, for Gaddafi loyalists. Cloudy.
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I have two slightly contradictory thoughts on this. On the one hand, I completely agree with you that this footage need not be seen. Particularly by me. I had several opportunities and declined them all. On the other hand, I think it odd that there were no photos of UBL's death. I also am skeptical of the press and of government and would like some public examination. So I'm not upset that the photos are out there. I just prefer not to see them myself.
Dec '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I'm a bit conflicted. I'll agree with BThompson that seeing proof of the enemy's death provides closure and a degree of finality. I also was somewhat supportive of people who celebrated Bin Laden's death--although I would have enjoyed a more reserved and solemn celebration.
Civilized men should always celebrate a triumph of good over evil and it should be clear that we view things in those terms. I feel that it shows a level of moral clarity.
Considering the ease at which information can be shared, there is a danger that these sort of videos will take on a pornographic nature.
I certainly don't want his body paraded through the streets for the barbaric enjoyment of the mob, but I do think that it is right for us to celebrate (perhaps there's a better word?) the death of an evil man.
Nov '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I find it weird that no matter how realistic they make the grisly scenes in movies and video games, they are just gross, while the real thing just makes you feel so oogy. I think that evidences the fact that when we see someone dead, we know that for whatever their faults, they were human, and went through the one thing no one can tell us about.
Feb '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I'd be interested in seeing the demographics on viewership. My guess is that it would closely parallel porno demographics.
Apr '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
Watching the video I was struck by the contrast between seeing Saddam Hussein being taken prisoner by trained and disciplined U.S. soldiers and Ghaddafi being captured and murdered by a rabble. Is the world a better place now that Ghaddafi has had his breathing permit cancelled? Sure. Will Libya be a better place when the murderous mobs begin struggling for power? I don't think so.
Edited on Oct 21, 2011 at 6:27amSep '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I didn't see the footage, but the headlines on AOL were enough to turn me off: LOOK AT GHADAFFI'S FAKE HAIR. Next thing they'll be showing us his makeup mirror and paints. Screwtape would be pleased. ... Earlier, going to the kitchen to refill my wine glass, I caught a brief moment of the president's speech about it. Don't know which was worse. After nothing but platitudinal blather about how "we" and "the world" did this thing, the president mentioned something vague about the Americans Ghadaffi had killed, but of course was nonspecific, never once uttering the definitive word Lockerbie. He can't speak noncollectively even when he has the data to do so. ... Ironic that the guy who bombed the New York–bound plane has outlived his savior negotiator. Too much trash.
Aug '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I have not seen the video. I will not see it. I saw a still, but not the video.
The difference between UBL and MQ is that, as much as I hope for the best for the Libyan revolution, I know that SEAL Team 6 is much more disciplined than an angry mob, and for that, I'm thankful.
Feb '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
Are there any examples of a dictator experiencing grotesque death in video or photographs that have led to a better world for the people who live in the nation he ruled?
I vaguely remember the predecessors to Saddam Hussein going back to the overthrow of the Iraqi Royal family, which involved corpses being dragged through the streets of Baghdad, which did not lead to good for Iraq. The assassination of the Diem brothers in South Vietnam led to public jubilation but not improvement in that county's leadership.
Twenty years ago the ruling council in Yemen was killed off leading to civil conflict and no improvement to that countries domestic situation.
Sukarno of Indonesia was overthrown without being killed but the massacre of civilians by the military that followed was terrible, number in the hundreds of thousands.
The violent deaths of leaders of various west African dictators have started civil conflicts.
I suspect that Ghaddafi's vile death will accelerate the drift of Libya towards being a failed state.
Any positive outcomes? Meaning the violent death or overthrow of a dictator producing progress towards a more civil society?
Sep '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I was appalled.
The son of a man I grew up with was killed by an RPG in Anbar Province. The event was depicted in detail by Anderson Cooper on CNN--including extensive animation of the ambush and ensuing firefight. I cannot imagine seeing actual video of the bodies--let alone those who were seriously wounded, and only later died of their wounds.
For western media to exult in the grisly video, showing all of that gore, only provides an excuse for Al-Jazeera or somebody else to revel in video of dead or dying Americans.
Many people were enraged by video showing Palestinians dancing in the streets after the 9/11 attacks--I'm revolted that we seem to be engaging in precisely the same kind of exultation.
Qaddafi is dead. Fine. We can demonstrate that we are his betters by how we act.
(FWIW, Staff Sgt. Jesse Strong's mother Vicki was sufficiently moved by the death of her son that she ran for the Vermont legislature as a Tea Party candidate--and won.)
Edited on Oct 21, 2011 at 7:12amJul '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
The worst or best photos depending on your point of view were plastered over the front page of today Daily Mail, which like the Daily Telegraph and other London broadsheets, is a more reliable source of news on American politics than our newspapers. The British believe in giving its readers the straight dope, not some predigested, gatekeeper-worthy version that won't upset the nannies and old ladies of both sexes. Their journalists report the news, let the chips fly where they may. Ours support a political agenda, one that banished the people jumping to their death from the World Trade Center for fear we would experience strong emotion that was not good for us, and decided for us that it was better that we didn't know Obama's shady past or utter lack of experience in anything that could be described as useful work.
Aug '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
True. On the other hand, part of me wonders that, will all the Hollywood magic we have these days, how convincing can video proof be to the average person (one not schooled in detecting special effects)?
Another good point. But how much is taking the press's video footage like taking the press's word? Both involve some level of trust, no?
Dec '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
I've seen more of the Qaddafi killing than I care to. Watching Special Report last night felt like FOX was running the footage on a loop. I had my laptop on my lap surfing Ricochet simultaneously, so it was more like catching glimpses, but still horrifying. It's hard not to feel sympathy for the man under the circumstances.
Which leads me to ask, why did he not have a suicide contingency plan? Um, Muammar, when you find yourself hiding in a drain pipe with missiles smashing your convoy outside and an angry mob nearby, it's probably time to check out.
Anyone know what the ratio is of dictators who commit death-by-suicide versus death-by-mob? The ones who fall into the hands of Western powers are lucky. What happened in Libya makes a firing squad or hanging look like tea with the Queen.
Jan '11
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
Life in the Middle East is brutal. One can read about the brutality and have his or her imagination work out a mental image of the reality, or one can watch brutal events directly as recorded on video. There's some degree of protective softening when the horror of brutality is left to ones imagination - it's a degree of tolerance thing. If one chooses to avoid a direct confrontation, I think it leads to a kind of mitigation of the actual horror. Something important is lost, and while revulsion is lessened, so is the response to such horrors. Hollywood horror is one thing, what actually happens to human beings in the Middle East quite another. I wouldn't waste my time on the former, but I think it is essential to at least glimpse the reality of the latter to fortify the resolve to combat it.
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
We didn't combat that, we facilitated it.
Aug '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
Hasn't it ever been thus?
Public executions used to be a form of spectacle, with the hangman selling bits of the rope afterward as souvenirs. Sure, it would be nice to rise above that, and we can (and should) try. But how reasonable is it to expect that we all -- or nearly all -- will?
I hadn't watched the video, and won't, but your comment about how the photos are on the front page of the Daily Mail prompted me to take a look. I can't say I wish I hadn't, though I looked for all of about .5 seconds.
Maybe I'm just rationalizing, but it seems to me one difference between photographs and videos is the time and plot. You expect something interesting to happen in a video. Whereas nothing exciting has to happen in a photo. It's just evidence.
Dec '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
After 9-11, the crashing of the planes and the fall of the towers were shown over and over again in an endless loop. While no actual gore was shown, we knew what it meant when vidoes were shown. I had no desire to watch, but many watched again and again.
Dec '10
Re: Since When Did We All Become Snuff Film Connoisseurs?
And then there are those of us to whom the Qaddafi video is just like another day at work.
(PS: One upside to this despicable man's death is we'll no longer have to worry about how to spell his name.)