The past two months have changed much of my views of religion, media, and terrorism. This is a bit ironic, as my goal was to learn about archaeology. I have just returned to the states after working at Tel Megiddo in Israel, some 20 kilometers south of Haifa. I was working specifically on a Bronze Age Monument and the Iron Age Solomon's Stables (that may not be stables and may not be Solomon's). However, some three weeks ago Hezbollah terrorists killed one Israeli soldier and kidnapped the other two, resulting in Israel's bombing of the Beirut International Airport and the subsequent raining of Katyusha rockets over northern Israel, including the area where I was working.
My mother, when I would talk to her in this period, always was very frantic which though understandable, seemed a bit too much. Though I was within range of the rockets Tel Megiddo just didn't seem too attractive a target, and the chance of strays in this area was very low. Nevertheless, about half of the "Megiddoim" left Israel, including most of the Americans, Canadians, and French. All that were left were Europeans, Israelis, and only two or three members of the previous nations mentioned (including myself).
Coming back to the states earlier this week, I can now see why there was such panic. I was a mixture of mortified and disturbed to see the sensationalist yellow journalism on this event. The words "Armageddon" were in bold, the evangelical ministers talking about "getting right with god", and the dramatic news coverage, all of this ran counter to my own experience.
Granted, some nights were terrifying, and I developed a new appreciation for life, but life itself went on as usual. It was war, a dangerous war, but not one worth putting life on hold. We still traveled, still went to Arab and Israeli towns, even to the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem. Yet here, it seems that America was holding its breath for the rapture, precisely because this is what kept them watching.
As far as I'm concerned CNN and Fox News are the worst dangers to that region (and ours) because they give a voice to the extreme elements of any conflict and isolate (and thus discourage) the more moderate majority. I would like to know what others think, because I think more than any one war or one political controversy this is a problem that needs to be addressed. If our "eyes" for the rest of the world are so jaded and nearsighted, we have the obligation to do our best to change it, but only if everyone sees the same problem.
Tiens,
Theus
™ Version 4.2
