Selma raises important points, and asks very good questions. This type of skepticism needs to be displayed against all types of political propaganda and activism. Nobody - not even BBC and NDTV - should be exempt from it.
Cheers, Santosh --- On Fri, 2/20/09, Carvalho <[email protected]> wrote: > > There is an ethical debate to be had when posting videos > that purport to show "criminals" and > "terrorists." Do these videos bear the credentials > and responsibility that an authentic organisation would > bear? For instance if a video was put out by the BBC or > NDTV, I can be assured these organisation have done due > diligence in uncovering the truth. > > But anyone with a video-phone today can capture an image > and distort its content. This may seem like a bit of > frivolous fun but can result in serious injury to innocent > people. For instance, the recent video posted by Barad, > claims that Digamber Kamat is cavorting with known criminals > and terrorists. There are a couple of questions that a > discerning person should ask. > > a) Was the video shot before their criminal activity came > to the fore? > b) Did the entire group comprise of criminals and > terrorists. Are we to believe that Digu was having a meeting > with a terrorist coven, discussing strategy perhaps on how > to cast spells? > c) What about the innocent by-standers in that group? Why > should their reputation be sullied? > d) How do we know that these people actually are who the > video presents them to be? Are we to take the word of this > obviously biased videographer? > > It is a sad reflection on us when we embark on such blatant > attempts to vilify whole sections of our society and cause > communal rifts. It is also a great fallacy on our part to > believe that it is the politicians who are dividing us. It > is not. The responsibility for our society is entirely our > own. I have come across the most educated people on forums, > who spew the most bigoted communal, racist and ethnic bile, > while all the time pretending to be beacons of hope for Goa > and wanting to save Goa from destruction. >
