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Original poster

Compassion & media coverage towards Ukraine but not the Middle East/Africa

263 replies

babyhaha · 07/03/2022 18:40

This is something that has been on my mind for a little while so hopefully I'm able to word it correctly.

Since the invasion in Ukraine there has been constant threads about this on MN. This is also something that is constantly spoken about and written about in the media as it rightly should be. This is a major thing that's going on and people should obviously be informed about this.

However, why is this not the case when there's constant wars happening in the Middle East and Africa? Iraq, Palastine, Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan etc the list really does go on. There's still innocent people in these countries that are getting killed for no reason. Now I've personally never seen threads about these countries on MN but as I don't spend too much time I'm on here, I could be wrong. What I am certain about, is these countries BARELY get any media attention from the West, if ever at all. Why is that?!

Is this because Ukraine is a European country and not a third world country where things like these are 'expected to happen?' Do people feel that as the people in these countries are minorities that they don't deserve the same sort of empathy that the Ukrainians are getting? I really am interested to know why there's such a massive difference in terms of media coverage and general compassion.

It's actually interesting because just a few days ago, supermodel Bella Hadid stated that Muslim suffering deserves the same level of outrage as Ukraine and she is absolutely right. And to those who may say I'm exaggerating or this isn't the case, I've linked a Twitter thread below which has clips of the most racist Ukraine coverage on TV and the wording used in each and every clip is very telling. I'd be very interested in hearing people's thoughts.

twitter.com/alanrmacleod/status/1497974245737050120?s=21

OP posts:
FangsForTheMemory · 07/03/2022 18:41

I think it's because if things go wrong in Ukraine, we could end up being nuked.

HereComesSpringAgain · 07/03/2022 18:43

Bella Hadid is using the religious angle by stating 'muslim' ...whys that?

I have no idea of the religion of the average person in Ukraine

Original poster
babyhaha · 07/03/2022 18:44

So people will only show interest/care/compassion when there's a possible threat of something similar happening to them? Surely that's wrong. Are people not capable of having empathy even if it's not a situation they may ever be in?

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SheilaWilcox · 07/03/2022 18:44

It's driving me mad.
Where is all the compassion for other refugees around the world?

Original poster
babyhaha · 07/03/2022 18:47

@HereComesSpringAgain

Bella Hadid is using the religious angle by stating 'muslim' ...whys that?

I have no idea of the religion of the average person in Ukraine

@HereComesSpringAgain probably because the majority of people in the Middle East are Muslims and these are the countries that many, many people seem to not care about. Let's also not pretend that Islamophobia isn't a big issue all over the world!
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LizDoingTheCanCan · 07/03/2022 18:48

I've seen so many people tie themselves up in knots trying to explain why they're so affected by Ukraine but not by the thousands of other refugees across the world. The fact is, they're white, so somehow more legitimate. Plus the media usually demonises refugees, the headlines in the last two weeks are a world apart from those of recent years.

RobinBlackbird · 07/03/2022 18:48

The nuke threat definitely set everyone on edge.
Tbh Syrian civil war coverage tipped me over the edge. There was a lot of threads on MN at that time. It was top of the news agenda.
I have been avoiding the news since the invasion of Ukraine. I never look at Twitter. It doesn't reflect public opinion and seems designed on setting us against one another.
You are right in saying there wasn't as much coverage of Sudan on mainstream media.

IHateWasps · 07/03/2022 18:48

I don't see how you can say that Syria got little coverage. When war broke out there, it was all over the news and high profile for a few years. Iraq got considerable coverage. Afghanistan got a lot too though, yes, it's since fallen off the radar.

Original poster
babyhaha · 07/03/2022 18:49

@SheilaWilcox

It's driving me mad. Where is all the compassion for other refugees around the world?
Thank you! I'm very happy to know I'm not the only one thinking about this. At the end of the day we're all human, no one is better or more important than the other just because of their location in the world
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Lovingeveryrainbow · 07/03/2022 18:49

We know why tbh.

Certain lives count less in the eyes of many.

bappymonday · 07/03/2022 18:50

It's close to home and near as damn it to Europe.

The invader being Putin is nigh on unstoppable.

Nuclear threat with the means to follow through.

Have we become more caring and compassionate over the years with social media and awareness of coverage?

I'm afraid to say that primarily I think it's due to the colour of the refugees.
They're white.

mysweetlemonpie · 07/03/2022 18:50

@SheilaWilcox

It's driving me mad. Where is all the compassion for other refugees around the world?

Agreed (not that I think that 2 wrongs make a right.)
I think sometimes that people in England don't realise that refugees are people no matter which race they are.
I doubt the arseholes on the Kent coast trying to sabotage the refugee boats/life-boats would dare to do that to a boat-ful of fleeing Ukraine's.

IHateWasps · 07/03/2022 18:52

So people will only show interest/care/compassion when there's a possible threat of something similar happening to them? Surely that's wrong. Are people not capable of having empathy even if it's not a situation they may ever be in?

Sympathy for Ukraine doesn't stop people from feeling for refugees in other conflicts/situations but I think it's hardly surprising that people are even more concerned about a situation that may affect them, particularly with the nuclear weapons factor. I don't think there's a human alive who wouldn't be more perturbed if their house or their neighbour's house was on fire than they would be by a fire in a stranger's house miles away. .

FAQs · 07/03/2022 18:53

There has been a few threads now asking this and the same answers.

welliewarmer · 07/03/2022 18:54

Maybe it's also that this is a totally unprovoked war and is easier to understand and follow what's going on/ the recent history behind it. Plus it's not about religion, so we aren't alienated from it for that reason.

TabithaHazel · 07/03/2022 18:56

I think it's because people here rightly or wrongly can identify with Eastern European people more than they can with people from say Afghanistan due to cultural similarities so I'm not sure if it's a racial issue as such, but more cultural. Ukraine borders many countries where people probably personally know people from eg. Poland, so perhaps that's why - certainly in my case I know Ukrainian and Polish people, but I don't think I have any even acquaintances from Syria or Afghanistan. So possibly its a familiarity thing. Although of course this is not an excuse - all humans no matter where they were born are part of the human race and deserve the same empathy.

Also there is a real threat that this conflict could spread across Europe, it is literally on our doorstep, and that's without taking into account the nuclear threat we are now facing. Something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

Whelmed · 07/03/2022 18:57

There was a great outpour of support for refugees from Afghanistan last year. It's all very short lived as it will very likely be for Ukrainian refugees as well.

colouringindoors · 07/03/2022 18:58

I think it's a mixture of things.

On one hand I think many Brits can relate to people from Eastern Europe more easily than they can people from Africa/Arab states. Europeans. Also many of us will have friends / cleaners / colleagues / builders from Poland for example. Part of that relating is about colour.

The nuclear threat.

But yes, racism will also be a factor. Fuelled by scare stories about terrorists/extremists.

dreamsarefree · 07/03/2022 19:00

I was talking about this to a colleague today. I think people can relate to the Ukrainian families because they are more similar in terms of their lifestyle and culture than middle East or Africa. Secondly, the majority of the refugees are women, children and the elderly because the men are staying to defend the country. For the other wars you mention, the majority of refugees are men fleeing 'to set up and bring their families across' and women being left behind in war zones (not all of course but it's predominantly the case based on the media). I don't think that sits well with a lot of people as the women and children are forgotten.

Original poster
babyhaha · 07/03/2022 19:02

@LizDoingTheCanCan

I've seen so many people tie themselves up in knots trying to explain why they're so affected by Ukraine but not by the thousands of other refugees across the world. The fact is, they're white, so somehow more legitimate. Plus the media usually demonises refugees, the headlines in the last two weeks are a world apart from those of recent years.
As sad as it is, this is really the only reason I can think of. Even in the first clip of the link I attached, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Ukraine says, 'it's very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair getting killed.' As if their appearance is the only thing that's triggering any sort of empathy and the fact that it's people that look like that him....

It's funny you mention the portrayal of refugees as only a couple of months ago MP Emily Elphicke were saying that migrants must be sent back and not allowed to cross the channel. She's now made a statement on her official Twitter stating that she's signed the book of solidarity and she gives her 'heart, her help and her resolve' to stand with Ukraine. Yet just a couple months ago it was 'send the migrants back'?? ok.
She's now turned her comments off as she's understandably receiving a lot of attention due to her hypocrisy

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DamnUserName21 · 07/03/2022 19:03

@LizDoingTheCanCan

I've seen so many people tie themselves up in knots trying to explain why they're so affected by Ukraine but not by the thousands of other refugees across the world. The fact is, they're white, so somehow more legitimate. Plus the media usually demonises refugees, the headlines in the last two weeks are a world apart from those of recent years.
Yep, plus European and Christian.

Not 'other.'

lonelyapple · 07/03/2022 19:05

Why are you so surprised? It's an unfortunate reality that it's human nature to empathise with people who seem similar to you or share the same race/religion/culture. I doubt that many Middle Easterners are getting worked up about all the Ukrainian/Russians victims/refugees of this war or going on huge anti-war rallies.

IHateWasps · 07/03/2022 19:05

I do think a lot of people underestimate how much discrimination Central and Eastern Europeans face and have faced in the U.K. White or not, their welcome has often been a long way from warm. Look at Brexit where much of the focus was on how many Eastern Europeans were "taking our jobs". I doubt that they''ll be welcomed with open arms for long.

lonelyapple · 07/03/2022 19:06

It's funny you mention the portrayal of refugees as only a couple of months ago MP Emily Elphicke were saying that migrants must be sent back and not allowed to cross the channel. She's now made a statement on her official Twitter stating that she's signed the book of solidarity and she gives her 'heart, her help and her resolve' to stand with Ukraine. Yet just a couple months ago it was 'send the migrants back'?? ok.

Probably because the Ukrainian refugees are mostly women and children, not young men.

Original poster
babyhaha · 07/03/2022 19:08

@IHateWasps

I don't see how you can say that Syria got little coverage. When war broke out there, it was all over the news and high profile for a few years. Iraq got considerable coverage. Afghanistan got a lot too though, yes, it's since fallen off the radar.
That's fair enough. Maybe because everything that's happening with Ukraine is all very current and seems to be talked about 24/7 whereas I don't remember this happening with Syria at all. My memory isn't the best at time so I appreciate this comment
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