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

[babyhaha]

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

@Cheshirecatwoman

“ But it's interesting to see people admitting this is about race and caring more”

@babyhaha

I haven’t seen anyone admit it is about race. Culture yes but race no.

You are putting forward your own agenda again.

Do you honestly, hand on heart have equal compassion for everyone and everything? I find that almost impossible to believe and feel that you are being a bit goady tbh.

@Cheshirecatwoman what agenda? From the start of the thread people have literally said it's easier to feel empathy for those that look like them. Is that not race? And what culture is this that makes you feel sudden empathy that you can't feel for the Middle East/Africa?

For me it's very simple, familiarity . I can relate more to near Europeans than I can other cultures and creeds .

Also the Middle East has been fractious and at war since forever so it's like wallpaper now but the Ukraine crisis is recent and new and raw .
Having said that I have given to charities raising funds for all recent wars and disasters because although some are so far away I can empathise with anyone suffering.

@emuloc, not sure if you know about the trip those refugees have to make to arrive to a safe country, but sade to say it is not a journey I would do taking my wife and young children and elderly parents with me. It is not so hard to understand that the man would take the dangerous journey woth the hope of having the family join them in a easier way later? Or those refugees are all monsters that hate women, that the way ment posters seem to think.
And lets finish already with the narrative of the "heroic" ukranian men staying back to fight, they are forced to stay.
Not to mention that when other men in other countries stay and fight they are called terrorist.
No, people dont care about refugees from Africa and middle east because they are a different colour and different religion. So many contorsions to try and explain it otherwise, but thats all there is.
A bit more empathy for something happening nearer, sure. But not this level of disgusting double standards and blatant racism , including by reporters.

[quote ReadtheFT]@emuloc, not sure if you know about the trip those refugees have to make to arrive to a safe country, but sade to say it is not a journey I would do taking my wife and young children and elderly parents with me. It is not so hard to understand that the man would take the dangerous journey woth the hope of having the family join them in a easier way later? Or those refugees are all monsters that hate women, that the way ment posters seem to think.
And lets finish already with the narrative of the "heroic" ukranian men staying back to fight, they are forced to stay.
Not to mention that when other men in other countries stay and fight they are called terrorist.
No, people dont care about refugees from Africa and middle east because they are a different colour and different religion. So many contorsions to try and explain it otherwise, but thats all there is.
A bit more empathy for something happening nearer, sure. But not this level of disgusting double standards and blatant racism , including by reporters.[/quote]
This!

I don't know . I guess it has a lot to do with what the media decides to focus their reporting on ?
I have been dismayed for years over Israel's oppression and occupation of Palestinian Territories . And people wonder why suicide bombers existed there . Feel the helplessness and powerlessness that the Ukrainian people are facing now .

Tbh all the other wars are mainly conflict within the country itself and they have been going on for so many years it has became the norm this new was is 1 sick prat killing for no reason he also has nukes and if any country helps they are screwed, and whats to say he won't move onto another country after

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

I think sometimes that people in England don't realise that refugees are people no matter which race they are.

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.

It's unconscious bias. As humans we tend to feel more empathy for those who look/feel/seem like us. It's not right but it's a fact.

There have been news reporters and politicians saying these aren’t “the usual” refugees- their whiteness affords them compassion where there is fury and contempt for those from the global south.

Many people care about Syria for example, but most dont see a reflection of themselves there on TV. I think they easily see that looking at Ukraine.*

@Cheshirecatwoman these are only a few comments made because I can't be bothered to copy and paste all when it's in the thread. These are all about race. Again, what agenda?

I think the reality of living in a place where there's war doesn't affect many people in the UK. NI was somewhat removed from people's minds because it wasn't happening on their island. Its difficult for a lot of people to identify with refugees so they seek to find a connection, be it colour, religion, culture. It may not be consciously racist but just lack of experience and education of war.
A lot of Irish people have marched with Palestinians and identify with what is happening in Palestine. We also identify with Ukrainians. It seems to echo across most countries who have suffered under a regime. It's not because we are better but because unfortunately we identify with the invasion and displacement of war and do not need to find another connection.

@Bubblesandsqueak1

Tbh all the other wars are mainly conflict within the country itself and they have been going on for so many years it has became the norm this new was is 1 sick prat killing for no reason he also has nukes and if any country helps they are screwed, and whats to say he won't move onto another country after

Easy example, Israel invading Palestine is not a conflict within one country. Look at the difference in narrative!? Those ukranians heroes making molotov are the same that would be pointed at as terrorist and the reason why they are being bombed, many, many times over. But even if a war was qithin a country, it doesnt change anything for the innocent civilians. I dont see how the worry of the war spilling into europe and the rest brings more empathy towards white refugees. They are two different things

@ReadtheFT Exactly. The amount of posters so quick to criticize male refugees from other countries, and conveniently overlook the fact that the men in Ukraine have no choice but to stay and fight.

I mean the media and news and politics is always depressing. Usually, it's focused on issues at home and then major international issues that affect us. But to expect that we must always be wailing and handwringing and immobilised with pity at every single conflict and cause if refugees in the world is a peculiarly UK-centric, naval-gazing view that we should care about absolutely everything absolutely equally. Of course that would be ideal, but we are but human and we do kinda get to pick and choose events that affect our little universe most, as does every single country on this planet in turn, rather than feeling particularly responsible to feel wretched about it during our daily lives

[quote ReadtheFT]@emuloc, not sure if you know about the trip those refugees have to make to arrive to a safe country, but sade to say it is not a journey I would do taking my wife and young children and elderly parents with me. It is not so hard to understand that the man would take the dangerous journey woth the hope of having the family join them in a easier way later? Or those refugees are all monsters that hate women, that the way ment posters seem to think.
And lets finish already with the narrative of the "heroic" ukranian men staying back to fight, they are forced to stay.
Not to mention that when other men in other countries stay and fight they are called terrorist.
No, people dont care about refugees from Africa and middle east because they are a different colour and different religion. So many contorsions to try and explain it otherwise, but thats all there is.
A bit more empathy for something happening nearer, sure. But not this level of disgusting double standards and blatant racism , including by reporters.[/quote]
It is not so hard to understand that the man would take the dangerous journey woth the hope of having the family join them in a easier way later? Or those refugees are all monsters that hate women, that the way ment posters seem to think.

@ReadtheFT thank you!! I even said, what if it was a family decision for the man to leave their family behind in hopes to send money back to them! Yet they're being painted as the monsters because they're just coming here for a 'better life.'

And lets finish already with the narrative of the "heroic" ukranian men staying back to fight, they are forced to stay.

Exactly!!

Not to mention that when other men in other countries stay and fight they are called terrorist.

Right again!!

A bit more empathy for something happening nearer, sure. But not this level of disgusting double standards and blatant racism , including by reporters.

Double standards, that's exactly what it is. When I see the comments about caring more because English people can relate to these people more because of the cultural aspect. It's like okay that's great and I can understand that. But if you ONLY care because these people look like you then that's a problem no? The reporters have just been disgusting with it. Not even trying to hide their views

I've had countless debates with my afghan in laws about the compassion of British people.

But this Ukraine disaster has really proved me wrong.

The journalist openly saying things like "yes they drop these bombs in Afghanistan BUT it's stomach churning for it to be happening in Ukraine" proved everything.

And Afghanistan despite what people think isn't full of a bunch of hillbillys living in huts.
My in-laws whom live in Afghanistan live in beautiful homes, far better and hygiene is taken more serious than most homes in the uk.
Most people I think would be shocked to see how actual middle class afghans are living over there.

But it's okay, if a afghan nursery gets bombed because it's only brown children.

I feel disgusted at any war and I feel sorry for the people of Ukraine but for this posts sake, I completely agree with you OP and I think we all know the real reason.

It's quite concerning how bombs were dropped every few minutes on Middle Eastern countries but Obama was never blasted? Sanctions aren't put on America every time they try and occupy somewhere. So what's the fuss with Putin? Why is Putin the devil and Biden isn't?

Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen all got masses of media attention for a while. As the conflicts continued for years it is understandable that interest has dwindled. The same thing happened to the conflict in East Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea, although the fighting has never completely stopped.

So people feeling the treat of a nuclear war makes them more compassionate

Were we compassionate towards Russians or Americans when there was a threat

YANBU

This is also the first conflict that's being played out via social media. Ukraine are doing an excellent job with their media exposure. None of the other conflicts you mention ever had that. There's also a lack of understanding about many of the conflicts, especially civil war.
On top of all the other reasons stated by pp (whether you like them or not) this has a real 'David and Golieth' feel about it, with the role of agressor completely played out by Russia. The entire world is rooting for Ukraine, as the odds were entirely not in their favour, and they've stunned us all by their tenacity and pluck.

Additionally, the refugees are women and children, not men, which seem to be the bulk of the refugees you mention.

The question I'd love answering is why do those men leave the women and children behind in the contries with conflicts and civil wars?

@RocketPanda

I think the reality of living in a place where there's war doesn't affect many people in the UK. NI was somewhat removed from people's minds because it wasn't happening on their island. Its difficult for a lot of people to identify with refugees so they seek to find a connection, be it colour, religion, culture. It may not be consciously racist but just lack of experience and education of war. A lot of Irish people have marched with Palestinians and identify with what is happening in Palestine. We also identify with Ukrainians. It seems to echo across most countries who have suffered under a regime. It's not because we are better but because unfortunately we identify with the invasion and displacement of war and do not need to find another connection.

I do think this is true and a good point. I've seen many Irish people be vocal about stuff happening in the Middle East and like you say, maybe it's because they've been through similar so have that empathy straight away. For others, it's clearly hard to feel anything whatsoever

Maybe because there have been many terrorist attacks from people of those nationalities and their refugees are actually considered by some to bring further threat of terror to Europe. Very different to Ukrainian refugees

@SparklyLeprechaun

Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen all got masses of media attention for a while. As the conflicts continued for years it is understandable that interest has dwindled. The same thing happened to the conflict in East Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea, although the fighting has never completely stopped.

The issue iant the amount of media coverage, but the level of shock that this could happen to white people. And the desperation of people compared to when the same happens in non white countries. Just on mumsnet in the past couple of days i have seen threads about offering a place to ukrianian refugees, and, amusingly, a thread about someone wanting to go and join the fight there 🤔 (A 40 something unfit woman if i remember correctly 😂) I can safely say no one ever posted about going to Yemen or palestine to join the fight lol

The reason it's mainly men making the journey from countries such as Sudan is because the journey itself is incredibly dangerous. Women and children are more likely to be raped and trafficked and older people would be unlikely to survive the journey. And so the family has to make the horrendous decision to send young men in the hope they can survive the journey and find a safer way to bring women, children and older family members to a safe country.

Their families send young men away to send money home

Would you not send you son away knowing he will be forced to fight in an army like the Taliban

It would be inconceivable in some cultures to think a young women would be able to survive without her family in a foreign country

The media coverage is to do with the shock at the fact there is war in Europe. World war 2 was the deadliest ever war (fought globally but predominantly in Europe). Post world war 2 treaties and pacts were signed to try and ensure a war never happened again in europe. And yet here we are.... Russia has invaded a sovereign nation within Europe.

I don't think it's outrageous that people are responding like they are given the history.

I also don't think that it means people "value" Ukrainians lives over Sudanese or Syrian lives. Like others have mentioned there was huge amounts of coverage over Syria.

@Readtheft yes but my point still stands all the other wars were on the news when they started this is what day 10 of this new war the others so even decades of support and no resolution this war could be stopped its got jack poops to do with skin colour and more to do with how long these wars have gone on if the Ukraine war is still ongoing in 12 months time the chances are the media and all other support to slow too,

This is new and big. We have had a level of peace in Europe for decades and suddenly a democracy was invaded on our doorstep. It has shaken people's beliefs in peace.

I felt utter helplessness when the withdrawal from Afghanistan meant the taliban were back in power in days. After 20 years of trying to stop that. There really are no further options I can think of aside from help those who escape. That doesn't mean I care less about those people, just that there seems a lot less possibility of helping.

And yes it does make a difference to me that the refugees this time are skewed more towards women and children than young fit males.

@CBFA makes a good point about every country choosing what it focuses on - it feels to us as though Ukraine is the top news story in the world but I’m sure in many large parts of the world it doesn’t feature nearly as much, whereas conflicts nearer to them did. It’s basic news values - that’s why stories from Australia get a disproportionate amount of coverage in the UK - because we perceive them to be close to us culturally if not geographically.