Saturday, September 23, 2006
another question
On the news they mentioned rather ominously that the combined death toll from Afghanistan and Iraq now just about equals the 9/11 death toll from the World Trade Center. Which means what, exactly? Any two or three numbers can be put beside each other but it proves nothing unless there is a real connection. For example:
The number of people killed in the WTC is about the same as two trainloads of commuters on Metro North during morning rush hour. Which means what?

The number of people killed in Aghanistan and Iraq is less than died on almost any one day of World War II. Which means what?

The number of people killed in several battles of the Civil War was many times that of the number killed in the WTC. Which means what?

The number of people who live on one square block of midtown Manhattan is about half the number of residents of most towns in upstate New York. Which means what?
Drawing connections is fun, perhaps, but pointless and meaningless unless carefully and logically made. Which you'd have thought any journalist knows. Unless, of course, he or she has an agenda....

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Permalink | | posted by jau at 12:40 AM


2 more:
Blogger DADvocate — at 1:46 PM, September 23, 2006:
Good post. Making the comparison between 9/11 and Iraq/Afghanistan it like saying we should have pulled out of WWII when our casualities equaled the number lost at Pearl Harbor.
 

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Blogger Laura — at 1:15 AM, September 25, 2006:
Very thought provoking post here -- is it a lack of critical thinking or the presence of an agenda on the part of the media? I suspect both, leaning more heavily toward the "agenda" angle.

Best wishes, Laura
 

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