How Biden-Harris lost votes for Democrats —backing wholesale destruction.
— 3 November 2024 at 22:59
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris suffered significant damage due to a devastating fire that occurred on April 15, 2019.
The worldwide press and media discussions quickly whipped up a frenzy about the fragility of historical monuments and the (selective) importance of preserving cultural (some) heritage sites. Those passionate about the cathedral argued that they were righteously concerned over a crucial piece of world heritage. The high-profile nature of the donations created a form of philanthropic competition, encouraging wealthy individuals and corporations to make large pledges. The French government passed a law in record time for significant tax deductions on donations, providing an incentive for large donations by the richest. Regular people were bombarded by media sensationalism that made a spectacle out of “explaining” to Average Joe and Jane that they somewhere, somehow — each and every one of them — have a kind of personal connection to Notre Dame and, hence must prioritize it. The cacophony of pundits and reporters, in combination with incessant dramatic images of the burning cathedral, did manage to evoke emotional responses in people around the world, the majority of whom barely knew about the building’s existence before the “news” barrage, let alone had ever visited.
Before, during, and after this debacle, there had been, were, and are ongoing crises around the globe that the oligarch-owned majority of the press never bother to inform the public about. Instead of focusing on critical humanitarian issues, the media landscape is (intentionally) dominated by sensational stories and celebrity news, leaving many pressing crises in the shadows.
For instance, while millions face severe hunger and poverty in places like Malawi — where over 5 million people are currently experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity — few know about it, because they are consistently underinformed and misinformed by the press.
Reports indicated that there were almost 100 times more articles about a single entertainment event than about the outbreak of this humanitarian crisis.
This is not just a one-time observation but part of a broader trend in how humanitarian crises are reported.
In the best of worlds, no one should have to point out the hypocrisy concerning world heritage sites.
Get Kevin Kane’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Settler-colonial Israel’s destruction of cultural heritage sites in occupied Palestine is of unprecented magnitude. Gaza is home to numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including mosques, churches, and ancient structures. The ongoing genocide has led to extensive damage to these sites.
UNESCO has called for the protection of cultural heritage sites during conflicts and has documented instances of destruction. It emphasizes that such acts are criminal under international law, particularly under Article 53 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, which protects cultural property during armed conflicts.
The Great Omari Mosque and the Church of Saint Porphyrius, both located in the Old City of Gaza, have suffered severe damage due to airstrikes. These are among the oldest religious buildings in world.
The settler-colonial Likud/Netanyahu regime which Joe Biden and Kamala Harris fervently and arrogantly support, has damaged or destroyed over 200 historic buildings and 12 museums in the region.
There is a historical pattern of failed reporting in the Western press on humanitarian crises, which continues to affect public awareness and global response to this day.
Critics argue that the Biden-Harris administration are complicit and active participants in historical patterns of media misdirection and governmental obstruction of responses to humanitarian crises.
In the past, the Biden-Harris administration would have escaped serious scrutiny — particularly before the rise of social media platforms like TikTok.
Earlier this year, voters indicated they would hold Joe Biden accountable at the polls. AIPAC-Netanyahu ultimately tried a castling; switching Biden with another puppet.
If you think people were upset about the accidental fire in one cathedral in France, let’s observe how voters feel about the intentional attacks on the birthplace of Christianity and the weakness exhibited by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
