
Advertisement
The video does not injure the dignity of James Foley.When I watch the video I see a brave man who knows he’s about to die – who has been living with his death for over a year, who’s suffered torture, and who – within the last week – was probably told by his captors that his murder would serve as propaganda for his torturers. He knows these things and he gets on with it, not without fear but through fear.“What do you need me to say, so that you won’t torture me? What do you want my last words to be? Okay. I’ll say them.”He is forced to say, at length, “America has killed me.” He addresses most of his statement to his brother, who is in the air force. Then the man who murders Foley makes a similar point, that what’s about to happen is the fault of the USA. Neither of them seems convinced, and they are not convincing. America’s decision to give air support to the Kurds and the Iraqi state is too abstract, a world away from what’s about to take place on this sandy hill.Foley’s body tenses when he realises the knife is coming. The video cuts to black and when it comes back we see Foley’s decapitated head placed on his back. It’s very disturbing, a stark image of the evil men can commit.Twitter, I don't need to see a photo or a video of James Wright Foley's last moments. Give him his dignity, not ISIS the publicity.
— Ben Stanley (@BDStanley) August 19, 2014
Advertisement
This video wasn’t meant for us. It seems to me that this is a recruitment video.The murderer sounds like a British national; the video has certain graphic effects—such as a false digital glaze and VHS era glitches – that resemble a vision of terrorism you might see in a blockbuster action film. Who would find such imagery compelling? Young men, residing in the west, who already sympathise with ISIS. A recent count of the number of foreign fighters in the ISIS ranks is around 1,200. They want more, obviously, and so the murderer in this video repeatedly explains how catastrophic the US intervention is, he claims that by attacking Islamic State forces the US is attacking all Muslims. It’s impossible to be certain of their motives but the video is deliberate. It seems likely that they cut away from the most violent moments because potential recruits aren’t ready for them.Please don't search for the James Foley murder video. That's what the terrorists want. #RespectJamesFoley
— Kimothy Walker (@KimothyWalker) August 20, 2014
Advertisement
What are people saying when they suggest others are watching the video for entertainment?I can only speak from personal experience. When I sense that a part of me would be entertained by seeing something horrific my first instinct, to cope with the shame this causes, is to insist to others that that it’s not in any way entertaining. By stating such a position I feel better.But we needn’t feel ashamed. You only need to look at the art we enjoy – all the violent paintings, novels, movies, and television – to know that violence holds a thrill for humanity. It’s natural for people to think that unrepresented violence, genuine horror, would hold a similar if not more potent thrill. And it might. The thrill we experience is the catharsis of being witness to how vulnerable our bodies are, and the inevitability of our deaths.It’s possible to watch the video, to understand where that thrill is coming from, and still be reflective and serious about deeper issues."Don’t watch it because its gruesome and upsetting" - this is the reason that makes sense. And I think that's what most people who are arguing against viewing it mean but when humans start arguing a point they bring up every single notion that could conceivably bolster that point, even if it doesn't make sense.Police warn sharing James Foley killing video is a crime http://t.co/MgJMeNcRkE - Just to warn sick people who think this is entertainment!
— Rob Breakwell (@rbbreakwell) August 20, 2014
Advertisement