Why is one of the first questions always "Were there any American casualties"?

[Hugabear]

Yesterday when news broke of the Malaysian airliner crash, many of the news reports I saw seemed to be focused on finding out if there were any Americans on board. I can understand wanting to find out, but for this to be one of the first items of focus seems a little disrespectful to me. It's almost as if they are subconsciously saying that American lives are more valuable than other nationalities (although with conservative outlets, it's not subconscious at all).

[YarnAddict]

1. It's probably the same reaction

in every country in the world to find out if their own citizens may have been victims.

[LordGlenconner]

17. That's accurate

Having been in a foreign country (France) during another disaster (TWA 800) there were many Parisians wondering how many of their fellow countrymen were on the plane. That particular angle dominated the news coverage. It's not just an American thing, as the OP would apparently like to believe.

[clarice]

2. Come on Huggy....you're better than this. nt

[Hugabear]

6. I just think we need to get past our nationalism

To me, I see 298 victims. I don't see a certain number of Americans, Malaysians, Germans, etc.

[clarice]

12. It's cool....I see your point..

but I don't think that asking "how many Americans?" is excessively nationalistic.
My feeling is, people in other countries are probably asking "how many Malaysians
How many Indians ? "etc.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. JRN 101-- find the local angle.

Find relatives and friends of the American casualties and put cameras on them.

[Hugabear]

7. Yes, and it always disgusts me

Here in Orlando, I fully expect to eventually see a special "exclusive" interview with some Orlando resident whose college roommate's grandmother's neighbor was on the plane.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Why do DUers object to corporations replacing American jobs with Chinese or Indian ones?

Do Americans have more right to be employed than other nationalities?

[JustAnotherGen]

20. Nye - I want you to pay very close attention

I very rarely agree with you - you probably are aware of that.

But right now - I'm telling you to throw the mic! Throw it!


Me? I think it's human nature. Who is close to me? Are 'mine' okay?

[HERVEPA]

5. Totally agree. Kept hearing that yesterday and was disgusted by it.

[blogslut]

8. Most likely because those news reports were from American entities.

I would imagine that news reports from, say, France or Egypt focused on whether or not any casualties came from their respective nations.

[IronGate]

9. It's the same question asked in every country that may have had

their citizens on board.
There's nothing disrespectful about it.

[conservaphobe]

14. This. nt

[upaloopa]

10. Because we would like to know and it is ok to ask

[awake]

11. I am not sure but I thought that under Bush a law was passed involving action which could be taken

against a "Terrorist" who killed an American. Does some one remember this?

[TwilightGardener]

13. As an American, it matters to me if my fellow citizens were affected. In terms of

the implications internationally, it certainly matters to the countries affected, in terms of their response and actions.

[Peacetrain]

15. You would find that in any county.. I'm a hoosier your a hoosier

Just human nature..like going by a car accident with the ambulances there.. and checking to make sure the license plate is not someone you know.. Its not that a person is not empathic to the loss of life.. we just always look for those we know first..

[sufrommich]

16. Because you're watching American news channels reporting the story.

I doubt that it's different in any other country.

[MohRokTah]

18. Well, wingnut commentators took Obama to task over the 23 Americans that weren't on the plane.

Seriously, they criticized Obama for saying they were working to determine if there were any American citizens on board when they had been reporting 23 on board for over an hour!

As it turned out, of course, their 23 Americans report was complete bullshit.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.


John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

[CTyankee]

21. I notice that Obama didn't do that right out of the box...in his press conference

he stated the tragedy of the event and quite appropriately mentioned an American victim in the context of the larger situation. This is why I loved what he did today. He was totally on point in that appearance. I'm especially proud that he is our president today...

[joshcryer]

22. Every country asks that question.

Americans are the only ones who ask why we ask that question. To every other country it's a basic question to ask...