06-26-2019, 08:57 PM
Steve G. wrote:
As you know, I have often posted about propaganda shot and tabloid distortions meant to mold opinion. I think the picture of the father and 2 year old daughter who drowned while trying to cross into the U.S. is such a case. It is being used to whip up sentiment and anger. Apparently the publishers and politicians flashing it around don't think the real border misery is enough, so they have to resort to this kind of tactic.
It's a step too far in my opinion, boarding on unsavory exploitive horror.
I agree. It's poverty porn of the worst variety. When the images are used to sell media, to raise money for charity, or simply for people of privilege like us to gaze at, that's poverty porn. The government of El Salvador, the home country of this father and daughter, appears to be using the image as a caution to others contemplating this dangerous journey. That's a different matter.
In 2018, over 260 people died trying to cross our southern border. Most deaths are from heat, about 50 were from drowning. The number of deaths was actually higher in 2016, before Trump took office. Don't know numbers for 2019 yet but this goes on every year. You don't need an exploitative photograph to tell that story.
Think about who is empowered by the publication of this photo:
The family? No
Their community? No
Immigrants in general? No
El Salvadorans? No
American media? Yes
American politicians? Yes
Nonprofit groups? Yes