I think this video can be seen as a connector of the two parts of our class. It shows how directly primary sources can affect the world. In class we usually read or watch something and then talk about what it is referencing in the world at the time. Well this time I think it's the other way around. This video changed what people thought about Nicaragua. It made people realize how corrupt the government was, and what atrocities were happening there. I believe this is an example of how the media can be used for good. After this video was shown, the U.S. and other countries withdrew their support for the Somoza regime. Jimmy Carter said about the incident "The murder of American newsman Bill Stewart in Nicaragua was an act of barbarism that all civilized people condemn." This helped the Frente Sandinista Liberacion Nacional to take power. In power they instituted many reforms to try to help the Nicaraguan people their biggest being a huge literacy campaign. Later the U.S. would get involved again and ousts the Sandinista government by supporting the Contras because we were too scared of socialism. The corrupt dictatorship of the Somoza family was ended in part by this video and I think that is truly amazing- that a one minute video could have such an impact.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Blog #11 Bill Stewart
So if you guys remember Professor Stark told us on Friday about how the ABC cameraman Bill Stewart was killed in Nicaragua. He also said he couldn't find the video to show us though he said that he would like to because of the importance of this footage. Stark told us that this video was what created U.S. awareness and interest in Nicaragua. So I went out and found the footage.
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Wow that video is really powerful. Good work in finding it. It made me angry that's for sure. As you said, I can definitely see how this one minute video could and did change peoples' view of Nicaragua. I also like your point that this is how media can be used for good. Nowadays, we see so much crap and pointless things from the media. Media definitely can be used for good, it just depends on the people and whether it will be good or just pointless crap. I would say that it is pretty lucky that the camera man also was not killed and that the footage survived. I wonder what would have been different if this footage was not taken. I definitely think that the U.S would not have withdrew their support as soon as they did if this footage was not taken. It is always interesting how one person or one small thing or event in history can influence the future in an enormous way. Thank you for finding this incredible footage! I am sure Prof. Stark will be very happy!
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing that you found this video so quickly. I think that the fact that this video is still around speaks to how important media can be. Your point concerning how this video served to open up peoples eyes rather than reinforce what the population already knew is a really valid great one.It seems crazy to me that the men who beat and murdered Bill Stewart did not bother with the camera man. I do think agree that the fact that the Somoza dictatorship was partially ended with this video is amazing, but I also think that it is a bit ironic. The video made such an impact because of the actions shown in it brutality and disregard for the law. This obviously shocked the United States, including our president. So it does not make sense to me how we can them turn around and justify the funding of the Contra's to destabilize the Sandinista government. The fact that in just a few years we went from being horrified in the face of Bill Stewart's murder to funding the attack on schools and hospitals is astounding. I wonder what the reaction would have been if the rest of the United States had been aware of what was happening?
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