Who is James Foley?
James Wright Foley was born in October on 1973. The Rochester, NH native graduated from both Marquette University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He chose teaching as his career until the mid 2000s, when he switched to photojournalism. While working for the Global Post in 2011, Foley was detained in Libya by Gaddafi loyalists during that country’s civil war. Anton Hammerl, fellow journalist, was killed when Foley and two of his colleagues were captured. Foley was released after a month and a half, and continued to work for the Global Post until he was captured again in Syria in 2012. From November of that year, until August 19, 2014, Foley’s location was unknown.
New Hampshire Spearheads Government Involvement
Foley’s home state of New Hampshire very quickly organized a government effort to free Foley. In a series of letters, officials from the State and Justice department were begged to take aggressive action against those responsible for Foley’s capture. The story made news, Americans said a prayer, and, for all intents and purposes, James Foley seemed to be forgotten. He was never heard from again until a horrible video showed up, featuring James Foley’s beheading by a jihadist group known as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). According to Foley’s executioner ISIS is also holding American journalist Steven Joel Sotloff hostage, and will kill him as well if the US does not halt airstrikes against the terrorists.
Closure for Foley’s Loved Ones?
The beheading of James Wright Foley is the first time that an American has been killed by ISIS. The video was the most devastating end to a nightmare for his loved ones. His mother, Dianne Foley told CNN, “We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people.” When asked why his son insisted on returning to dangerous locations, John Foley replied, “Why do firemen go back into a blazing home? It was his job.” Foley also has four siblings.
Americans Play Into the Hands of Terrorists
There was once a time when such a killing would have made the 6 o’clock news with censured photos. Parents would have covered their children’s eyes, and cringed inwardly at the thought of such horrors. We would have had a watered-down, 3 minute explanation of the death, it would have been on the news for a few days, and then the attention would move on. Then came social media. While Americans certainly need to wake up and realize the horrific nature of terrorists, we have all became little news anchors via social media. In an effort to “inform the public,” we post images and videos of something as terrifying as a man having his head sawed off. Can we not see we are playing right into their hands?
Social Media Celebrates With ISIS
It is impossible to sign into Facebook, Twitter, etc without seeing the frozen image of this video on the screen. For those whose settings allow videos to auto-play, the results are even worse. This is what ISIS wants! Have we become so desensitized that watching someone be beheaded is no longer considered wrong but it is desired in some morbid way? Showing photos of this man’s dismembered body and videos of his murder are not only disrespectful to his loved ones, but it is exactly what ISIS wants us to do!
Americans are supporting terrorism, giving the monsters free advertising, and passing on their message. We don’t need these images to understand how horrible it is that an American was beheaded by terrorists. Sharing ISIS propaganda is not supporting Foley, nor is it standing for America. We are reacting in the exact way that they are. They are passing this video around in celebration of Foley’s death. Should Americans celebrate with them, or shouldn’t we be in mourning?