First, let's address the horrible tragedy that befell CBS Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Lara Logan. Ms Logan "suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating" on Feb 11th, while covering the celebration of Pres. Mubarak's departure from office, in Tahrir Square, according to CBS News. Some people across the internet, bloggers and reporters, have used this opportunity to question a woman reporter's place in a hostile area or harp on Ms Logan's less than reputable past. I will not. But if you want to read about her past, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/25/lara-logan-sex-scandal-cb_n_109271.html .
War torn areas, while ripe with danger, have to be covered by both men and women reporters. Logan's assault is a reminder that reporting is a dangerous business. According to Reporters Without Borders, five reporters have already been killed in 2011, and 152 are imprisoned. Since 1992, 850 reporters have been killed around the world. A 2007 article in the Columbia Journalism Review exploring the threats to female foreign correspondents singles out Egypt: "The Committee to Protect Journalists, for example, cites rape threats against female reporters in Egypt who were seen as government critics."
The CJR article states, "Female reporters are targets in lawless places where guns are common and punishment rare." They face more sexual harassment and rape than their male counterparts. They are subjected to unwanted advances and "lewd come-ons . . . especially in places where Western women are viewed as promiscuous." Earlier this month, Logan and her crew were detained overnight by the Egyptian army and interrogated. She told Esquire's "The Politics Blog" that during the ordeal her captors blindfolded her and kept her upright. She vomited frequently. They finally gave her intravenous fluids and released her and her crew. Ms Logan is currently residing in a United States hospital during her recovery process and wants to return to work within weeks. I believe this recovery process is going to take a lot longer than she anticipates. While it is true that these reporters definitely know the dangers they encounter when they go to places like Egypt. It's still a shame that tragedies like Ms. Logan's is the price Americans have to pay for the First Amendment. But I applaud Ms Logan in her steely determination to go back to work and not allow these thugs to alter her belief in the freedom of the press. Now on that thought......
-I found out from an unnamed source that my blog appears to blocked by the US Govt. Two days ago, my blog was viewed using USO Wi-fi. I wrote http://statinurcase.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-sb1070-benefits-all-of-america.html which wasn't exactly complimentary of Pres. Obama. It now appears it cannot be accessed through that same Wi-fi. I don't know what exactly is going on but it has definitely piqued my curiosity.
To address your thoughts on women reporters. I appreciate your open mind as well as your admiration. As women we reserve the human right to follow our dreams no matter where they take us. I am sure Logan understands the dangers as well as the threats she is targeted by simply because of her gender. As a woman I can empathize her need to stand in the face of such adversary and her need to share with the world the oppression of women that still disgustingly penetrates the very root of beliefs in so many foreign countries. It is a shame that some choose to use the tragedies of such courageous women to slander our right to stand in the face of prejudice, especially when Logan was reporting the revelations of a war torn part of the world,a job that many men would cower to. Not to mention many of these critics were surely glued to the news for days to watch it unfold from the comfort of their homes and fancy offices.
ReplyDeleteNow to take on the fact that your blog is blocked by the US Govt....I am appalled and disgusted that your opinions whether they be in favor or not about our leader have been blocked. Is it because they fear one man's opinion or perhaps they believe that by thwarting the access to your site they can silence your voice to the soldiers protecting your rights to share them? This somehow does not surprise me. The twisted web of politics entangles so many personal agendas that the simple American right to freedom of speech is so often silenced by power and money. Well I am reading Ashby and though I may not always agree with you, I can assure you I am always willing to voice my opinion.