Do Conservatives Have Any Empathy At All?

Joykins said:

Using the Internet as a megaphone for the message can be very effective in bringing the message to the attention of people who CAN do something about it such as Congress or the President or whatever. And the US is sending aid to Nigeria now in order to find and bring these girls back home.

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Oh yeah, I'm sure writing a check to government whose army is tentative (at best) to engage Boko Harem because past engagements have ended with government forces being beaten is going to fix this. Again another western solution, throwing money at a problem, that is all about feeling good with little, to no, actual effect.

AztecSDSU said:

Oh yeah, I'm sure writing a check to government whose army is tentative (at best) to engage Boko Harem because past engagements have ended with government forces being beaten is going to fix this. Again another western solution, throwing money at a problem, that is all about feeling good with little, to no, actual effect.

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I think what we sent would be more accurately characterized as "technical assistance" (in terms of advisors/other personnel and intelligence) than "money." Or at least, that's what the linked article said.

Joykins said:

I think what we sent would be more accurately characterized as "technical assistance" (in terms of advisors/other personnel and intelligence) than "money." Or at least, that's what the linked article said.

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The west has pumped trillions of dollars into sub-Saharan Africa, and plenty of advisers too, in the last 50 years and that has changed what exactly? But let me guess, this time is going to be difference because you used some hashtags.

iluvatar5150 said:

The Ranger (assuming he actually is a Ranger and not just a dude in a hat)...

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Look over his right shoulder. Mounted on the wall is a plaque model of the Combat Infantry Man's badge. Ranger's are not the only Army personnel who can be awarded a CIB, but nobody is awarded one for a hashtag campaign.

iluvatar5150 said:

...doesn't nail anything. These "highly trained operatives" don't decide for themselves where they're going to go. They're told where to go by politicians - politicians who ultimately (ideally) are moved to act by their constituents.

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Ultimate authority to mount any type of rescue operation would initially issue from the executive branch, but once issued the proper military authority would decide which assets to deploy. Rangers are often deployed as part of a package either as the primary assault force or in support of other special operations units. If such an operation were to be authorized (and I won't hold my breath), Ranger units or teams are certainly qualified to carry it out. My experience tells me in this particular case the Rangers would be deployed, but as part of a larger overall force.

iluvatar5150 said:

It's unfortunate that the Ranger risks his life to protect a political system he doesn't even understand.

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That is a spurious comment. Of course he understands the political ramifications of military service, he simply wasn't commenting on that aspect of it. His point is clear. You guys who are claiming Conservatives have no empathy for those girls should consider this man and others like him are willing to risk their lives to actually do something, to actually go and get them.

How much more empathy do you want?

AztecSDSU said:

The west has pumped trillions of dollars into sub-Saharan Africa, and plenty of advisers too, in the last 50 years and that has changed what exactly?

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Smallpox eradication. For starters.

But let me guess, this time is going to be difference because you used some hashtags.

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I didn't use any hashtags but I don't think that saying it has no effect is accurate either.

AztecSDSU said:

The west has pumped trillions of dollars into sub-Saharan Africa, and plenty of advisers too, in the last 50 years and that has changed what exactly? But let me guess, this time is going to be difference because you used some hashtags.

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Will you be heading over to sort things out or is nay saying everyone else going to be the limit of your involvement?

SummerMadness said:

Which is the point, the campaign was about influencing governments.

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Do you really believe the guys who kidnapped those girls didn't know this incident would make the news?

I read the OP article. The bottom-line point here is the hashtag campaign is idiotic. The First Lady posed for a picture looking all pouty as if that would force the Boko Haram leader to recant his promise to sell the girls into sexual slavery. But because she is the First Lady the rallying call has to be around the hashtag and how wonderfully effective and brilliantly implemented it was.

But her husband is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. In that regard the only message the hashtag picture sent was in response to this event the United States would limit its response to words and images delivered by the First Lady rather than the C in C. I am sure that has the Boko Haram guys shivering at night.

What war fighters know and the left either refuses to learn or acknowledge is if you want to impress people like the Boko Haram leaders and members there is only one way to do it, from the barrel of a squad automatic weapon. That will cause the next group of terrorist idiots to consider the response to their planed action might be a personal greeting from a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger as opposed to a pouty look from the First Lady.

SummerMadness said:

Such an operation would not be conducted without pressure.

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In this administration such an operation will not be conducted without the promise of personal political gain.

SummerMadness said:

The conservative media decided to use this as opportunity to mock this campaign, which was started by Nigerians, not liberals.

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The campaign should be mocked, it is ridiculous beyond belief. And now, of course, it is the Nigerians fault.

AztecSDSU said:

The west has pumped trillions of dollars into sub-Saharan Africa, and plenty of advisers too, in the last 50 years and that has changed what exactly? But let me guess, this time is going to be difference because you used some hashtags.

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Remember how this thread was about empathy?

Sistrin said:

Do you really believe the guys who kidnapped those girls didn't know this incident would make the news?

I read the OP article. The bottom-line point here is the hashtag campaign is idiotic. The First Lady posed for a picture looking all pouty as if that would force the Boko Haram leader to recant his promise to sell the girls into sexual slavery. But because she is the First Lady the rallying call has to be around the hashtag and how wonderfully effective and brilliantly implemented it was.

But her husband is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. In that regard the only message the hashtag picture sent was in response to this event the United States would limit its response to words and images delivered by the First Lady rather than the C in C. I am sure that has the Boko Haram guys shivering at night.

What war fighters know and the left either refuses to learn or acknowledge is if you want to impress people like the Boko Haram leaders and members there is only one way to do it, from the barrel of a squad automatic weapon. That will cause the next group of terrorist idiots to consider the response to their planed action might be a personal greeting from a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger as opposed to a pouty look from the First Lady.



In this administration such an operation will not be conducted without the promise of personal political gain.



The campaign should be mocked, it is ridiculous beyond belief. And now, of course, it is the Nigerians fault.

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Have you mustered up your veteran brothers to lead an attack? Or are you too nothing more than an internet armchair activist calling for blood?

leftrightleftrightleft said:

Remember how this thread was about empathy?

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And I can now rest my case.

SummerMadness said:

Have you ever visited an African country? Don't speak on a subject that you have no knowledge of. Many African countries have advanced tremendously in the last 50 years. There are issues, and some of those issues are grave, but to act as if nothing has happened is ridiculous. Judging by your comments, you're defaulting to "Africa is messed up and backwards" without knowing the facts.

Is this campaign only going to be measured by whether the girls are found, or for the change it has brought? The Nigerian government was not doing anything beforehand, now they are. That is success, even if the girls are never found. Had they done nothing, the girls would be ignored and the government wouldn't be held accountable.

I know you're not saying this exactly, but would you prefer people to do nothing? Should people go out to protest? Should people start a letter campaign? Should people organize a phone drive? These methods of organization were all new at some point. Would you make the same argument if people inundated their government offices with phone calls? We have the technology to spread the message around the world faster, why wouldn't you use it? The person in Nigeria who started this campaign did and it was a success.

It goes back to the original point, rather than ignore a campaign they do not care for, conservatives used it as a means to attack someone for political reasons, almost gleeful in their mocking of the hash tag.

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Well said.

The hashtag can be mocked by their influence, but the activism surrounding the hashtag is what counts to each abducted girl.

Hashtags do NOT = empathy. Actually doing something is compassionate. But liberals would rather ring their hands and initiate worthless hashtag campaigns and then label people who rightly call them on it as "lacking empathy". Their is NO moral high ground in talking but not doing.

Sistrin said:

Do you really believe the guys who kidnapped those girls didn't know this incident would make the news?

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I doubt they anticipated the massive public outcry that was spread via....the internet

I read the OP article. The bottom-line point here is the hashtag campaign is idiotic.

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It got us talking about it. It got newspapers talking about it. It got politicians talking about it. It brought attention to the issue rather than having a one or two day BBC news headline.

The First Lady posed for a picture looking all pouty as if that would force the Boko Haram leader to recant his promise to sell the girls into sexual slavery. But because she is the First Lady the rallying call has to be around the hashtag and how wonderfully effective and brilliantly implemented it was.

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I don't think the hashtag had the intention of getting Boko Haram to release the girls. Its about raising awareness and getting people and politicians involved in the issue.

Once again, Kony 2012 was labelled a "disaster" and "idiotic" by many, but it helped give some much needed military and strategic support to the region. It gave politicians the public mandate to act, knowing that millions of people had 'liked' this page and were recognizing it as a serious issue.

The headlines were all about the disaster of Kony 2012, but very few headlines followed up in 2013 and 2014 when the US actually acted because of it and northern Uganda is now much safer than it was in 2011.

But her husband is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. In that regard the only message the hashtag picture sent was in response to this event the United States would limit its response to words and images delivered by the First Lady rather than the C in C. I am sure that has the Boko Haram guys shivering at night.

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The Boko Haram are not a small terrorist organization. Asking Obama to "go after" Boko Haram is like asking Bush to "go after" al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Bush acted as C in C and it resulted in a decade-long and very unpopular war thousands of miles from home.

Attacking Boko Haram would have to involve a large scale invasion of most of northern Nigeria in order to weed them out. They are very entrenched there. They also operate in Cameroon and Niger, meaning the US would have to be wary of spillover and ending up with a Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship.

The whole organization is very diffuse, using a 'cell' format. It would be very hard to get rid of and very hard to fight against.

What war fighters know and the left either refuses to learn or acknowledge is if you want to impress people like the Boko Haram leaders and members there is only one way to do it, from the barrel of a squad automatic weapon. That will cause the next group of terrorist idiots to consider the response to their planed action might be a personal greeting from a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger as opposed to a pouty look from the First Lady.

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The US could try to get involved in a very small way, like in Uganda. There they have very few troops and mainly offer supplies, technology, expertise and guidance.

As I said, Boko Haram is very diffuse. They don't really even seem to have an explicit leader. So who should the Navy Seals go after? And where do you go find them? They don't advertise their presence.

Another very unsettling part of Boko Haram (like Kony) is that they use child soldiers. So if you send troops in to fight Boko Haram, you are essentially telling your troops that they have to go kill children that have been brainwashed and mutilated.

In this administration such an operation will not be conducted without the promise of personal political gain.

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I'm sure operations and different ideas have been tossed around. I'm assuming the end result will be a Uganda-style military assistance program.

Keep in mind, that one of the reasons that the US may get involved with Boko Haram in Nigeria is largely due to public pressure...via the internet.

The campaign should be mocked, it is ridiculous beyond belief. And now, of course, it is the Nigerians fault.

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It is not ridiculous and its not the Nigerians "fault". Its a great thing that Nigerians themselves initiated this public outcry. It first of all means that a lot of Africans have access to technology and the internet which is a good sign of progress in sub-Saharan Africa. It also means that the locals don't like Boko Haram which is good news for the local government and decreases the chance of a public-supported coup.


I ultimately see very few negatives surrounding the internet campaign. I don't see how it harms anyone. It is a great way to spread information and knowledge about something and build support for action. I have little doubt that there will be action against Boko Haram because of this.

SummerMadness said:

! Liberals ! did not start the campaign, Nigerians did. Yet another confirmation of the lack of empathy. Nigerians do something to express dissatisfaction with their government and get a message to spread around the world. Conservative media sees liberals involved in the campaign now and start attacking without knowing facts or details. They don't care about these girls or Boko Haram, it's just about attacking ! Liberals ! and ! Obama !

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Lol whatever helps you sleep at night Mr. Mad face..

SummerMadness said:

Have you ever visited an African country? Don't speak on a subject that you have no knowledge of. Many African countries have advanced tremendously in the last 50 years. There are issues, and some of those issues are grave, but to act as if nothing has happened is ridiculous. Judging by your comments, you're defaulting to "Africa is messed up and backwards" without knowing the facts.

Is this campaign only going to be measured by whether the girls are found, or for the change it has brought? The Nigerian government was not doing anything beforehand, now they are. That is success, even if the girls are never found. Had they done nothing, the girls would be ignored and the government wouldn't be held accountable.

I know you're not saying this exactly, but would you prefer people to do nothing? Should people go out to protest? Should people start a letter campaign? Should people organize a phone drive? These methods of organization were all new at some point. Would you make the same argument if people inundated their government offices with phone calls? We have the technology to spread the message around the world faster, why wouldn't you use it? The person in Nigeria who started this campaign did and it was a success.

It goes back to the original point, rather than ignore a campaign they do not care for, conservatives used it as a means to attack someone for political reasons, almost gleeful in their mocking of the hash tag.

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Well, not to put too fine a point on it but yes, most African countries are messed up and quite backwards. The fact nearly 300 girls could be kidnapped and the government was content enough to ignore it before it became a media issue is pretty much all the proof anyone needs that Nigeria is messed up and backwards. One doesn't need to visit an African country to know that the situation in sub-Saharan Africa, for the vast amounts of aid that it's received, is marginally different at best. Even the more advanced states like South Africa have numerous long standing social issues.

The hashtag is just a lightening rod for a fair criticism of this sort of inactive "activism."