Yes, a lot of racist things have been said, and race plays a role in one conflict getting more attention, and that's bad. But the invasion of Ukraine has potential immediate ramifications for people living in Europe, whether that be through energy security, sanctions, refugees, etc. So it may be selfish, but it's understandable.

I'm from the UK and I hear about a neighbour who was hit by a motor vehicle on a nearby road. Not because I don't care about all the people dying in the rest of the country or around the world, but because it's relevant to me.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.de 5 points 2 years ago

But the invasion of Ukraine has potential immediate ramifications for people living in Europe, whether that be through energy security, sanctions, refugees, etc. So it may be selfish, but it’s understandable.

The biggest threat to us is it escalating to nuclear war.

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

For Americans, this conflict is very far away. America is involved with every country, it's hard to see a conflict of this scale not having an impact on America.

But the conflicts that America is involved in Somalia and Yemen do matter for Americans. Saudi Arabia payed us $100 billion for weapons to kill people in Yemen. But no one has a Yemeni flag on their social media.

It's like in your car example. But somehow you were running people over with your car and you didn't care. But when someone else does it you care. Even when it's ruining your car. It's plain hypocrisy.

[–] ster@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, you make a good point. The west should be talking more about the conflicts we are responsible for (which if you go back in history is probably practically all of them)

[–] GayLegend@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Oh my god a gun

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

lol

[–] isleofmist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Ukrainians are white people. That is why the western world cares about their suffering. Ethiopians are not white, so their suffering is beneath the notice of Western democracies.

[–] liwott@nerdica.net 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It sure is very easy to blame everything on racism, but, as stated in the article itself, there is a much simpler reason why europeans talk a lot about Ukraine : it is in Europe. Russia and Ukraine are both neighboring EU countries, Ukrainian refugees are massively coming to the EU.

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Can you explain why Americans care so much about it given that most Americans are not even aware of what our own military is doing in Somalia, and all over the world?

[–] hewhomustnotbegamed@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

No Russian gas => American LNG. That's why.

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

But on twitter it is #StandWithUkraine not #StandWithAmericanGas. Leftists and Democrats who are against fracking and the interests of natural gas companies are the most vocal in condemning Russia. I don't see the economic explanation panning out.

[–] hewhomustnotbegamed@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What does a hashtag have to do with what people believe in? I am talking about the economy here and the reality is that Europe will be in dire need of LNG if Russian gas imports stop.

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

What does a hashtag have to do with what people believe in?

It's an example of the expression some are giving to the current situation. Of course it reflects what people believe. Sure, there can be dishonest framing from the elites. But your average liberal is going to take things at face value.

[–] liwott@nerdica.net 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm not American, so I wouldn't know; I just explained why I, a European, care about it.
This would also explain why the media here talked way more about Lybia and Syria than they do about anything happening in south America, although there are less whites there.

I can still see other explanations that imo seem more plausible.

Close to the EU also means close to the western civilisation. This also explains why here we heard so much about George Floyd and BLM. Or do you think that it is because afro-americans are somehow whiter than africans?

Finally, let us recall that the Ukraine conflict is also a proxy war between NATO and Russia, another military superpower. World order is at stakes there. Or do you think American media actually care about the Ukrainian people?

[–] gun@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago

It's reasonable that people would care about issues that economically affect them. However, the initial reaction is unlike anything we've ever seen. This was before the economic shockwaves had time to percolate.

Ostensibly, much of it has to do with people's moral concerns. People claim to care about Ukraine, not because it directly affects them, but because of the humanitarian aspect. This is apparent from the focus of the conversation on various claimed atrocities, the "stand with Ukraine" rhettoric. The issue is, all human life is valuable. So if it's about moral outrage, which it is, then you would expect to see proportionate response to other people's lives that matter.

If there was the same degree of attention to Ukraine, but the moral aspect wasn't as strong, it would be hard to argue a pattern of racism. But that's not what we see.

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