Attention Quote by Andrew Bacevich
“Why do terrorist attacks that kill a handful of Europeans command infinitely more American attention than do terrorist attacks that kill far larger numbers of Arabs? A terrorist attack that kills citizens of France or Belgium elicits from the United States heartfelt expressions of sympathy and solidarity. A terrorist attack that kills Egyptians or Iraqis elicits shrugs. Why the difference? To what extent does race provide the answer to that question?”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, “The Double Standard of Terrorism”, 2015
Media and public focus on terrorism is skewed by cultural proximity and perceived victim identity, leading to unequal empathy.
In simple terms: People care more about victims similar to them.
Recognize bias in reactions to global events.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- public discourse
- humanitarian aid
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media framing shape public empathy?
- What steps can reduce unequal attention?
Bias can be reinforced by political narratives and media framing.