Surreal Beheading of an American Journalist

James Foley, 40, was savagely beheaded a few days ago and the video of his gruesome death was posted on YouTube. He was last seen on November 22,2012 in the northwestern part of Syria. At that time, Foley was working as an embedded reporter for the Global Post. He was presumably forced into a car by armed kidnappers, and wasn't heard from again.

The video posted online shows a man dressed in black along side James Foley who is kneeling beside him. He reads a message that is most likely scripted by his kidnappers. He says that his “real killer” is America. He also says he wishes he had more time and the hope for freedom to see his family once again. Foley is then brutally beheaded. ISIS threatens the life of another American journalist if President Obama doesn’t give into their demand of ending military operations in Iraq. By being the people’s eyes and ears, journalists are able to voice through their writing what’s happening on the other side of the world.

It’s appalling for this student-reporter who is in journalism to write that an innocent man was killed for simply doing what he loves. Policemen and firemen risk their lives each and every day in order to save others, but they are conscious of the danger they expose themselves to. However, nobody should expect that taking some pictures and sharing the invaluable gift of knowledge could get you killed in many parts of the world.