Question needs an Answer, RE Korean Kid Beheaded

[Ivote]

My friend and her brother were having a discussion about the beheading and was wondering Why was he pleading for his life in English and nothing in Korean. Does anyone have any ideas or facts?

[ThomWV]

1. All I Think About It Is This

I read that the kid, because indeed he was a kid, had a dream in life of being a Christian missionary in the middle east. I suppose to many in the region a Crusader is a Crusader, oriental appearance notwithstanding.

[Bridget Burke]

2. As an educated person, he spoke more than one language.

English is quite common as a second language among educated people the world over.

In the USA, far too many people know English only.

[elf]

8. In Germany

all children learn Engl. at school!

When our daughter was 8 years old we went to Hungaria. We met an Hungarian friend and talked English together because we didn't know any Hungarian, neither did he know any German.

After a while, our daughter started to try some conversation with him and told us later, now I know, why I learn English at school!

[supernova]

3. I think it's because

it was directed at us, the americans. We'll hurt you by killing your best friend.

God, he sounded so pitiful! I felt so helpless watching him. :cry:

edit: he was working as a translator, right?

[Ivote]

4. Knowing he was a translator

but wouldn't he want to say something to his family in his own language? I'm having a bad time dealing with this and just feel that something just isn't right.

[supernova]

5. Perhaps he did

I don't think the whole tape as been broadcast.

Though I don't know if Paul Johnson got to say goodbye to his family either.

[Piperay]

13. I'm sure that

I heard on the media report that he pleaded in three different languages, English, Korean and one other (can't remember what it was though) for his life but of course here they only showed him pleading in English.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Yes. His captors made him use English

it's as simple as that.

[FatSlob]

7. I really don't care.

The animals who did this deserve far worse. I am filled with hate right now.

[DrWeird]

9. Do you feel the same way about the US troops?nt

[FatSlob]

11. Nope.

I don't see "US troops" doing anything like this, in general. I'll despise any individuals who do, though.

[Booster]

14. Beheading someone is a dispicable act....

but you obviously haven't seen pictures of Iraqi children with heads and limbs blown off. In the eye of the Iraqi people, how would you distinguish the difference between using a large knife or a bomb to behead someone. During bad times like we are in, we need to try and look at the situation through their eyes. I agree that an American soldier would not behead someone with a knife, but they beat that one captor to death with a flashlight and that's pretty brutal also. We need to get a grip on what we are doing, and Bush's rhetoric certainly doesn't help; his "bring it on" attitude makes the situation worse.

[sleipnir]

10. English is the accepted "Universal" standard

Like it or not, it's the world's legal language, along with French. All airline pilots, regardless of country of origin, are required to speak English at all times when communicating with Air Traffic Control.

Also, English and French are the only two recognized "official" languages of the United Nations. All documents/speeches are required to, at the very least, be translated into both English and French.

[DrWeird]

12. He was 34.

fyi.

[Bluebear]

15. The captors wanted his pleas to reach the US audience

[louis-t]

16. I can't say how I would act

in that situation. I hope I never find out. Something really bothers me. I would never want the last words my family hears from me to be me begging for my life. This guy has to know he will be killed. They have given his country less than 24 hours to act. He had to be aware of the other beheadings. I like to think that I would be strong enough to refuse to make that sad tape. I would rather die fighting, grabbing at their weapons, kicking, biting, ripping their flesh, one good paralyzing groin kick, one bitten off ear, gobs of ripped out hair, before they killed me. Take away the satisfaction gained from the propaganda. Make them remember who I am every time they look in the mirror. I know it's easy to say, but I hope these people start fighting back.

[JI7]

17. English is common among educated South Koreans, he was fluent in arabic

also. so he was most likely very educated. and english is the language they would most likely use to get the most of the world's attention.