In 1979, 52 American employed at the U.S. embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by the government of Iran and were subsequently held for 444 days. For that entire time, Walter Cronkite of CBS News opened his evening newscast by announcing the number of days since their captivity had begun. Jimmy Carter was President; his failure to free the hostages was considered by many a reason he was voted out of office after his first term. It was a very big deal.
According to the James Foley Legacy Foundation there are currently 57 Americans being held as hostages or in wongfull detention abroad. As of December, the White House said eight were in Gaza. Nobody seems to be quite sure. Nobody seems much exercised about it.
That's how it is.
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