The good news is, we don’t have to be doomed. In fact, it doesn’t have to be this way at all because the truth is that we – that’s right, you and me – have the power to change things for the better. It’s rather simple, too. I just didn’t get to it in last night’s entry because I was angry that this has happened yet again, and I was in a hurry to get that out before Game of Thrones came on. Hey, we all need an escape from the chaos of reality, right? But that’s another blog entry. For now, how do we harness the power? There are two ways:
First – stop empowering media attention. These attackers know they’ll get a tremendous amount of media attention for themselves and their views, and they play it to the maximum. Everybody in this day and time is desensitized to the horrors of life, and they know they have to “go big” to get attention. The problem is that we fall for it every single time, from the reporters to ourselves clicking on those news links. This is truly a case where what we allow continues, so we simply need to stop allowing it. Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should never get a headline article on themselves – ever. In fact, the only time they should be mentioned in the media at all is to say who did it, and report updates on the investigation and trial. That’s it. We need to stop doing exposes on their life and beliefs. We need to stop interviewing their family members and friends in the media – let the law enforcement community do that, and keep the findings out of the public. We shouldn’t know or care any more about who these people are/were than we do about the extra 40 minutes in a Martian day.
I’ve made a personal pledge to not read or watch any reports that sensationalize the event. Once they stop reporting facts on the actual case and start turning the perpetrator into a celebrity, I turn click or turn it off. I’ll watch reports on the victims, law enforcement efforts, and heroes that help, but once you talk about the attacker, I’m gone.
Second – open your eyes to the world around you. I once read that if everybody contributed something to one personal cause they believe in (be it time, talent, or money), then every need in the world would be met. Why do we wait for tragedy to strike before we become altruistic? We should be committed to keeping resources ready so they can move at need. Don’t wait to be shocked into action by a radical or a natural disaster. Make giving a part of your routine life. Find that one cause you believe in, and support it regularly. Even if you just give to your church like I do, you're empowering THEM to help others through your support. It’s more effective to save the people/animals/world every day than it is to line up for a charity drive when life has already happened.
Maybe we aren’t doomed, after all. And best of all, saving ourselves isn’t beyond our capacity. In fact, I’d like to think that the good in us can rise above any evil in this world. I pray that’s so. And now, I’m going to watch After the Thrones. By now, you've probably guessed that the next entry will be on how we use fiction to escape reality.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
First – stop empowering media attention. These attackers know they’ll get a tremendous amount of media attention for themselves and their views, and they play it to the maximum. Everybody in this day and time is desensitized to the horrors of life, and they know they have to “go big” to get attention. The problem is that we fall for it every single time, from the reporters to ourselves clicking on those news links. This is truly a case where what we allow continues, so we simply need to stop allowing it. Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should never get a headline article on themselves – ever. In fact, the only time they should be mentioned in the media at all is to say who did it, and report updates on the investigation and trial. That’s it. We need to stop doing exposes on their life and beliefs. We need to stop interviewing their family members and friends in the media – let the law enforcement community do that, and keep the findings out of the public. We shouldn’t know or care any more about who these people are/were than we do about the extra 40 minutes in a Martian day.
I’ve made a personal pledge to not read or watch any reports that sensationalize the event. Once they stop reporting facts on the actual case and start turning the perpetrator into a celebrity, I turn click or turn it off. I’ll watch reports on the victims, law enforcement efforts, and heroes that help, but once you talk about the attacker, I’m gone.
Second – open your eyes to the world around you. I once read that if everybody contributed something to one personal cause they believe in (be it time, talent, or money), then every need in the world would be met. Why do we wait for tragedy to strike before we become altruistic? We should be committed to keeping resources ready so they can move at need. Don’t wait to be shocked into action by a radical or a natural disaster. Make giving a part of your routine life. Find that one cause you believe in, and support it regularly. Even if you just give to your church like I do, you're empowering THEM to help others through your support. It’s more effective to save the people/animals/world every day than it is to line up for a charity drive when life has already happened.
Maybe we aren’t doomed, after all. And best of all, saving ourselves isn’t beyond our capacity. In fact, I’d like to think that the good in us can rise above any evil in this world. I pray that’s so. And now, I’m going to watch After the Thrones. By now, you've probably guessed that the next entry will be on how we use fiction to escape reality.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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