This past week, I am hardly alone in being touched deeply by the tragic events in New England. How can you not be? The senseless, violent death of so much innocence.
However, it brings to mind a very different picture. Let me take a step back to the 1968, to the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam. Until that time, the Viet Nam war was not a full presence in American living rooms, but it was from that point forward. Night after night after night, the carnage would be shown on American television screens. It mobilized many people, but it also did something else. The war violence, the body count, became so commonplace, that seeing it on TV in the evening eventually didn't raise an eyebrow. It just was a part of life, like breakfast and basketball.
This has happened to us again and the response to this tragedy makes it stand out in sharp relief. Every night, those of us who live near urban environs see the body count. This time, it is isn't in Viet Nam or Iraq or Afghanistan, it is on our own streets. It is the death of mothers' children, the termination of futures never given a real chance to take hold. And, as with Viet Nam, we simply look to see what else is on the news. It is just more gang violence, after all.
The mothers hurt no less. The families and friends are no less bereft. It is no less tragic.
We need to find a way to be outraged at the loss as we should be. We need to allow ourselves to be touched. Maybe it will motivate us to help things change. We eventually rejected the Viet Nam war. We need to reject the street war. We need to feel again.
Yes. We need to touch base with the reality of what is happening and do what we can to sort it all out.
ReplyDeleteYep. And, you can't touch base with any human realities until you get input from various sides.
DeleteEach one of us must take a stand for the change to begin. Violence is glorified in America. It is in our movies, our music, TV, kids stage fights to be famous on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteWe must come together in serious debate in order to change the culture of violence.
Blessings ~ Maxi
Violence is glorified everywhere now Maxi. Indian films and television shows are full of it. Combined with atrocities against women as it is now in the forefront of our nation, it is getting out of hand. Look at what is happening in the Middle East and Africa just now. There is an outcry from all peace loving people everywhere to put a stop to it and quite what is in store for our future generations is anybody's guess. Despite by nature being an optimist, on some of these matters, I despair.
DeleteIf it was Tet that changed the USA, it is the horrid tale of gang rape that has woken up India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Massive-protests-over-Delhi-gang-rape-PM-meets-Shinde/articleshow/17719986.cms
ReplyDeleteThe government of India is on the back foot on this occasion and there is delight everywhere that some major changes will see daylight in our policing, prevention and handlng of future cases.
Your picture reminds me of a conversation I had today. A friend is making a pilgrimage to India to visit a woman who is known for having the ability to share perfect love through her hugs. I kind of felt bad that this woman feels she can only get that kind of hug from a total stranger. How I wish she could feel that love and touch from those closer to her.
ReplyDelete@Delirious
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this woman. I understand your position regarding the hugs, but isn't this what so much religious experience is about. Don't Christians accepts help from Christ and the Saints when the atheists say we should simply embrace that which surrounds us?
@Rummuser
ReplyDeleteI have become aware of this difficulty raveging India via Padmini's writing. It is truly horrific.
@Maxi
ReplyDeleteYes, it takes a lot of understanding of human nature and courage to face down violence. We must assert authentic peace in ways that youth can and will embrace. Cultures change from the inside and first we must listen to the reasoning, distorted as it may be, because it points to the real underlying causes. Then we can effectively help as our final gift before leaving this plane.