I've been having a hard time lately coming up with subjects to develop in this space. I'm sure that if I read the newspapers with more frequency I could certainly come across an idea to Iook into and eventually shape into a column. The only problem is I don't read newspapers anymore. Unless I'm actively seeking a particular piece of news or I can't find my book on the way to the toilet, I don't look into the newspapers. I'm up to date on what's going on in the world because of online news sites, but I tend to stray away from local news. Why? Simple: It's very depressing. This new year began less than two weeks ago and already vicious murders have been committed and more people have been fired from their jobs. People losing their livelihoods, while others are losing their lives... Doesn't particularly sound too peachy keen, does it? News of this nature is somewhat inescapable despite my insistence to avoid it. I like to be informed, but taking into consideration what's been happening lately, I'd rather invest my time elsewhere... like trying to figure out how to properly use Google Wave.
Does turning a blind eye to these atrocities make life easier? Last night, I was trying to watch a movie around 1 am. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the film, I could not divert my attention from the sounds of ambulances and police sirens that I heard about a mile away. Reportedly six people, all 18 or younger, were wounded in a shooting that took place in a bar I've gone to occasionally to see bands and have a drink. That's not an easy thought to take to bed with you on a Saturday night. The saddest part is that where I live incidents like these are exceptions, whereas in other places they are the norm. I have to pause and think about that for a moment, knowing and acknowledging the fact that however bad things may have seemed to me last night, there are people in Puerto Rico who have it much worse on a near daily basis. And to that I cannot turn a blind eye.
"But we can perhaps remember -- even if only for a time -- that those who live with us are our brothers; that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek -- as we do -- nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can."
-Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (Day of Affirmation speech - South Africa, 1966)
Photo by Andy Warhol
3 comments:
I was thinking the other day about your post about crime and looking over your shoulder, and now you post this and it fits right in... anyway, my point is, I feel like there is a lot of distrust of strangers in PR; lots of skepticism and very little faith in the basic goodness of people. Do you think that's accurate and if so why?
I suppose that form of distrust has been instilled in us in some way. Somehow we have learned to be slightly prejudice when our own safety is concerned. Taking into consideration the high number of murders in 2009, I can't see that sort of mentality changing in the near future.
Thank you for putting things into perspective. And I love Bobby's quote at the end.
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