Intellectual Defenestration

Haunting images, 24/7 news, and living life vicariously

A commentator left something on an earlier post about the resent prison photos that struck me: "The impact of these photos and the videos to follow will haunt our children, their children etc. This is not a proud day for America."

My first thought when reading that was, why these photos? As bad as they are, I can easily think of many other images from both historical study and personal experience that are far worse and more haunting, and I suspect the commentator could, too.

Mulling over this some, it seems that this statement is mildly indicative of a weakness of those who follow the news closely 24/7. I am not saying this particular commentator is like this, but it is a temptation I frequently succumb to and it does seem to be a major weakness of that side of the blogosphere that focuses on news and politics.

The weakness is this: that one becomes so myopically focused on the news du jour that one begins to live life vicariously through current events, forgetting both historical and personal contexts. When bad things happen in the world, one is crushed. When one's preferred presidential candidate begins to do well in the polls, one is elated.

The first problem is that this loses any historical context. As significant as each day's events are, they are only one small part of the ebb and flow of history. They are not unimportant, but neither are they exclusively important; plenty of other events have happened and will happen that will most likely be more significant.

The second problem is that this loses the personal context. I have absolutely no personal connection with either the perpetrators or victims of the recent reported prison violence. Furthermore, the only real thing I can do about it is to vote my conscience later this year. Sure, I could try protesting in DC, but I strongly doubt that would have any real impact.

There are, however, plenty of opportunities to get to know and try to help those who are experiencing hardship and tragedy. I have met and gotten to know, for example, families that have been utterly impoverished because of personal tragedy. I cannot take away their pain, but there are demonstrable, concrete things that I can do.

What's the big deal with that? Simple: by doing so, I can responsibility for my actions and begin to do genuine good. Instead of waiting for another government program or initiative to bring salvation, I can establish personal and particular bonds with those in help and be of benefit to them. It may be nearly inconsequential, but nearly inconsequential is still far better than passive recipience and dependence.

This way, when tragedy does strike, it strikes someone you know and identify with. It is real because it is immediate and tangible, not some abstract, mediated image blasted across news screens and web sites.

May 10, 2004 01:04 PM