In this case however, I have realized that I have only
listened briefly to CNN and Spanish coverage, after scanning headlines in a few
online sources I have only read a few articles, and I ask myself why. I have
tried to look deep into this rejection I feel for this coverage to determine where
it is rooted, I am not sure that I have found the answer but here is what my
initial responses to that query say:
·
More and more I
reject violence and aggressiveness, I have come to hate most Hollywood
productions of good vs. evil where both the “good” guys and the “evil” guys use
the same tactics to achieve their means – killing in many forms via hate, violence,
weaponry and special effects. These
issues are pervasive in video games that so much of our population under the
age of 40 play, and we see a proliferation of aggressiveness and violence in
the day to day life in the U.S. So I refuse to partake in these movies and games because
they make me feel uncomfortable and angry that these are the images we inundate
our kids and youth with, and the ones that more and more they emulate. I decide
to focus on the positive in my life and our society, and to think about how the
world would be different if we focused on using other means to truly achieve a
better world with more equality and less suffering so that the “evil” would
have much less fertile ground to take root in. I believe these means are - understanding
of your enemy/rival and their hate of you; empathy towards that hate, (because
it is probably so similar to my own): a negotiated resolution where real
compromise is made to reduce the situation/reason that cause the hate; helping
to eradicate the many issues that often feed that hate: suffering and poverty on the “weak/poor” via
abuse and selfish actions of the “strong/rich”
- starvation, lack of health care, fear of other (countrymen as well as
the military and police organizations supposedly there to protect them.) So I rejected
the images of similar scenes in Boston - swat teams and police all over the streets . the “good” hunting the “evil”.
·
More and more I
reject the American reaction of festive celebration when the “enemy” is defeated
– like those that partied in the street when Bin Laden was killed, and the
applause and hero parade type atmosphere that was created when the 2nd
suspect was apprehended.
Yes, I
understand that the U.S. protects itself and attempts to keep itself safe from
these types of “terrorists” and that the citizens want to maintain their feeling
of being protected and ability to live free of fear, but there is something
that makes me reject the celebratory reaction. Perhaps it comes down to the
fact that I think these events are sad, at the end of the day killing another
human being is tragic and it highlights that we are in a society that somehow
promotes the hate and division that make the “killing of the enemy” a
necessity, and a celebrated one at that. And yes I would have a hard time
arguing against the argument that if the authorities hadn´t done that job then
how could the “good” U.S. citizens continue to live in safety, and yes there
needs to be protection and then action so others thinking of similar action would
be deterred. But at the same time I ask if the celebratory reactions don´t
actually fuel the fire of those who already may consider similar action because
they feel ostracized from, envious of, hateful towards the U.S. And again it perpetrated the “good” vs “evil”
story that is used to legitimate wars,
the huge military budget and the ultimately the whole arms and defense
industry.
·
I also hate the personal
coverage of the ones involved. The “heroes”: the survivors, the family members of the perpetrators
and those of the injured, the runners - I don´t know it seems like a three ring
emotional circus built up to play on my heartstrings to further perpetuate the
American need to have a “good” hero that saves us from “evil” or that reassures
us that we are the “good” guys or the heroes. We fail to look at why the “evil”
ones feel the urge, need, desire to hurt us – they are touted as heroes in
their societies and we are touted as the “evil” ones, so the more we propogate
that model, the more likely it is we will get more of the same instead of
really making strides towards a truly better more peaceful world.
In this inner reflection on why I have stayed on the periphery
this week of all the coverage, and why I reject it, I have come to really realize
that it represents what I reject in the way the American society (government,
military, media, Hollywood, etc..) uses the good Hero vs the Evil enemy as a
tool that has allowed them to become the sole “superpower” in today´s global
world, but that by being so they have become one of the obstacles to a more just and
peaceful world for all.
z
.jpg)
