I struggled to figure out what to write about for November, but after the events in Paris it was obvious what to focus on. I found out about the attacks as they were unfolding with friends in London at a concert. As the music blared and lights cut across the arena to the delight of the fans a friend of mine held his phone up to me to show the news of the attacks including the death toll updates. It is an eerie feeling going from having a good time with laughter and smiling to suddenly be yanked down to reality with the sobering news of a tragedy. I felt the same way entering a classroom in high school on the morning of 9/11, stuck in Portland traffic when the Clackamas Town Center shooting was unfolding in 2012 and seeing the news about the Roseburg shooting a few months ago while I checked my morning email. Then and now the same initial feelings came rushing through me including shock, anger, sadness and for you who have had intimate connections with a tragedy perhaps empathy. After that then what happens? In my opinion there is an incredible outpouring of two things: caring and criticism. However, it seems for every post of solidarity regarding such tragedies it is matched, or overshadowed by posts and rants on ideologies, politics, and policy.
The tragedy in Paris is no different in this regards. There have been comments criticizing the fact there is more care and concern for what happened in Paris compared to other tragic events in the world. Out of curiosity I did a quick Google news search of “tragedy and death” within the past week and the results? A suspected self-inflicted death in New Zealand (9 year old girl), toxic mine collapse in Brazil (9 dead, 19 missing) and a landslide in China killing 26. Why don’t we feel the same about these situations? I feel it is natural to feel more connected to events that we are more closely related to, but that does not make you a bad person. However, it is this same fact that needs to drive us to be more intentional of being aware of the suffering experienced by our fellow human being we share this earth with. Understanding our common sufferings can build a strong bridge of empathy and perspective to remind us we are all connected when you zoom out.
While we may have different relationships with different people (e.g. I love my mom different than my brother and so on), we do not have a finite ability to care as humans; it is a well that runs deep. Whether it be lending a micro-loan to someone in need, reading a newspaper from another country, or as simple as saying good morning to someone you regularly disagree with, it is important to use this time as a reminder to care intentionally toward those it is not as easy to care for. At the same time we need not feel ashamed of the deep natural compassion one may have for a loved one we share a closer bond with.
Sure, good things can come out of criticism as has been seen throughout history from the earliest stages of America gaining our independence to racist laws being overturned during the civil rights movement. Criticism comes from a place of wanting a situation to be different because a person cares enough to speak up and speak out. I am a strong believer in God and at the same time I believe the devil exists and I feel strongly something good can quickly be twisted by the devil for evil purposes (e.g. some citizens wanted to make George Washington a King, which could have undermined democracy in America and some fighting for civil rights committed extremely violent acts as a means to an end). Care should not spur on so much criticism that the two disconnect and criticism is left standing alone without an anchor point of sincere righteousness. At that point criticism is so much removed from the initial feelings of caring that its original fuel source of love has been replaced by bitterness and hate.
Should you care about tragedies in other parts of the world? Yes.
Is this my own personal rant to add to the pile? Yes J
Should you care more than you criticize? Oh God Yes!
Positive thought sparks positive action,
Miles
