The World is Not Always a Decent Place

[cjsmith]

Following the events of Tuesday the eleventh, I've seen lots of friends worrying to the point of ineffectiveness and panic; I've heard coworkers raging; I've heard of people acting out in completely useless ways, like egging the car of a friend of mine because she is Afghan-American; I've seen the gun control debate come up yet again in several venues where it's been declared permanently off-topic; I've seen people in a daze because they've essentially lost their innocence.

I think that's really what's happening here. People are losing their innocence. America, as a country, is losing its innocence in a sense as well.

I am reminded of a very tasteless, but actually somewhat apt, "potential headline" someone forwarded to me in e-mail. It read: AMERICA IS TARGET OF TERRORIST ATTACK. 'JOIN THE F*CKING CLUB,' SAYS REST OF WORLD.

(I'm glad the rest of the world didn't actually say that, at least not right away. We wouldn't have understood. And it is tasteless.)

I am saddened, but not enraged. I grieve for those who mourn, but I am not much more afraid than I was. Why is this?

1. First and foremost: I haven't been to ground zero, nor have I lost a friend or a loved one.
2. Still a big effect, and the point of this entry: I never did think the world was a nice place.

Some people have advocated turning off the news, for folks who are just too overwhelmed. Oddly enough I can watch the news now. Turning off the news was a great approach for me up until Tuesday the eleventh. Not only have I never seen the world as a decent place, but in fact, in order for me to be able to recognize that the world was in fact a sufficiently decent place in my immediate vicinity, the reminders that it sucked rocks elsewhere were too detrimental and got removed! But now I am getting reminded that it sucks rocks everywhere, and in a strange and weird way, I am almost reassured: I am not the insane one. It all makes sense again. I can watch the news now.

(I better watch myself around others, though. I'm a bit too detached and rational in the face of their grief and rage.)

I don't know whether or not to think it's sad that the reason I am not hit very hard emotionally by this is that the fact that bad sh*t happens was always a bone-deep knowledge for me. I think I'll suspend judgment on whether it's sad, and simply remark that it seems to be the case. Neither bad nor good, it simply is.

(Wonder how I could turn it to constructive use somewhere.)

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Bingo! Exactly what I was trying to get at.

most people live their life on a safe path and if you look of to either side you'll see the world is a dangerous and violent place. Instead of trying to remain in our sheltered cocoon it might be better to be aware.

Both ways have their advantages, of course. With the former, you can have a feeling of security, and if you're lucky that will never get shattered. I know a couple who never had health insurance until they were old enough for Medicare. It worked for them. Luck can be a winning strategy. With the latter approach, though, you have (what I perceive as) more freedom. You can calculate your risks and potential rewards and make informed tradeoffs.

I know which one I prefer. :-) Hope I'm up to it.

[abz6598.livejournal.com]

I know which one I prefer. :-) Hope I'm up to it.

I've no doubt. Youre obviously already way ahead of the herd.