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| The Grand Inquisitor |
So, I've read a bit about the Republican guy who would "be the first in line" to torture the kid who built the bombs and set them off in Boston last week. I read, too, the opinions of those who think the kid should be tried in a military court despite the fact that he's an American citizen and that's against the law. I read that he is charged with using a "weapon of mass destruction" (and can't help but feel the irony of those illusory WMDs in Iraq so many years ago that launched a thousand ships) despite the seeming humble origins of pressure cooker, nails, metal. I have wondered, with others, why the poor souls of West, Texas who disappeared in an apocalyptic explosion and fire, haven't warranted the same amount of outrage and/or horror of those attending the Boston Marathon last week. I flipped through scores of powerful photos on the internet of refugees, maimed children and grieving men and women in the streets of Syria, where scores die every single day. I shrink from the Facebook posts exclaiming over the kick-ass law enforcement of Boston and all the cliches of bravery and fortitude that have followed. I listened carefully to those who are nervous about traveling to big cities with their children. I even argued a bit over on Maggie May's blog with a guy who was carrying a huge stick and swinging it wildly.
I don't know quite what to make of all of this and wish that I could just turn it all off.
Off.
I read this, though, which put my unease, if not to rest, then at least in perspective.
What we witnessed was a tragic — but sadly – too familiar sequence of events. In a nation of over 340 million, we have a few demented or damaged souls with real or imagined grievances that cause them to wish to harm people whom they do not know. We also have good, brave, and competent local and state police forces that are able and willing to solve these crimes. It was true back in 1977 (and long before), and remains true today.
So what in fact did change? We now have a “War on Terror” that permeates every public news event and action. The immediate leap to the familiar “Terrorists In Our Midst” narrative is facilitated and amplified by a bovine mainstream media amped up by endless alerts issued by a Department of Homeland Security and two Presidential Administrations about insane foreigners here, there, and everywhere. In other words, what’s changed is the presence of a fear-mongering narrative of the War on Terror, along with the billions in expenditures that are used to justify it, that reframe a centuries old story about crime.
I don't know if I agree with the above writer, but it settles my unease a bit.
Reader, what are you thinking about or turning OFF?
We are currently not watching mainstream news. I just can't take it anymore. If I hear one more stupid thing come out a (usually) Republican mouth my head will explode. I guess West, TX and their illegally sized inventory of product is just not interesting enough because the root cause was greed and corporate sloth to be news worthy. Obama signing that bill giving Monsanto protection from the courts, and throwing Social Security under the bus were the last things I could deal with. At present I need to remain calm, and so I shall be reading travel blogs and making a list of things to see before this country fully declines.
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of concentrating on weeds and Keith Richards today. And you know what? The world will not give a shit. The very idea of a War On Terror made me laugh with cynical hysteria when it was announced and it still does. Terror? You want to know terror? Ask the woman with small children and no health insurance and a diagnosis of breast cancer about terror. How's that?
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing reminds me of the Cold War.
Bullshit and more bullshit. Let them eat fear. I have escaped into this good green world where I am so very, very fortunate to live and today, at least, that is where I am dwelling.
I see we had similar thoughts today. I bet it is pretty common, as the dust settles and we feel a bit embarrassed about how easily a news story can twist our mind in all sorts of ways. I like to sit back and think about who is profiting from all this fear-mongering. Of course, those who cause terror are ultimately the villains, because they want this to happen. But we also manipulate the fear for our own purposes -- whether it is to sell more newspapers, convince people of a political point of view, or just to get attention. Terrorism thrives on us creating our own terror, and we willingly help out.
ReplyDeleteNever ever turn on the TV unless your immediate survival is at stake. Scroll through FB swiftly while pretending to be a pronghorn antelope bounding through the hills. Leave twitter to the birds. Swim slowly through a sea of select blogs. Listen to NPR only while in the car. Read the newspapers online, but NEVER EVER click on the videos.
ReplyDeleteI am so often struck by what an energy thief fear is. How it teases us by quickly igniting a rush of adrenaline and outrage but in the end drains us of all ability to feel compassion or look at anything through a clear lens. I much prefer the world Ms. Moon is in, a lush green place where fear flashes through and then dissipates like so much heat from a magnifying glass. I know that when I choose to engage in an argument about how we twist stories to feed our fear, I am simply feeding my own fears that this is the kind of world I will forever inhabit. Instead I choose to step away from the screens and contemplate the way my dog's fur lies in cowlicks along his flanks, listen to the robins chatter at each other in the yard, taste the fresh bite of a pickle my friend preserved last summer. Those things fill me up.
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ReplyDeleteI spent most of the day bleaching the white grout in my kitchen. That's my version of OFF.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.. this has been on my mind today too. I woke up to this article in my FB feed. http://blackgirldangerous.org/new-blog/2013/4/22/hey-white-liberals
ReplyDeleteI went to undergrad in Boston so I've felt a bond since the Marathon Bombing but I agree that the media coverage is over the tops and not at all fair so the lives lost everyday here and abroad by children of color. It is not right. Maybe OFF is the way to go but I'm not sure of that either... More poetry?!? (please)
I read that post too and felt an uneasy recognition.
DeleteI also wonder about the ignoring of what happened in Texas, where they stopped even counting the dead, apparently.
I've been listening to bbc drama programs today, writing posts about old photos and news from 1918 and ignoring the modern news as much as I can. Just raises my blood pressure.
I remember 9-11...i didn't know about it until 3 days later. I had no internet or tv then. I was one of the few that did not see the planes flying into the towers hundreds of times a day...I think I was better off and I could not understand the fascination of this then or now. Our illusion of safety or privacy is merely that...an illusion. I totally agree with the article though when I express those opinions I am labeled an ultra-ultra conservative ...which I am not. I think people are finally beginning to question the spin...the minute by minute coverage....what scares me the most is the way the city of Boston went into total lock down...and the fact that despite the billions of dollars spent on Homeland Security we are no more secure than we were 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteInteresting -- I wouldn't peg those views as ultra ultra conservative, and I'm not sure who would! I think there's a huge difference in contesting the veracity of events (like conspiracy theorists do)and questioning or resisting the hysteria that the media likes to foment or inevitably foments as people demand more and more. I would disagree that people are questioning the spin -- it seems like the frenzy is as great as it's ever been. As for our security, I think that in a country of 340 million, we are far more secure from terrorists than we are from right wing gun zealots. I agree, though, that "security" is an illusion -- who in the world is completely secure? Americans are, nearly to a rule, spoiled by the relative wealth and privilege conferred upon us compared to other countries.
DeleteI don't think we were designed to hear so many voices shouting at us at once. I've just returned from a walk through the brilliant green Oregon forest where only birds were chattering. Highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteI think that thirst for blood and vengeance in those people is the exact same seed that lead the brothers to do what they did. The two are no different. But mostly I just turn it all off.
ReplyDeleteI only listen to NPR anymore. It's a relief to not see reel after reel of images. And the WMD question came up very soon. There seems to be more objectivity and taking a step back to say, "hey, wait a minute." I listen to it on my iPad - it's so easy.
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