Well, I caught the cold making its way around. I am
completely congested and entirely annoyed. So, I've spent the better part of
today in bed, just resting my weary body and throbbing head. While I slipped in
and out of consciousness, I listened to bits and pieces of the news on the
television. As you are aware, the focus is on the terrible tragedy which occurred
in Paris earlier this week. Masked men went into the office of a satirical
magazine and gunned down several people. It is believed the murders were an act
of revenge for the disrespectful cartoon depictions of the Islamic prophet
Mohammed.
We could discuss the issues involved here for days (i.e.
freedom of religion, freedom of speech, tolerance, respect, compassion,
understanding, etc.), that is not entirely what I'm focusing on in this blog. I
know, how can it not be? But, as you know, my brain often gets rolling and
makes connections between things, and before you know it, it's gone down a
different road.
See, because I'm basically housebound and mostly bedbound, I
watched a lot of news. I also read a lot of news (admittedly whilst I was perusing
Facebook). And as you know, the news is generally depressing. Besides the story
in France, I heard about a small bomb being set off outside an NAACCP office. I
read about a man who threw his five year old daughter off a bridge. I read
about Boko Haram going on a killing spree and burning down houses.
Sadly, I read about tragedies every day. Yesterday I read about two sisters who were involved
in the shooting death of their older brother. The parents left all the children
at home alone, including a three year old. The eldest sister claims her brother
was abusive. She pulled the trigger.
On the local news, I heard about a man who left his place of
work, went to a nearby shop, and beat and sexually assaulted the female clerk.
In the past few days, I have also heard about the body of an
infant found in a dumpster.
All this breaks my heart. I can't understand why this world
is so full of hate and anger and violence. I can't understand the evil that
lurks inside people. And I find myself questioning my long held belief that
beneath it all, in spite of everything, people are inherently good. I find
myself losing faith in humanity. And that breaks my heart even more.
Follow me here......
I recently watched the movie, "The Giver". I did not read the book beforehand, but some
of my book club mates had, and it sounded interesting. If you are not familiar
with the story, it is set in a dystopian future (popular choice these days). In
this far off time and place, there is no color, no emotion, no choice, no passion,
no religion. There are no difference, no 'cultures' or 'races'. Everyone is
essentially the same. Though it seems perfect (no war, no pain, no suffering),
it has come at a great cost. Everyone has had their memories erased and no one
truly feels.
In this movie, one of the leaders says that when people are
given a choice, they choose wrong. I can't help but think of this now. Do we
always make the wrong choice? Are we ourselves to blame for all the pain and
suffering in this world? Is it our freedom to choose- to be, to think, to feel,
to act-that ultimately dooms us? Would this world be better if we were all less
human, and more robot? If we had our humanity, our differences, our hearts and
minds stripped, then would this world know peace? Would I stop reading and
hearing about all these tragic stories? And if so, would that perfect world be
the place I want to live in?
I'm sure some would be willing to pay that price. I have to
admit that it sounds good. I would love to never again hear about an innocent
child being murdered or a woman being beaten and raped or a man subjected to
violence because of the color of his skin or the religion he practices.
But without feelings, we wouldn't know love and compassion.
And they exist in this world, thought it often seems otherwise. Without
differences, the world would be cold and colorless. Even in this world, which
often seems full of hate, people celebrate, embrace, and admire those
differences. Without our memories, without our experiences, we couldn't be the
individuals that we are. Without deep thoughts and questioning, there would be no exploring, no discovering, no art or music or dancing or poetry.
Sometimes it seems that this world and its people are
without hope. But, in spite of the pain and suffering, in spite of the tragedy,
we must continue to look for, and to believe in that light of hope that shines
through in our humanity, and can ultimately guide us to a better place and time.
I pray we all see that light through all this darkness. And I pray that hope for humankind does not lie in erasing all that makes us human.
