Long ago in the halcyon days of my youth, I religiously followed current events. I read as many newspapers and news magazines I could get my hands on (and unlike some Vice Presidential candidates nowadays, I could name them off the top of my head if asked). I watched the nightly news on TV each evening, and even as a pre-teen, I'd give up an hour or two on Sunday morning to see shows like "Meet The Press" or "Face The Nation".In high school my buddy Steven Glasscock (yes, he got ribbed constantly about his name) and I lived up to our uber-geek reputations and spent study periods delving into Facts-On-File and quizzing each other about geo-politics and current international events like the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the European Common Market and the stability or strife of newly-independent African regimes.
But it always amazed me when I ran across an adult who admitted that they avoided watching the TV news or reading periodicals. They defended their aversion to reality and the greater community out there by saying that "the news is just too depressing". I truly didn't understand their point of view. In my mind, I labeled them as ostriches, wanting to put their head in the sand so they don't have to deal with anything.
Back then I thought...oh yes, there's always plenty of bad news out there. What people call "evil" appeared to be everywhere. But I seemed to always take it in with a different set of steps to process the information. Rather than focus on the "negative" elements of dire news, I tended to look on the bright side of life...for each instance of "evil", there could be a "counter-agent", inspired by the original deed, to surface. And ultimately, that "counter-agent" would tend to be "good". Yin and Yang.
For instance, the media reports a mugging, so...people become more aware of their surroundings; they form community watch groups. If a raging fire burns down a house and leaves a family homeless, destroying all their possessions, well...at least no one was hurt and it teaches that having less material possessions means you have less to lose, inspiring a more Zen lifestyle. A mass murderer uses a chainsaw to senselessly slaughter dozens of elderly people and little babies...well...at least they went quickly; he could have used a butter knife. And, after all, he spared the more productive and viable members of society from his sociopathic homicidal whims, right?
Okay, but seriously, I've recently started to become sensitive to the pains of the world. Or at least brainwashed by the media into thinking as most of them do, that "the end is nigh".
The past week or so was especially grim.
Terrorist bombings now in South Ossetia...mark my word, this will be the next blow up region.
China's continued disregard for the global environment; building an average of 3 new dirty coal fueled power plants each week.
Palin's assertion that "Drill Baby, Drill" is a good thing. And, that climate change may not be the result of man's impact on Earth's environment.
Unemployment at 6.1 percent, highest in 5 years. And, as you know, I'm joining those ranks.
The $700 billion bailout that guarantees nothing...and stocks continue to plummet despite it's passing.
The U.S. Senate passes the civilian nuclear agreement between the US and India. Dr. Kaveh L Afrasiabi, has argued the agreement will set a new precedent for other states, adding that the agreement represents a diplomatic boon for Tehran. Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, the Iranian Deputy Director General for International and Political Affairs, has complained the agreement may undermine the credibility, integrity and universality of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Pakistan argues the safeguards agreement "threatens to increase the chances of a nuclear arms race in the subcontinent...Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has suggested his country should be considered for such an accord and Pakistan has also said the same process "should be available as a model for other non-NPT states". Israel is citing the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal as a precedent to alter Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) rules to construct its first nuclear power plant in the Negev desert, and is also pushing for its own trade exemptions.
So I think, I too may become an ostrich for awhile.
Hey, it can't hurt.