Don't Believe, Don't Fear, Don't Ask

Bad things happen in this country on a daily basis, and I wonder sometimes why people get emotional when they realise it. Right now, there are inexplicable things going on in your very city that would churn your stomach.

The reason that I mention this, is because vis-a-vis the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina so much I've read is of the "I-can't-believe-this-is-America" opinion and thereof. Well, actually, yes, I can believe this is America. You see, there is a tendency in American society is to elevate all tragedies to the "worst ever." The truth is that whether a disaster is the worst ever or not is irrelevant. Whether it happens across the world or on the street where you live doesn't matter either. Suffering happens and what we can hope for is to get progressively wiser with each tragedy so that we can prevent it happening to future generations.

The old TATU song from 2003 "Ne Ver', Ne Boisya, Ne Prosi" (Don't Believe, Don't Fear, Don't Ask) has become a reminder for me when watching the news coverage on television and online.

Don't Believe: That what you are seeing is the sum total of what is occurring. Already, the news media has made a disturbing faux pas. A photo of a white couple carrying food was captioned as them saying that they "found" it, while a photo of a black man was captioned that he "looted" it. Such heinous choices by writers and editors do a disservice to those across the colour spectrum who are risking their lives to help others and not just themselves. Baser instincts are at work here. Everyone has been equalised. Appropriately, some in the media, are self-critiquing themselves when it comes to why are they showing these images and giving them a divisive spin. Even so, we must police ourselves, because cameramen and photographers cannot be everywhere, so there are a lot of things both good and bad going on now that we are not seeing.

Don't Fear: Losing it in your living room or office solves nothing. It may feel very good and therapeutic for some to cry, and if you feel the need to, you most certainly should. That being said, when things like this occur, there is a tendency to become hooked on it like "disaster porn." You just keep watching and reading more and more and getting gradually more incensed and depressed until you can barely go through life. It's a vicious circle that serves only to provide you with a connection to an event. It makes it all the more personal, but it does no good to those who love and care about you to see you rendered immobile. So indeed, do keep informed, but do not watch nonstop coverage. At the moment, you cannot magically jump into the television or computer screen to help anybody, and it serves no purpose to harbour "if only" thoughts when the present is what needs addressing.

Don't Ask: Do. Give to organisations like Rainbow World Fund and America's Second Harvest if you feel the need to immediately do something. As time goes on there will be a need for volunteers in many different fields and capacities, but for now, all we can do is give something. If you do give, don't talk about it, don't make a huge show over how altruistic you are. That's extremely callous and really illustrates that the motivator was ego instead of humanity. Do it because you felt it was right and move on. If you do choose to give to an organisation, investigate the hell out of it first to see where your money is going. Some organisations will use only a portion of your money for actual help, and others will use 100%.

And calm down, calm down.

Use the anger/hurt/betrayal/disgust you feel now in every election from this point onwards. Use it to monitor those in power. Use it to be more aware of your environment. Use it to help shape the world we live in, not just observe and comment. Serve all of us, and not just yourself.