Posted on 04/20/2007 5:22:18 AM PDT by shrinkermd
You’re right she has a point. What ever happened to ‘chin up’ and let’s press on. Sheeesh, we’re turning into a nation of sheep cowering before the wolves.
Nice to see some clear-headed common sense about the grief industry. Being rational can indeed be fun.
FINALLY someone says what I have been thinking for a long time...
ANY tragedy creates a rush for people to be part of it... they have to go buy flowers for..um... some people over there.. so they can feel thay have ‘done something’
like poverty pimps playing on poor people for their own benefit, news organizations are tragedy whores.
” Nice to see some clear-headed common sense about the grief industry “
If ya read the rest of the article, you would find out that the author is bemoaning this process because it takes attention away from anti-war and other anti-american activities.....
Rat in sheeple’s clothing......
She just couldn’t help but bash Bush and call for gun regulation at the end, could she? But other then that, it’s an excellent article.
Nothing wrong with empathy.
Is there anyone who didn’t feel the anguish of those who jumped from the WTC to avoid the flames?
Any parent with a child in college not have a moment of heartstopping fear at the unfolding of the senseless murders at VT?
Did we not feel the fear of all those who were overcome by the tsunami, with no place to flee?
If we simply say, thankfully, it wasn’t me or mine so who cares......what does that say about us?
“Count me out. There’s something fraudulent about this eagerness to latch onto the grief of others and embrace the idea that we, too, have been victimized. This trivializes the pain felt by those who have actually lost something and pathologizes normal reactions to tragedy. Empathy is good, but feeling shocked and saddened by the shootings doesn’t make us traumatized or special these feelings make us normal.”
Couldn’t agree more with this statement. Its a horrible tragedy, no disputing it.
That said, I’m having a very good week personally, and the VT attack doesn’t change it.
We have become the United States of Victimhood.
The shootings were tragic.
But innocent Iraqis have a Virginia Tech incident daily.
I will say a quick prayer today at noontime for the dead and the families.
Then I will turn back to work and get on with it.
No, there is nothing wrong with empathy. There is something wrong with a vapid industry that preys on people's emotions and magnifies local pain to national proportions and ignites knee-jerk reactions that rob people of reason and freedom.
You said — “Youre right she has a point. What ever happened to chin up and lets press on. Sheeesh, were turning into a nation of sheep cowering before the wolves.”
Yep, that’s about right. It’s getting to be “I stubbed my toe! Where’s my counselor; I need to grieve...”
LOL
Regards,
Star Traveler
P.S. — I mean, it’s a tragedy, for sure. It was a terribly evil act that the guy did. But, hey..., I lost my dad just a few months back and I never asked for a counselor or was really wracked up about it. Of course, I knew where he was, too — he was with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, I had no worries...
I agree she was pretty hypocritical there (the emotions she feels are more important than the emotions others feel) but she does make some excellent points.
Media/self induced collateral victims. Remember PEST (Post Election Stress Trauma)? I’m surprised the drug companies haven’t made a pill for my malady...EGADS (Egregious General Anxiety Disorder Syndrome). /sarcasm
If people allow themselves to be influenced by the media hacks, then that is their problem.
The first time I noticed collective hysteria was when Princess Diana died. Seems the entire country had lost it’s mind.
I don’t see things like that happening here in the US.
Everybody needs therapy...what are we metrosexual cavemen? Considering how the counseling industry repeatedly fails as the VT incident again shows us, I’m not sure why people think counseling does any good. But enough about that, let’s talk about me? Oooooh it feels so good, so just do it. ;-)
VPI '67
Bearing in mind... the campus community is a little rattled anyway, wondering if it could happen here (yep, and there's nothing we can do about it). Furthermore, many people have good friends who were at Virgina Tech.
Absolutely, worth repeating.
And quite frankly, all these "vigils" (not just for VT) are worthless. Libs are great at them... crawl out, show "support", crawl back.
jw
Actually, quite a few people from the DC area do attend VT and many alumni are in the Post's circulation area, so I don't fault the Post for doing this.
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