Posted on 04/20/2007 5:22:18 AM PDT by shrinkermd
...In modern America, there's always plenty of trauma to go around. Even if you knew no one involved in the shootings, have never been to Virginia and can't tell the difference between a Hokie and a Wahoo, there's no need for you to feel left out.
Did you feel sad when you heard the news? Did you ponder, however fleetingly, the mystery of mortality? If so, don't just go on with your ordinary life as if nothing has happened to disrupt it (even though nothing has happened to disrupt it). Honor your grief! Attend a candlelight vigil, post a poignant message on one of MySpace's Virginia Tech memorial pages and please, seek trauma counseling as soon as possible.
Convincing ourselves that we've been vicariously traumatized by the pain of strangers has become a cherished national pastime. Thus, the Washington Post this week accompanied online stories about the shooting with a clickable sidebar, "Where to Find Support" — apparently on the assumption that the mere experience of glancing at articles about the tragedy would be so emotionally devastating that readers would require trained therapists.
At the University of Buffalo, more than 500 miles from Virginia Tech, university counselors announced that they were "reaching out to students feeling affected by … the tragedy." In Dallas, area chaplains rushed (uninvited) to Blacksburg, Va., to "be part of the healing process."
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
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 — “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.”
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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