My social media feed continues to be flooded with images, stories and opinions in the wake of the shootings happening around the US. It’s either a race thing, religious thing or a sexual preference thing. I respect that each person can only comprehend horrific tragedies and their emotions surrounding them based on his or her current knowledge, level of understanding and direct affectedness. But in today’s world your feelings are not enough. It’s time to get educated.
I have read some thoughtful posts regarding terrorist tragedies, but unfortunately, most of what I read leaves me frustrated with our culture. It appears that initial reactions and personal feelings are instantaneously plastered onto social media without a second thought. Recently, I read a post on Facebook with a link to an article about the shooting in Orlando. It said, “Only here, in this country, do we continue to let these things happen without batting an eyelash. This has to stop.”
For some reason it was this post, among all the others just like it, that really irked me. Come on? Only in THIS country? What about the attacks in France? Paris, Nice? What about those Christians who are beheaded in Syria and Iraq every day? What about the Russian passenger plane that we shot out of the sky by ISIS or the insane number casualties from car bombings that have taken place in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan? Shall I go on?
Are you batting an eyelash over these things and thinking of ways it can be stopped? I doubt it. It is not only in this country that we “let” these things happen. Hate is not an American problem. It is a human problem.
Terrorist attacks are the most abhorrent acts of hate that can be carried out. Regardless of the soil where they take place. Sadly, there isn’t an inch of occupied soil on this Earth safe guarded from hate, but what I know for sure is that US citizens on American soil are more protected from horrific tragedies such as these than most other places in the world.
Based on a report from the Global Terrorism Index, in 2015, 78% of people killed in terrorist attacks occurred in the following 5 nations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria. And these are just the acts of terror that are reported on. I’d quickly go all in to bet that hundreds if not thousands of people have been murdered because of an act of terror without it ever being reported. The United States is, happily, not on the list. Look at the staggering facts about terrorist attacks that have taken place around the world: visionsofhumanity.org/our-gti-findings. (WARNING: this may be an eye opening, educational experience, or at least it was for me.)
So, ultimately, I guess the Facebook post is partially right. We aren’t batting an eyelash about what is happening on our soil or around the world either. Men and women are losing their lives everyday. I mean the least we can do is bat an eyelash. Or perhaps be more diligent in our education and a little more thoughtful before spouting our opinions about gun control, terrorism and politics. Become part of finding a solution rather than part of the problem.
Opinions are like assholes, we all have one. But unlike assholes we feel the need to share ours on social media and, thanks to the 1st Amendment, we all have the right to do so. It is, however, highly likely that if you shared a picture of your asshole, your post might get flagged for being inappropriate. But you can prevent yourself from looking like said asshole by taking a quick minute before posting to ask yourself if your opinion is an educated one, if you’re actively participating in a solution or offering help to those affected by tragedy. Or are you just using your news feed to tell your friends and family how you feel about it?
Unless you are directly affected, you have limited views of what happens in this world, myself included. Knowledge is best gained through experience. Even second best, learning through listening, watching and reading, is limited as the media chooses what we see. But it is still our duty to be as knowledgable as possible with regards to the happenings of the world especially if you plan to share your opinions about them. Give others something worth hearing.
Sure, your social media is yours to do with what you will as is mine, but, as a rule of thumb, try to get as educated as possible before you hit the post button.
A Pinch of Opinion 