I am so tired of living in a society where violence has become a commonplace. It seems like every few months we have a new flag filter to change our profile pictures to, and endless #prayfor #jesuis etc hastags of support emerging. It's becoming so sickening. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying these things shouldn't be done, in fact, I'm extremely glad that they are being done, that this sense of togetherness and solidarity exists today in the midst of these inhumane acts of senseless terror plaguing our world. What's sickening is that we even have to do them, that these terrible acts even happen, that another human being could even think of doing something so horrible to others.
Another thing that irks me so much about these situations is that I've noticed the moment something like this happens and it goes viral, and there's an outpouring of support from the entire world, certain people feel the need to firstly point out the many other attacks across the world that didn't gain as much publicity. I understand where they're coming from, but why do you feel the need to take away from one tragedy by showing up another? (or several others as the case may be) As an individual, I try my best via my social media outlets, (mainly facebook and twitter as I feel they reach a wider audience) to bring to light all of the other issues and attacks around the world when they happen. I just find it extremely insensitive to use one tragedy just to ask people where there support was for another issue. Instead of using this passive aggressive method of raising awareness, why don't you all try doing it when the events actually occur? I know a lot of people do, myself included, but I also know a lot of people don't and they just show up when something big hits the media circus to put snide comments etc. I am very well aware of how the media works, and how biased it is, but that does not make it okay for you to make people feel like they're wrong for supporting one cause and not another (one that they probably haven't even heard about because like I mentioned, the media is biased). Instead, try raising awareness and making those attacks go viral the same way these do. I know that's easy to say and much harder to do, but it is worth a shot, and I commend all the people that do try to do this. All in all, stop being such a crappy human and adding to people's distress by telling them bullshit about not supporting other issues when they're already distraught by one.
A friend I went to school with was one of the first persons to post about the Brussels attacks this morning on facebook and I don't think I could've worded this any better than he has, so here's a direct quote:
"Is this honestly where the world is headed? Regular attacks on centres of population? Whatever the reason, random attacks on people are wrong- violence is not the answer to whatever plight you may be in, and as human beings we should not be creating situations where another group feels the need to resort to bombing an airport to express their feelings. It's on us to create a world where people are not forced into feeling like violence is their only recourse, and it is our responsibility to try to take the non-violent response. Actions such as this, Paris, 9/11, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, all they accomplish is perpetuating this cycle of violence and hatred. Even if it's just one person, take a little time out of your day to spread a bit of kindness around, in this climate we're in right now, it really is the least we can do." - Philip Harnanan
xoxo, Shantilly.
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