Faux Outrage

Yes, this will be one of my angry blogs.  The kind that make people leave comments.  The kind that probably incites the kind of response I'm rallying aganst.  I was watching the news and it seems like more than ever an increasing percentage of it now is coming from pictures or videos captured by hidden video cameras or people's cell phone cameras of something along those lines.   Usually it's something that causes outrage and people to shake their heads and go "That's such a shame" But I really wonder, is the outrage real?  I don't think it's real enough for people to get up and do something.

I know I've been guily of this, although I do try to be active in something.  I've written my congresswoman even though her vote means didly in the house (Taxation without representation!).  Heck, you can even do it online from the safety of your couch.  Join a cause, write an editorial.  Perhaps, I'm asking too much.  Write a letter to your congressman or senator about an issue.  Any issue.

With the advent of youtube and the fact that anybody can be an overnight internet sensation, what have we really lost as society?  Or have we gained?  Is this just another way of connecting with people in a world that so busy, so fast that you don't have time to write a letter or all for a simple hello?  Is that why the news is becoming viewer video?  Should we only show those videos that truly outrage, or do we really need to see Britney for the nth time so we can analyze the glue holding her hair extensions in place (which some news outlets did).  We are all not without our own imperfections and faults.  That's why self-improvement is on-going.  It never stops.  We all fall short at sometime.  We can only try to be better than we were yesterday.

I think we've also taken this whole PC thing too far.  I think it's unrealistic to expect people who have believed something their entire lives to change their thinking because society has now deemed it unacceptable.  Rather than push people further away, let people state their beliefs so that we can put it on the table.  I would much rather have someone tell me to my face that they don't like women or black people, or crazy women than to keep it in and not say anything.  If you tell me, we can change your beliefs.  If I never know, I can't do anything.  Let's not SHAME them, let's SHOW them  A great example is Tim Hardaway.  He really believed what he said about gay people.  But one group, instead of calling for him to get fired just said, look Tim, you are wrong.  Let us show you why.  And low and behold it worked!  He came out and is a prime supporter of the YES institute. 

I was one of probably 2 black people who didn't want Don Imus fired b/c all it did was marginalize people who believed his comments.  Imagine how powerful it could have been if he began to work with the Rutgers team and did work with them and had come to apologize on his own.  The change would have been internal.  As it stands, what has he learned?  Not much.  What have we accomplished?  I still don't know the answer to that

For real change to occur, people have to be internally motivated, not externally motivated.  Showing inflammatory video clips gets people to express the outrage, but still

On another note, I've decided to begin to spread the word regarding women and heart disease.  Breast cancer is an extremely serious issue not to be taken lightly, however, women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die from heart disease than breast cancer.  I understand why breast cancer is sexy.  It's mostly a women's issue.  Women and their breats have a very long and personal history and for those that know me, know that I personally understand that history.  But the fact is that heart disease kills more women over 65 than ALL cancers combined (source womenshealth.gove).  I'm not saying that cancer is not a very real and serious issue and it deserves attention (get your mammograms!), but at least give heart disease more attention than it is getting now.  After yet seeing another designer with pink, I decided to go red and donate $100.00 to womenheart.org to avoid being a hypocrite.  I also joined the American Heart Association.

I just had an ephiphay regarding the whole how to express your opinion on something where you disagree.  I just understood the whole you vs. I thing.  Someone sent me an email and it immediately got me angry and I shouldn't have but I realized it was all in the phrasing.  Hmmm, maybe I need to rewrite this blog then.  But I did take ownership of things myself.  Maybe it's not an angry blog just frustration at what's happening in the world right now.