Are You Being Hoodwinked?

by Arend van Dam

Nothing is as divisive in a conversation as politics and foreign relations. At a location near you somewhere two or more people are engaged in a conversation about what the US should do in the Middle East and what aid should be taken to Japan. Many times this conversation erupts in name calling instead of genuine conversation and a real search for solutions that are viable and can be implemented by our representatives in government.

In watching World events through your television, it is important to remember that some stories get dropped for others that will horrify and shock us. We may be so caught up in the shooting that happened on 27th and Main that we fail to applaud the efforts of Mr. Neighbour's child who bravely fought off the local bullies. It is the job of the media to do this and we cannot blame them. If we tuned in to watch news that did not possess such gory details or watch television shows that depict the worst kind of violence within our culture or depravity beyond belief, would they still peddle it?

There is an element in each one of us that wants to watch the mess so we can feel a little bit better about our lives. "We're not so bad," we tell ourselves and then tune in to watch someone spiral out of control on Intervention.

Even while we enjoy watching the disaster happening in Japan, let us not forget our fellow human beings, living beside us and celebrate the fullness of life as it is.