After World War II, when the world finally realized that all of the rumors they had been hearing about the Holocaust were true, there was shock and horror. This reaction was not just to the horrors that were uncovered – the concentration camps, the open burials, the crematoriums – but it was also to the fact that people had been describing these things. People had come to countries like the US and said “help us!” And no one did help. Not until they were affected. And so the phrase “Never again” was born.
Attention Matters
Yesterday, Chris Brogan talked about how attention will matter in 2011. Attention will matter, but I think attention needs to matter beyond the boundaries of Jim Kukral’s book.
You see, for me, a lot of the tragedies that have happened lately are all about attention or a lack thereof. Tyler Clementi died both because people did pay attention to the webcam video his roommate sent out into the world and because people didn’t pay attention to how Tyler was being affected. Simone Beck did not get help because people paid the wrong kind of attention or didn’t pay attention at all.
And then you have this:
People are paying a lot of attention to this now. Some people are saying that Sarah Palin is to blame for the shooting at Gabrielle Giffords’ event in Arizona yesterday.
Nobody is paying attention.
The truth is that this map was released in March of 2010! It’s almost a year old. I was not aware of it till now. I wasn’t paying attention. Did you know about it before now?
It’s irresponsible, in these unsure and violent times, to post something with gun targets and peoples’ names. Plain and simple. Somebody should have told Ms. Palin that this was inappropriate. If individual college students have the power to force people to suicide, what can powerful people like Palin, Obama, Pelosi, ,Boehner, and others do to influence people via online communications? Are we paying attention to this?
Do I think we can draw a quid pro quo between this year-old map and the shootings that happened yesterday? Not right away. But Social Media is reporting that there is a connection. It’s all Sarah Palin’s fault. Let’s dump her and the shooter down the drain and move on. “Never again!” We’ll shout.
But if we do that, we are still not paying attention. And never again will happen again.
It’s easy to get upset
This morning I awaken to details about the 9 year-old girl who was killed yesterday. So promising. So full of life. There was no crosshair on her face. When events like this happen, it is easy for us to jump on to sites like Twitter and Facebook and say “never again.” Or something like it.
But really what we need to do is pay more attention.
We need to pay attention to each other. We need to pay attention to cries for help. We need to pay attention to loud voices that suddenly become quiet. And yes, we need to pay attention to our leaders. Who is guiding them through the dos and donts of Social Media? Who is reminding them that everyone can see what they are saying? Who is reminding them that some unstable person maybe clinging to every word?
We need to pay attention. Let’s have that as our cry this time. And then let’s do something about it. Let’s monitor our leaders’ websites and Twitter accounts. Let’s help stave off backlash after backlash.
Let’s pay attention.
It makes you wonder how many people let that kid down through his whole life while they were off pursuing some fruitless fun.
It’s easy for us to look at a poster from almost a year ago and say, ‘it’s Sarah’s fault!’ but what about the countless numbers of people who probably had every opportunity to impact the shooters life, his FULL life, for the better? To help guide him into grace & love.
Heart-wrenching post Margie. Most of all because I have to remember that I have the chance to be the person who turns ‘that kid’ from a path of hate & uncertainty.
That is a puzzle in this story for me. Something in our system is failing when everybody says, “Oh yeah, that guy is totally nuts.” And yet, no action. In fact, he even threatened violence before and nothing. He bought a gun, legally, with no problem.
Something needs to change in our society so that we know how to deal with people we encounter (or love, or know) who are mentally unstable. Something more compassionate than “Let’s throw them into a locker,” but something more active than what we do now.
I truly think the one thing we need more of is accountability for ourselves. This horrific tragedy that took place in Arizona is the fault of the shooter. Could or should someone have noticed that this kid had problems, apparently they did based on this mornings tv coverage. Everyone is saying he was irrational, etc.; so where does fault get placed? To say it’s Sarah Palin or Tupac Shakur or heavy metal music or?? I suppose his parents should have handled this, that seems more logical than placing blame on others. Just my opinion.
I agree with you, Matthew. A gun may do the killing, but someone has to aim it in order for people to die. Bob Schaeffer made a really interesting comment this morning. He said, “You know, apparently this kid has now stopped talking based on the 5th Amendment. It’s amazing how the mentally unstable still always know when to stop talking.”
I’d love to sit down with him over a cup of joe and learn more about what he meant by that.
Excellent post, Margie. The biggest problem seems to be that we only pay attention *after* something happens. Then we try to figure out how we could have prevented it.
I also agree with Chase in that we all have the opportunity to make a difference on a daily basis. Everything we choose to do – or not do – will have consequences. Easy to forget but important to remember.
Absolutely. You hit the nail on the head. Too many times, a tragedy happens and then everyone says, “Oh we shoulda.” And that’s human nature – it’s the way things are. But lots of people have died over the years because someone “unstable” slipped through the cracks. Look at Timothy McVeigh. Look at the guy who killed all of those people at Virginia Tech. The list goes on and on. At some point, we have stop and shift the “we should” into “Let’s do something.”
Bad things happen. Then we punish people. Then we build laws, trying to avoid punishing people (because we’re avoiding the repeat of the event) – and get into the troubling perception of all law being retroactive. What do we do about that?
Then it happens with people. They need help and we don’t provide. So we do things like therapy, to rectify the problems we find. Sometimes, we miss things – because playing catch-up with people is hard. Then things like this happen. How do we address it?
Unfortunately, I think people like Sarah Palin try to be proactive, both about law and about people, with things like this map. Rather than enforcing the known quantities that constitute law, social contracts, and so on… This map and other artifacts like it are intended to prevent situations where we need recovery.
Unfortunately again – proactivity in terms of emotional development and cultural protection almost never works. Thought police, secret enforcement initiatives and so on come from these kinds of action.
This is not a criticism of Sarah Palin; I expect she was doing what she thought was right, creating a rhetorical device her constituents (or potential constituents) should have understood. Corder cases, like yesterday’s shooter, are always out there waiting for a switch like this rhetorical map.
It’s unfortunate, all around. We do need to pay attention – in both directions – for signs both that our rhetoric is failing us in unexpected ways… AND that our friends, acquaintances and our constituents are receiving everything they need from us.
I suppose as a rhetorical device Palin’s map would have worked, but in a context where people are very on edge, it was inappropriate. Then again, I can’t really evoke a sense of outrage now. It’s been out in the public for almost a year, and I’m only hearing about it now because tragedy struck. I wasn’t paying attention. I wasn’t scratching my head saying, “Uh, should we be worried about this?”
It’s frustrating to think that we are missing so much going on in the world. We are all so busy, so tied up in just trying to muddle through our work and our lives, that the big picture just seems too heavy. But maybe we should still strive to try.
But, Margie: there is such a plethora of news now. It isn’t possible for anyone to be aware of everything. I wish I could, but it can’t be done. It’s overwhelming.
I know, it’s a problem, isn’t it?!?
That’s exactly it; without attention and inspection, the map is just another infographic. And that’s kind of frightening.
Social media and responsibility should go hand in hand.
Agreed, for sure.
Great post, as always, Margie. I agree with many of your points.
But people did pay attention to Sarah’s crosshairs map. The congresswoman herself made a statement about it to the effect that that type of reference is dangerous for any party or “side” to use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7046bo92a4
It’s ironic that in March when Palin published the map, Giffords responded to recent attacks upon her office and the map itself, with a calm and measured reply, and clearly wants the same thing you do.
Thanks, Margie. I’m horribly shaken, but have been expecting something like this. My fear was solidified the day that I first saw this map on MSNBC.
But I did nothing.
We live in scary times. In scary times you need to have your ears up and your eyes open even a little more than usual. It’s tough, but such is the hole we have dug ourselves, sadly.
Time to figure out some actions.
I think it’s interesting that Giffords commented on the map, but I still think that it was out for far too long to claim that there is a direct correlation. I’m sure we’ll find out more in the next few days though.
But you took stock of it – you noticed it. Many people did not. Including those who had clear avenue, reason, and responsibility to do so.
Not to diminish personal power – but there are people whose core competency is in noticing things like this when a threat is possible from it, all of whom remained silent.
I know you’re right. My feeling of personal empowerment level is running on empty right now.
I wrote this morning how we must remember our inalienable rights and also stand up for the dignity of all – not just our friends, but those with whom we disagree. Bobby Kennedy’s eulogy on the day of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination has great points that still resonate today.
I’m equally troubled by the headline 2 days ago on the Daily Kos calling this congresswoman “a dead woman” because of her vote on the Democrat’s minority whip, along with the hostile comments below the blog.
Our language choices to objectify people instead of honoring their individual dignity cheapens life and gives more license to those who are unbalanced, on the edge, ready to snap – at least I think it does.
I don’t know any answers to what happened. Somehow, we need to better reach and identify those who are mentally unbalanced.
So what do we do? We stand up for the victims. We speak out against bullies. We remind people who we all are and pray that we can prevent the next tragedy from happening.
Wow, see, I missed that as well.
This has been bubbling since the presidential elections. People in the crowds at John McCain events were shouting out that Obama should be killed. People were spitting on each other and we we were all disgusted but kind of quiet about it all.
Then more of it during these last elections, with people on any and all sides acting out and being generally indecent.
The problem with these concerns is that people often revert to finger-pointing. “Oh, well, if the Democrats hadn’t…” “Yeah, but if the Tea Party hadn’t…” And then the issue disappears.
What we’re all talking about here is not a political thing because all political parties are guilty (hey they have something in common!). This is a societal thing. We the people, right?
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Mary!
Hi Margie,
Corinne Edwards sent me the link to this article, and I find it so telling of what is really going on in America today. It is really about paying attention; more like red alert! pay attention!
It’s not pay attention and be afraid. Fear stops our ability to reason and take action. To control people, all we have to do is play to their deepest fears, and hope there aren’t too many free-thinkers we can’t get rid of.
I saw the Sarah Palin cross-hairs map on The Rachel Maddow Show the day it came out. It was heavily discussed on MaddowBlog, but the right tend to be the ones who follow and would be influenced by such a symbol from Sarah Palin. They sure as heck weren’t watching Maddow; they were more likely watching Fox News, and being told to be afraid.
I think what had far more influence on people with guns and their intention to use them were the Tea Party rallies where supporters and protesters brought loaded guns of all kinds with them. People brought loaded guns to protests outside of where President Obama was speaking on at least two occasions.
Sharon Angle, Republican Candidate for Senate in Nevada, brought up using “second amendment remedies” if they didn’t get their country back. She never elaborated on what exactly she meant by second amendment remedies (she wouldn’t speak to the press except on Fox News). We assume it had something to do with using guns to overthrow our government. Her rhetoric may have influenced this man just one state away in Arizona.
While social media and wide-spread personal video have caused some severe tragedies, I believe the internet, blogs, and discussions on social media will save us from irrationality and restart the conversations that were far more prevalent before radio came on the scene, followed by TV.
Even though this man published videos on YouTube, it doesn’t seem to lead directly to how he acted. He was complaining about social problems in his area and thought his mind was being controlled by American English grammar (? WTF). He does seem to have a few screws loose, but I’ve heard crazier rhetoric on Fox News.
The people at political gatherings in 2010 with guns were not brought together by social media or grass roots efforts, at least not at first. They were brought together by TV hosts encouraging them and even holding their own political rallies to bring them together. They were told by people they respect and follow that using guns to correct American politics might be acceptable or even necessary. To those on the edge, it’s a green light to kill politicians they disagree with.
Radio is so strongly a one-way communications media, and so easy to use as a propaganda machine, it is thought that Nazism, Fascism and Communism never would have been possible without it. The world outside Germany ignored cries for help. Why? I don’t know, but it may have something to do with people not being able to believe other people were capable of such horror on a massive, government-run scale.
How could any leader get away with what Hitler did? Over a rather long period of time, he slowly instilled fear of Jews, the disabled, the mentally disabled, etc. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was suffering horribly paying reparations for WW I, and their suffering took a toll. To rally the people to war, their had to be an enemy among Germans. The enemies turned out to be everyone not of Aryan descent, especially Jews, and not of acceptable mental and physical form. People were afraid and this leader was telling them things they wanted to hear through Joseph Goebbels’ radio propaganda. If they just followed Hitler, he would lead them to prosperity and greatness. But the hook was fear, and shutting down outside information. There were no dissenting opinions allowed. After years of hearing lies and nothing to question or counter them, they believed what they were being told to be the truth. Germans stopped questioning their beliefs, reasoning and actions.
TV makes propaganda even easier. Fox News is a right-wing propaganda machine that has no qualms about lying or distorting facts so badly that they say something entirely different than the whole story. Right-wing radio is the same kind of propaganda machine. Those who choose only to listen to or watch those programs and who refuse to seek countering opinions are beginning to make villains of the left, starting with President Obama. Now someone has tried to assassinate a Democratic Congresswoman.
Politicians can give a speech today on TV and then introduce and support policies that are exactly opposite to what they said. Why? Because no one is paying attention to what they are doing. Many hear what they say and assume they will do what they say. Example: Republicans say they are fiscal conservatives and are focused on reducing the budget deficit and national debt. The first thing they do after they were elected is insist on adding a minimum of $140 billion to the deficit over the next 2 years plus interest by extending the tax cuts to income over $250,000 per year. If they repeal the Affordable Care Act, it will add $230 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. They didn’t pay for those tax cuts but insisted the unemployment benefits had to be paid for. They may bankrupt the country if they refuse to raise the national debt ceiling this spring. They say one thing, then do the opposite. What’s sad is they’ve been doing it for 30 years and they’re still getting elected.
Are we paying attention? Are we aware of the wider world around us? Are we doing what we say we are doing? Are we paying attention that others are doing what they say they are doing? Most importantly, are we questioning our own sense of what is real and true? Not so much.
That is one heck of a comment! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I’m hesitant to paint any one side or news stations as the propagator of fear or loathing. As much as Fox News is a mouth piece for people on the far right end of things, MSNBC is the same for those on the other end of the spectrum. Their coverage of the presidential elections was no more balanced than Fox was. And talking of that, the vitriol that exists amongst all of those tv personalities feeds into the politics, in my opinion. Everyone is yelling to be heard, and no one is listening.
The question is this: If this shooting had not happened yesterday, would we be as much up in arms this morning as we are? I am guilty of sitting back on my haunches and insulating myself from a lot of what is going on in politics because I find everyone’s behavior in all parties so abominable. It makes me ashamed of my leadership. But that doesn’t mean I should be inattentive.
I hope you are right. I hope that social networking sites can swoop in and save the day. However, I don’t see it going that way for now. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks again for your insight. I appreciate it!
Thanks Margie,
I agree that both the right and the left are partisan to a fault. But equating the left with the right when it comes to vitriolic language and violence is a false equivalence.
I don’t hesitate to call a spade a spade. The far right is currently on a violence-based road. The left is not. Balance isn’t the issue here. What people are saying and doing, and how that may influence others, are the issues.
The left does not insight violence like recent candidates and news personalities on the right have. No one on the left brought guns to political events. No news anchors on MSNBC or CNN have been proponents of carrying guns to public events. No candidates on the left were talking about second amendment remedies, saying if ballots don’t work bullets will, saying things like I want Minnesotans armed and dangerous, wearing shirts that say the tree of liberty must be watered occasionally with the blood of patriots and tyrants, or using phrases like don’t retreat, reload.
All that very incendiary language isn’t coming out of the left, it’s coming out of the right. That isn’t my opinion, that’s what’s happened.
I have been paying close attention to politics and the news for years. I don’t insulate myself from it no matter how disgusting it becomes. I write about it from my own point of view on my blog, and I don’t have time to write about as much as I would like.
Would we be up in arms today if the shootings hadn’t happened Saturday? Probably not because most people don’t pay attention outside of their own lives until something makes them do so. I’m not one of those people. I pay attention, and I have intervened in others lives on occasion when I felt I had to.
When all the violent rhetoric started during the 2008 campaign season and accelerated in 2010, my first thought was who will try to kill whom, and when will it happen? I now have my answer.
I both love and hate politics. I find it endlessly fascinating, but I also find it endlessly disappointing, galling, and frustrating.
I do need to pay more attention though. I am disappointed in myself that so much has been going on that I didn’t know about. Not a very good citizen.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment in such detail!
Margie,
You’re not a bad citizen. You’re a normal, too busy American. I’m a total civics geek, and politics is how I spend my free time.
We can all be better citizens, and we should try to make a few changes we can each handle that will make a real difference in our knowledge and understanding of current events and how they fit into our history.
We can all pay more attention to the people in our lives we may feel worried about. If we see warning signs, we should do something about them. It may take some asking around or some research to find out what you can do.
It may mean calling 911 if you feel there is imminent danger.
Powerful piece Margie.
I believe it’s an important read for the social media community, and everyone else.
RT-ing this tomorrow and posting to my Facebook page.
Thanks, friend!
Well written, well said, and you have my attention. Thanks for your purposeful words! ~BR
Thanks so much, Bobby. I appreciate that!
Since I read this post and have had a chance to read some newspapers, I’ve given this mass shooting some more thought. I was commenting on the post rather than on the incident itself.
What we aren’t considering here is there have been many mass shootings in America at pretty regular intervals: Columbine, Virginia Tech, University of Iowa, Binghamton NY Community Center, etc. Hundreds of mass shootings have occurred in America since the 1960’s. There were many more before that.
Americans have 90 guns for every 100 citizens. We own far more guns per capita than any other country on Earth. We have more gun violence incidents and fatalities than any other country as well.
People who should not have a gun can get a gun legally because the system for preventing the wrong people from buying guns is highly flawed. Other people get guns illegally or take them from family members, especially kids.
We don’t know exactly why each of these shootings happened, and we haven’t learned the lessons these shootings might teach us. We know the common denominator is guns wielded by people who shouldn’t have them. We know that violent words have consequences, and that unstable people can be strongly influenced by such words.
We don’t know what to do to stop these acts of extreme violence without repealing or seriously infringing on the 2nd Amendment, and we don’t know how to keep guns out of the hands of all of those who absolutely should not have them.
Paying more attention and acting preemptively may help, but it hasn’t stopped these incidents so far. We must find new preventive measures and new solutions, but we don’t seem to have any great new ideas yet.
What I find most appalling about this whole incident is that we and the media have managed to reduce the life of Christina Taylor Green to nine-second sound bite. “9/11 baby, faces of hope. Came in on a tragedy and went out on a tragedy.” A made-for-tv life. Very sad.
And this just out:
http://vimeo.com/18698532 Sarah Palin’s self-serving, protect my butt, I have no responsibility video response. Still not listening….