COLUMN: Desensitized to the disturbing
Monday afternoon, I was sitting in Park Library totally absorbed in studying for my upcoming finals.
After a few good hours of hitting the books, I checked my phone and saw notifications about the horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon. I could not believe this was happening.
I was shaken up by the fact there had been a bombing on U.S. soil and that there was a chance for a major loss of life. I genuinely feared for the worst and was terrified of finding out how big the damage would be.
I put down my books and started sifting through the multiple reports and updates, and even called my family to see if they had heard about what had happened. Slowly, the reality of the situation set in as I realized what had happened.
Unfortunately, I don't think the situation has yet to sink in for others. On my way back from the library, I heard a conversation in the University Center about the bombing. There were two individuals discussing how they didn't really care about the bombings and didn't see why the bombings were such a big deal.
Not a big deal?
How could the deaths of three human beings, the injuries of hundreds of others and the first major bombing in the United States since an incident inside a San Diego Courthouse in 2008 not be a big deal?
I am still struggling to see how someone could be so insensitive toward their fellow man. An attack like this is something that should be taken with the upmost seriousness and yet it seemed these individuals could care less. I'm still not sure if these individuals know what the loss of a human life means.
In this post 9-11 world filled with violent images, movies and video games, it seems we are entirely desensitized to violence. Instead of being disgusted and disturbed by a video of a bomb going off in a crowd or images of people missing limbs, some of us act as if this attack is a movie and don't realize the real toll of these actions.
I encourage you this week to sit down and take a good look at this situation. This isn't some Hollywood production. What happened in Boston actually happened. There really is a mother and a father who no longer have a son to tuck in at night, and there really are people who will have to live the rest of their lives without legs.
So, I beg you, please open your eyes and see what is going on in this very real world we call life.
