“Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.” — Joseph Addison
This photo calms my soul. I needed it today. — Photo by Pat Bean
Too Bad We Do Not Learn From History
I’m reading May Sarton’s “House by the Sea,” a journal of a year she spent in Maine with a view of the ocean in the 1970s. In it she talks about the landscape, gardening, writing and simply her thoughts, which include those on how cruel the world has become.
I needed a bit of beauty, too. — Photo by Pat Bean
Being of an age, like me, these thoughts included the Vietnam era, and the Mai Lai massacre. If she were writing today, she would, I am sure, have mentioned how history repeated itself with the torture of Iraqi prisoners and all the other horrible events as the world continues too much in the butt-ugly ways of war. What she might have missed, however, is the butt-ugliness of jokes being played on people for the benefit of the TV viewing audience these days. I watched my grandsons laugh at one of these cruel pranks the other day, one in which I found absolutely nothing amusing. The goal of the hoax was nothing but humiliation of the victim.
How different is this from the bullying that is allowed to go on in schools to the point that victims have committed suicide?
And then two days ago, I picked up the young adult book, “The Hunger Games.” It was a gripping piece of writing that I admit I couldn’t put down. But when I finished it, I had a very bad taste in my soul. For one thing, a book that is all about children killing other children should never be labeled a kids’ book; and for another, the sheepish way in which the fictional population so callously allowed this to happen, even going so far as to bet on the outcome.
I kept waiting for someone to do something. Hopefully the sequels answer this wish, although I’m not sure I will read them to find out. My soul can only stand so much brutality.
The book put me in the mind of the Holocaust, when all that was needed for evil to triumph was for the good to turn their backs and do nothing.
The Pollyanna in me believes, no KNOWS, that the good people in this world outnumber the bad. So when are we going to stand up and holler enough is enough? A good place to start is simply for adults to tell children that there is nothing funny in cruel jokes. You can bet on my grandchildren hearing this from me.
The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.
Bean’s Pat: Words of Wisdom http://tinyurl.com/a4s78pp This just seemed like an appropriate blog to accompany today’s soap-box rant.
Pat Bean's blog 
History repeats itself it seems at times. I hope that these shootings do not become the norm and the violence against each other for no real reason but that you are just different. Have a Great One:)
It seems that evil never disappears – just moves around – kinda like the whole physics thing – matter is never created or destroyed, merely transformed. I disconnected the TV almost 2 years ago and haven’t missed it very much. I still watch a few shows on the computer (Parenthood is great) and lots of movies, but no violent ones. Even have stopped reading books with lots of violence in them. Just gives me nightmares. We had a local classical music station and that is on much of the time while I am crocheting lap robes for health care centers which are my current projects. Current reading is a series of books by Larry Dossey (MD) about the power of prayer, the nature of prayer and now a book about the healing abilities of ordinary things in our lives. These books sat in my bookcase for 2 years until I pulled them down a few weeks ago. Is just what I have needed to hear at this time as I have been dealing with my own health issue which, after being fired by the doctors, I have been healing up on my own. Don’t envy you the broken ankle as I broke my arm 5 years ago, and it was not fun. Hang in there. Put on some music and paint!!
I don’t own a TV either Deborah. Don’t miss it either.
Thanks, Pat, for expressing my thoughts and fears, as well. Cruelty in fiction is not new – remember “Lord of the Flies?” Horrible! – but it seems to be growing exponentially (mass murders, now, instead of single murders) and filtering down to the younger and younger . . . It’s a cancer in our society, and we must find out where the primary site is and get to work on an antidote! I am baffled by the popularity of “Hunger Games” among the kids, I don’t understand what they love about it! But I also remember finding “Bonnie and Clyde” a funny movie, which baffled my parents. I didn’t realize it was real. Then there’s the movie “Fargo,” which my children’s generation found hilarious, and I found unbearably cruel. But my kids were certain it was fiction, and I knew it to be based on actual cases. Maybe kids think nothing they see is real, and we know the harshness of reality.
I guess it’s a rant day for me, too. ‘Happy to join you in ranting!
Thanks Sam. Lord of the Flies wasn’t a favorite of mine, but at least no one was betting on the outcome as in the Hunger Games. Rant on Sam.