| This
opinion was written in response to the beheading on Sept. 20 of Eugene
Armstrong by insurgents in Iraq. Jack Hensley was beheaded on Sept. 21,
followed by Kenneth Bigley on October 8. As of our publication date, insurgents
have beheaded at least eight captives since May.
By
Amy K. Teeter
Where
is the outrage? Where is the sorrow? More importantly, where is the awareness?
We all
know there’s a war going on that the US is involved in. I realize
that it’s human nature to acknowledge such things but not dwell
on them, so as not to go crazy trying to comprehend the abhorrence of
war. Especially when we, as regular civilians, are essentially removed
from it unless we know someone serving in the military or have suffered
a trauma or loss related to the infamous “War on Terror.”
But I
find myself unable to remain in purposeful oblivion today, because...
beheaded. Yet another human being, beheaded. An American, although truth
be told that’s not my primary motivation for caring. He was a person.
With a family and a contribution to make to the world, like everyone else
who’s ever been a casualty of war or terror attacks. And sure it
was mentioned on CNN’s home page. But in a teensy font. In a list
of other news stories. With an inane bit about Bush & Kerry and the
upcoming debates taking center stage.
Yesterday
afternoon, staring at CNN’s website, it struck me that we all pay
a price for blocking out the war. Yes, there are folks who feel passionately
about the issues surrounding war, both for and against, and they speak
up. But as always, they are a serious minority. I go about my business
every day—working, eating, sleeping, reading, writing —with
only the occasional combat blip on my mental radar.
My friends,
colleagues and associates do the same. What does this cost me? My humanity?
Maybe a little. My soul? Maybe a little. When a man’s senseless
beheading, saved to video for posterity, becomes a minor piece of information
to be absorbed and released, I’ve paid a lot. Maybe more than I
think.
I am,
perhaps, contradicting myself because, in essence, it was the initial
lack of response to the beheading that caused me to stop in my tracks
like this. But I work at a community college. With over 6,000 students.
Has there been a stir? A call to action? A vigil? Anything? No. Not even
a ripple. We are harder now, even the younger generation, more immune
to painful realities than ever before, realities packaged neatly and presented
to us antiseptically via the media.
I am
afraid of what this will mean in the end, what choices people will make,
and what they will learn to turn a blind eye to. I know there is plenty
of good still to be found, great people who care and are conscientious.
But as their numbers seem to dwindle, I wonder who will notice.
They’re threatening to behead another hostage... soon... and I wonder
if I will notice. |
|
