I’m wondering if I’m becoming a big ol’ cynic.
People mean well, I know they do. They react with emotion to events like the Boston Marathon bombing and logic doesn’t always come into play. But I wish it would.
I remember the first time I was really horrified at the way a population responded to a sad time. It was the first moment I saw on television thousands and thousands of bouquets of flowers left at Buckingham Palace after Diana’s death. All I could think was how many people all of that wasted money could have helped. If every person who spent a few bucks on flowers had donated that money to a homeless shelter or a children’s breakfast program or whatever, it would have been much more in keeping with the spirit of the good works done by the lady herself. It was a wasted opportunity and simply a waste as garbage collectors shoveled up the rotting blooms days later and tossed them away.
On Saturday morning a bunch of runners held a “solidarity run” for Boston in one of London’s parks. Meanwhile, in another city park not far away, runners and walkers were lacing up for the Brain Tumour Foundation’s annual London Spring Sprint. I suggested on Twitter that the solidarity runners take their efforts to the other park. They could have ponied up $20 and made their run count twice. But what I was thinking was, make it count at least once. I suppose this will come off as critical of them and I don’t mean to be. They’re trying to show support for a city wounded by terror and hell this past week. It’s just that it seems to me it’s an empty gesture. I suppose there’s a feel-good component for those who took part but nothing truly tangible comes of it.
A donation to the Red Cross (and yes, I made one) or another organization just seems to be a more practical way to truly help those who need it right now. It’s not nearly as dramatic or photo-worthy, as I’m sure the park run will turn out to be. And maybe I’m missing a point. If so, let me in on it, because I just see people responding to a human tragedy in a way that draws attention to themselves but doesn’t really help the ones who need it the most right now.
Cynical? maybe, but more likely that your trying to apply logic to a completely irrational and illogical event which are worlds apart. The leaving of flowers or a ceremonial walk seeks to address the emotional human response of discuss and need to do something to show support for those directly involved in the tragedy which simply can not be addressed or satisfied through rational, logical means. Logic and emotion are distinct and separate aspects of human nature, which often complement each other but on occasions as the Boston bombings, they are very much strange bedfellows with their own needs and desires.
Well then I’m a very odd duck because my first reaction is to do something that will actually have a positive effect on the situation. These “displays of emotion” are essentially useless in my view.