desensitized to tragedy

With all the misery that happens on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis, it's easy to become desensitized to tragedy. I just want to say don't let events of sadness, loss, and lack become something you get so used to you don't even notice them anymore.

One of the things I find unsettling is when someone not involved in a tragedy directly tries to insert themselves into the situation and ends up making it about them when it had nothing to do with them. Like the explosion at the Boston Marathon, the news here in Rockford was really lame, interviewing people who once happened to travel to Boston 10 years ago, as if their insights were somehow relevant to the loss and senselessness that happened there this past Monday. I just don't like when people who are uninvolved, who have no true connection or grasp of the kind of loss someone is going through, try to insinuate an understanding. It's lame.

I can't begin to understand what these people are feeling. I can't begin to know the depth of loss that is theirs. I won't even pretend. I will not toss cliched phrases and patronize them with patriotism or civic pride - honestly, as if the sting of lost limbs can be eased with the Red Sox winning.

It's important to not check out when tragedy occurs. Being desensitized can make it easy to just swallow any cock and bull story the media may try to dish out. Don't be desensitized to tragedy or to truth. xo