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Weekend Update Contemplates Things
Nov. 15th, 2015 07:10 pmAs I'd said on Twitter on Friday evening:
It's been an interesting day in the Twitterverse. The best and the worst of my generation have all had their say.
My personal reaction to the events that unfolded in Paris were not unlike my personal reactions to the terrorist attacks back in 2001 in New York, 2005 in London, and 2012 in Boston. That is to say, I was deeply moved and impressed by those who immediately dropped everything to assist those in need. I stayed connected to the news as it came in to get more updates (and to see how it came to an end, if any).
And I was angered and sickened by the knee-jerk reactions, the disgusting bigotry, and the sheer amount of NOISE that spewed forth soon after the fact (or even while events were still unfolding). Same as the last few times...the BLOODTHIRSTY REVENGE! In the Holy Name of Patriotism and Freedom. Let's bomb the everliving fuck out of them all! Blow them off the goddamn map! Let them know that God-fearing Americans are in fucking charge! Don't like it? MOVE TO CANADA.
It's sad, really. I've said this to A. more than a few times: What does 'patriotism' even mean to me anymore? The word's been appropriated, along with 'concerned taxpayer' and 'Christian' and 'freedom' and so on, by these loud voices. When I hear those words now, I hear an orgasmic pride, this reactive emotion, and I end up imagining these speakers witnessing the sight of an American flag and breaking down into tears, it's so goddamned beautiful, their heart will grow three sizes.
Granted...I'm not belittling patriotism or love and pride of country, far from it. I'm just...a bit worried is all, when these people fall prey to their own surface emotions. Yes, I know, they're not exactly the status quo, they're mostly a loud and vociferous fringe. But what really chafes my ass is when those in the camera eye choose to be the voice of that vox populi. When pundits Tweet elementary school playground taunts (which I've been calling the "ha ha look at the retard" comment), when politicians say 'if only we had more guns this wouldn't have happened' (knowing full well the bullshit that statement carries)...and especially when we get overzealous idiots on social media painting all Muslims as terrorists (and ironically forgetting John 8:7 in the process).
I have my own way of processing these events. I severely edit myself; I rarely make any comments online. I may say a few things to A. in conversation offline, but that's it. I try not to dwell or overfocus on it, because I know that won't be the healthy thing for me to do. I'm aware of the situation, I just try not to overreact to it emotionally.
But this NOISE. Sometimes it's hard to shut that out.
It's been an interesting day in the Twitterverse. The best and the worst of my generation have all had their say.
My personal reaction to the events that unfolded in Paris were not unlike my personal reactions to the terrorist attacks back in 2001 in New York, 2005 in London, and 2012 in Boston. That is to say, I was deeply moved and impressed by those who immediately dropped everything to assist those in need. I stayed connected to the news as it came in to get more updates (and to see how it came to an end, if any).
And I was angered and sickened by the knee-jerk reactions, the disgusting bigotry, and the sheer amount of NOISE that spewed forth soon after the fact (or even while events were still unfolding). Same as the last few times...the BLOODTHIRSTY REVENGE! In the Holy Name of Patriotism and Freedom. Let's bomb the everliving fuck out of them all! Blow them off the goddamn map! Let them know that God-fearing Americans are in fucking charge! Don't like it? MOVE TO CANADA.
It's sad, really. I've said this to A. more than a few times: What does 'patriotism' even mean to me anymore? The word's been appropriated, along with 'concerned taxpayer' and 'Christian' and 'freedom' and so on, by these loud voices. When I hear those words now, I hear an orgasmic pride, this reactive emotion, and I end up imagining these speakers witnessing the sight of an American flag and breaking down into tears, it's so goddamned beautiful, their heart will grow three sizes.
Granted...I'm not belittling patriotism or love and pride of country, far from it. I'm just...a bit worried is all, when these people fall prey to their own surface emotions. Yes, I know, they're not exactly the status quo, they're mostly a loud and vociferous fringe. But what really chafes my ass is when those in the camera eye choose to be the voice of that vox populi. When pundits Tweet elementary school playground taunts (which I've been calling the "ha ha look at the retard" comment), when politicians say 'if only we had more guns this wouldn't have happened' (knowing full well the bullshit that statement carries)...and especially when we get overzealous idiots on social media painting all Muslims as terrorists (and ironically forgetting John 8:7 in the process).
I have my own way of processing these events. I severely edit myself; I rarely make any comments online. I may say a few things to A. in conversation offline, but that's it. I try not to dwell or overfocus on it, because I know that won't be the healthy thing for me to do. I'm aware of the situation, I just try not to overreact to it emotionally.
But this NOISE. Sometimes it's hard to shut that out.
