What do you do when you read things like this?
...there is an urgent need to counter the Palestinian de-development phenomenon, but it is also important not to normalise "something that should never be normal".
"This is man-made poverty, and there are people whose lives could be completely transformed by the decision of politicians," he said.
"The costs are going to be massive, and it'll take a decade to be a functioning place again, but within just a few weeks of that decision there would be a different attitude."
What does reading the above move you to do, if anything? Does it bother you? Do you shrug it off or do you stop after the first sentence because reading this doesn't make you feel good?
I know someone who is frivolous and, quick honestly: a sh*t most days. Whenever conversation has turned to politics or human rights issues, their response is either a rolling of the eyes, a puff, a turning away (I was once so infuriated I nearly grabbed the back of said individual's head by the pony-tail and whipped her around) or a flat-out: "I don't want to talk about this, it's turning my mood".
F*ck her mood.
How about you? What do you do when you read things like this?
"This is man-made poverty, and there are people whose lives could be completely transformed by the decision of politicians," he said.
"The costs are going to be massive, and it'll take a decade to be a functioning place again, but within just a few weeks of that decision there would be a different attitude."
What does reading the above move you to do, if anything? Does it bother you? Do you shrug it off or do you stop after the first sentence because reading this doesn't make you feel good?
I know someone who is frivolous and, quick honestly: a sh*t most days. Whenever conversation has turned to politics or human rights issues, their response is either a rolling of the eyes, a puff, a turning away (I was once so infuriated I nearly grabbed the back of said individual's head by the pony-tail and whipped her around) or a flat-out: "I don't want to talk about this, it's turning my mood".
F*ck her mood.
How about you? What do you do when you read things like this?
Labels: Books / Reading, Politix
posted by just a girl at 5:31 PM
5 Comments:
IT's terrible what's happening in Occupied Palestine.
To answer your question, I used to be someone who ignored these things until it came too close to home. Now I pay attention, I write letters, I attend demonstrations and I'm always looking for new informaiton. I als try to always change the way people justgobble up what the media tells them.
Well, Maha, being as you asked.....reading any of this stuff never leaves me indifferent. It will usually make me angry or very sad. Staying informed from sources in addition to traditional media is a good way to get a balanced perspective. I think speaking up when the conversation turns to politics, and making different views known can bring about change in the minds of others. There isn't much oppportunity to attend demonstrations around here unless you go to a bigger city, but I think it's so important to read read read, and to allow your reactions to what you read help you decide on what actions you need to take.
You can't stay indifferent to the events that are going on, and you have to recognize how mainstream media and society in general has alot invested in dumbing down the masses. I try to be a part of the smartened-up masses.
I remember talking to someone once about Abu-Ghraib, and they told me "Why do you even bother reading about that stuff if it upsets you so much?" I replied that that was precisely WHY I keep immersing myself in reading & seeing what's going on in the world. I have to keep being disturbed by it, to achieve some level of understanding that goes deeper than what the powers that be want me to understand. If we lose our indignation and ability to be shocked by what's going on, then we can't move to act on those feelings, because indifference only begets indifference.
Often, because I'm a Westerner and I live in a peaceful country, there's the sense of being impotent in the face of horrors that are going on. That can almost be as paralyzing as indifference.
And sometimes all I feel I can do is pray.....
Peace
Chantal
I stopped trusting mass media a long time ago, and make the effort to look for first-person accounts from people who won't lie or sugarcoat.
It is AWFUL. It makes me feel impotent, but that's no reason to ignore it or pretend it's not happening.
Espy
Anger and despair- the challenge for me is to find something positive to do with those feelings, something that will actually be helpful or meaningful in some way
--Paul
When I was much younger I had a very different take on life and my place in it. I never used to pay attention until it hit too close to home.
Apart from anger and rage I always try to keep myself informed and I try to never say "I didn't know that was happening!" I also am involved with a peace group and whenever the opportunity presents itself, I make sure to impart information to people arouhnd me.
Sorry about this shitty person :(
Colleen
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