I do not mean this post to be disrespectful of the events in Newtown, CT last week. I am shattered thinking of the community and the reverberant effects of this tragedy. As a teacher, from a family of teachers, and being from CT myself, the entire thing is impossible to fathom. My intent is to communicate my honest frustration with some of the responses in recent days, in honor and defense of those truly grieving.
A co-worker asked our boss to require all staff to wear a ribbon in acknowledgment of the Newtown shooting. A ribbon like the ones worn for HIV/AIDs awareness (red ribbons), breast cancer awareness (pink ribbons), and all those other awarenesses. I don't have anything intrinsically opposed to ribbon wearing, but this annoyed the heck out of me. A ribbon?
The ribbon wearing, especially in this circumstance, feels like advertising that we are sad and helpless in light of tragedy- a publicized self-pat on the back for feeling bad. This tragedy is not going unnoticed and undiscussed. Congressman are making claims of a shift in the political atmosphere because of the shooting. The NRA announced that they want to be part of the gun reform conversation. The NRA! This event deserves attention, but we don't for recognizing its weight.
I heard an interview yesterday about volunteerism, and one of the volunteers said "its not about giving back, its about giving forward." Although this is a potentially trite adage, I resonated with the sentiment. Instead of reflecting, and thinking of looking back as the end point, move forward in light of something. Take an event as impetus to shift the scale of conversation and action, and alter the future of how we deal with each other as human beings.
When addressing a tragedy, we best honor those lost by working to change how and why it was able to happen in the first place. Wearing a ribbon only glorifies our grief.
PS: Have you seen the South Park episode "A Scause for Applause?" I recommend it as part of this conversation- just replace ribbons with silicone (Livestrong, WWJD, etc.) bracelets.
A co-worker asked our boss to require all staff to wear a ribbon in acknowledgment of the Newtown shooting. A ribbon like the ones worn for HIV/AIDs awareness (red ribbons), breast cancer awareness (pink ribbons), and all those other awarenesses. I don't have anything intrinsically opposed to ribbon wearing, but this annoyed the heck out of me. A ribbon?
The ribbon wearing, especially in this circumstance, feels like advertising that we are sad and helpless in light of tragedy- a publicized self-pat on the back for feeling bad. This tragedy is not going unnoticed and undiscussed. Congressman are making claims of a shift in the political atmosphere because of the shooting. The NRA announced that they want to be part of the gun reform conversation. The NRA! This event deserves attention, but we don't for recognizing its weight.
I heard an interview yesterday about volunteerism, and one of the volunteers said "its not about giving back, its about giving forward." Although this is a potentially trite adage, I resonated with the sentiment. Instead of reflecting, and thinking of looking back as the end point, move forward in light of something. Take an event as impetus to shift the scale of conversation and action, and alter the future of how we deal with each other as human beings.
When addressing a tragedy, we best honor those lost by working to change how and why it was able to happen in the first place. Wearing a ribbon only glorifies our grief.
PS: Have you seen the South Park episode "A Scause for Applause?" I recommend it as part of this conversation- just replace ribbons with silicone (Livestrong, WWJD, etc.) bracelets.
Thank you! Man. Exactly how I feel.
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