Opinion

News That Causes One To Act

By JOHN GATHRIGHT

For me there is news and then there is NEWS! I usually classify the news I read into two categories: action news and armchair news. Action news is news that compels me to act. Armchair news is news that rarely spurs me to do anything. It hardly penetrates my conscience. It may stir my emotions, but in the comfort of my home and favorite armchair it seems so far awar that it is soon forgotten. I'm embarrassed to say that the comfort of my home and lifestyle has made me very complacent. Most of the news I read or hear about subconsciously falls into armchair news. This includes the plight of so many people in the world suffering from natural disasters.

But recently, my armchair has been upset and my comfortable home ravished by a storm. The forest surrounding my home was at war! First, wind and rain attacked the forest, then lightning slaughtered the trees. Soon the forest floor surrendered to the onslaught and part of a nearby mountain broke off and fell to the valley floor. Luckily, my house was not totally ruined and my family was unhurt. My home was just a battle, it was the village that was at war. I left my home and family to join the others.

In the heat of the war, armed with shovels and picks, all the men in our village tried to save our homes. Frantically, we tried to divert the landsides and stop the overflowing rivers. Our efforts were futile compared to the arsenal of logs and rocks bombarding the homes. After hours of fighting we collapsed in defeat.

As we limped home, I couldn't help but think about all the other flooding and natural disasters that I had read and heard about. I recalled people who suffered much more and lost many more lives than us.

One of the young members of our volunteer fire patrol shared his experience in Africa working with families suffering from famine. Then one of the village elders told of historic tragedies and wartime suffering. Even though we were exhausted, our hearts felt for all those who suffer from disasters.

When the blackout ended we learned of even greater damage and suffering in Nagoya and other areas.

It is often said that the world is becoming smaller everyday. But it seems that the suffering of others is still very far away. Today the sun is out and the earth looks much like it did before. But, as I sit in my armchair, it is amazing how much action news I have been missing.

I have discovered that if you read about flooding, famine, and earthquakes in Japan or any other country in the world, after you put down your newspaper you can search the Internet for ways to help. The different ways to send donations and the network of dedicated people to help make our donations go to those in need is astounding.

The recent flooding and landslide in my village made me think about suffering. My suffering made me think of the suffering of others. What made suffering people seem so far away was my comfortable armchair and my lack of empathy for the plight of others.

Shukan ST: September 29, 2000

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