Please show the news about cable channels. Or any news, broadcasts, publications, streams or recordings.
If we do this in the political season, we will hear or see what resembles a dramatic comedy, or perhaps a tragic comedy. Candidates of the opposing sides throw incessant attacks, campaign staff emit strange thoughts, and political reporters raise endless questions to those who are looking for work.
But serious discussions and critical ideas arise. At the same time, alternately entertaining and depressing, the political process and news reporting on this process provide strongholds against oppression with powerful and protecting the freedoms of our country.
Therefore, in the absence of politics lies the defense of our freedoms.
But in the news, politics is not the greatest absurdity.
Rather, keep looking. True heart-rendering breaks through, the disturbing reality of a real, destructive tragedy. Flooding, destroying homes, war-destroying nations, hurricanes, devastating destruction, earthquakes leveling entire cities, starving radical arid countries, diseases spreading through communities, the destruction of urban areas of the city, the seizure of urban crime. And people. People suffer and die, Needless, endless, innocent. Including children. Children who should be happy, but instead be amazed, scared, wounded, exhausted, withdrawn and die.
It is clear that in these tragedies there is no absurdity. No, they tear the heart and burn the feelings.
But keep looking. News items must pay bills. So there are commercial pauses. With long ad sequences. Improved dog food, better pillows, excellent laundry detergent, magic facial creams, luxury couturiers, best pizzas.
Comparison attacks the mind, depicting in one minute a beggar’s child near a bombed-out building, desperate for food and clothing, and then the next minute have fun to talk about how to remove a stain on food from one clothes. The harsh and unspeakable pain and trauma of this poor child show trivial concern for the character of the ad over the spot on the back of the shirt sleeve.
But again, no. Our economy, the economy around the world, now depends on the purchase of this washing powder or that dog food, or those face creams, or hundreds of other amenities, beauty, fashion and other products and services. These purchases bring jobs for workers, and workers go to feed and raise children and families.
Here then lies the absurdity with which we are confronted. The tragedy of war was compared to the trifles of laundry detergent comparable to the fundamentals of our economy.
How do we react? How do we stay sane when we, or our neighbors, or our fellow citizens support their families, or do we support ours, devoting dozens of hours a week to work, say, a washing powder test? Or do focus groups on the shape of the pillow? Or optimize dog food packaging machines? How, knowing thousands, even millions, suffer and in extreme cases die during these tens of hours of famine, disease, crime, war, conflicts and natural disasters?
Well, some probably see this absurdity and make the jump. They give up their lives and go to the rescue. Maybe we all should, but again, most of us lack the skills to treat the sick or specialists, to instruct the hungry on agriculture or methods to create an illiterate school and, of course, experience to intervene and negotiate peace.
And we need to take care of our own families.
So what do we do? We could ignore. No law, contract or promise compels us to take care of people distant from us, including especially in other countries and foreign cultures. We could rationalize. In most cases, we did not cause suffering and planning to others, and we can even conclude that the needy bought it on themselves. We could ask for a lack of time or energy, or to be overwhelmed by the burden of life. Just do it through our daily efforts.
However, deep in our conscience we feel the inadequacy of these answers. While some of us are indeed burdened, many of us enjoy a reasonable existence, perhaps uncomfortable or always pleasant, but a life with tolerable needs and sufficient needs, with sufficient even considerable happiness and love.
Therefore, when we all speak, we feel a debt to those who are in need of great need, seriously ill, constantly hungry, endlessly prone to war, suddenly devastated by a natural disaster.
What are we doing? Can we do something meaningful, even in our crazy modern life? Can we really help?
Yes, and even if we doubt that our efforts will improve significantly, we must.
What then to do?
First, if you believe in a higher entity, pray This may seem some odd, like the listed first action. But yes, many, including, perhaps, you, believe, and to the extent that God exists, to ask God to help others in need, as reverent and noble. Nowadays, physical miracles seem to be rare, and we can judge that God will not stop the war or the hurricane will not stop. But we can believe that God will intervene with those who are open to Him to strengthen these individual commitments, energy, wisdom, and perseverance to help those in need.
And sacrifice If we are not able to directly help those who need it, we can certainly provide financial support to those who can and what to do. Small donations, large donations, regular donations, contributions of any amount that we can afford, together provide both permanent and emergency assistance. Concerns may lead to the legitimacy of some charity groups, but authoritative organizations publish information about their sources and use of funds.
then visit family This may seem obvious, but every family, whether extended or small, and although determined to take care of its own, creates a terrible network of support and attention. Parents supporting the well-being and development of their children, brothers and sisters, joining each other when necessary, adult children caring for their aging parents, the family cycle lies at the heart of the whole community, nation and world,
And act nobly We enter this world, especially in America, blessed. We enter a country that offers freedom, a culture that allows diversity, and an economy that provides opportunities. Not ideal or even acceptable in cases where significant improvement is required, but it is nevertheless better than any nation or time before. We did not pay for these blessings; they came to birth. And although we must work and work every day in order to use these benefits, as well as maintain and improve them, we must respect the gifts that have come to our birth. We do this by acting in a noble character, enduring daily blows, spreading kindness and joy, extending a helping hand. Acting this way cannot directly help those who are in the middle of a civil war, but respects the fact that these and other people have great difficulties that most of us do.
These steps make efforts that focus attention and energy. They represent a strong moral response. We must accept them as best as possible and as best we can, because we give our comrades and as our duty to our community, nation and world.
But some may judge that they should do more.
volunteer We spend almost countless hours of video entertainment, whether streaming or watching TV or using our electronic devices. The weight and madness of modern life snuffle our energy and drive, and our time, relaxing with videos, or games, or social networks, of our choice really provides recharging and leakage. But, in the fields, we could divert time to volunteers.
Many do it. The nearest saint goes on a journey around the country or the whole world to help the sick, the hungry, torn by war, the poor, the poor. I'm standing in the ad. They have a special spirit. If we cannot achieve such a blessing, we can voluntarily participate in this matter. Coach of the youth sports team, to act in school advisory council, to help in the collection of the church fund, to conduct a pledge race, to distribute products in the local food bank. Even the work of telephones to ensure the contribution of building materials for this group, going abroad for the construction of medical buildings.
lawyer , Not violently. Not short sighted. But with intelligence. If the local high school needs updated lab equipment, be sure to protect it and bring others in, as the numbers bring strength. But help solve this solution. Funding always creates a rush, and the search for discounts or grants or product bindings can ease the necessary equipment into the budget.
Consider the possible complexity. Does the presence of drivers increase the technology used in cars, makes it possible to reduce drunk driving? Can social networks allow the community center to communicate with users? Advocacy, which seeks not only to forget about problems and needs, but also to solve and, if necessary, collaborate and introduce innovations.
We cannot (easily) stop the absurdity of news juxtapositions, the painful images of refugees fleeing cities destroyed by war, followed by commercials. Admittedly, the news includes more serious commercials, heart drugs, or legal protections. But again, a child suffering from malnutrition does not care about heart medications that he or she will never reach the needs of the age, and the family practiced in tribal cleansing cannot stop their danger with a lawsuit.
And the cessation of the absurd creates ripples. Neighbors earn their living in stores that sell hair coloring, and fellow citizens work for firms producing the product.
Since we are observing this absurdity, and not closing our mind to ignore or throw our curls into worthlessness, we take rational steps. We pray if it falls into our worldview. We donate, take care of our family, we gain nobility. And if we can, and we must clearly consider what is following us, we will voluntarily and protect.
