By From The Chronicle
In general, the citizens of the world should pat themselves on the back for the way they have responded to the disasterous tsunami that struck on Dec. 29 of last year. In a time when nations seem eager to identify themselves more by what they are against than by what they are for, the richest of them act in unity for this humanitarian purpose. In a time when paid political punditry is on par with professional wrestling, every party is compelling every government to give all they can, and jockeying for credit is kept to a minimum.
Similarly, the private sector has recognized that now is a time when ordinary individuals can accomplish extraordinary feats without interrupting their day. Humanity appears to have adopted assisting those hit by the tsunami as not only a moral obligation, but as something people just do. It is not only right, it is human. This reaction captures and highlights that which is most beautiful in our species, and the best part is that it never seems to have occured to us to do anything else.
Perhaps even more unusual is how unavoidable it is to credit the media with the ensuing orgy of positive action. It is a small wonder that such a substantial response coincides with the type of excessive coverage that is generally reserved for political elections and celebrity trials. How could the people have responded any other way when they were bombarded with a solid month of images of children being violently divided from their families by the indescriminate rage of mighty Poseidon? Stories on any other topic were buried just to broadcast human interest drama even when there were no new developments, and each charitable action was positively reinforced with coverage and positive spin. So while the citizens of the world should pat themselves on the back, it seems appropriate that the members of the media should do so for a little bit longer.
However, with credit comes responsibility. This response provides evidence that when the media inform the people adequately, the people respond appropriately. So while the people have been moved to the correct response in this case, it is a shame that some of the world’s newfound good-samaritanism is not being channelled to regions of Africa where scarcity of resources occasionally leads to civil wars that resemble genocide, to particular Middle-Eastern countries where rape victims are regularly executed for adultery, or to a thousand other causes where attention is just as urgent.
This attitude must be harnessed. Our generation has never seen such an opportune time for men to show their mettle. Human beings do not stop suffering and dying for no good reason in between the times when the drama of natural disasters and terrorist attacks grip the world’s news readers. It continues to be not only beneficial, not only moral, but human to help when help is needed. The media must do a better job of informing the people, and the people must be more consistent about latching onto the stories that matter.