9/28/2006

What’s wrong with us?

Posted By: Mike Stahl

Why is it that now matter the important, crucial, vital to the future of mankind issues are in play on a day to day basis, we can be distracted by the silliest of superficial gossip? I caught myself not only paying attention to, but devoting some critical thought to the T.O. suicide or not suicide attempt. Don’t get me wrong, I have no relish for human suffering whatsoever, and wish the guy the best…but I also reached the conclusion that there is not a chance that I could care less about this bit of non-news. Surely there were multiple suicide attempts this week in my own area- that I will never even know about. But I know about that football player’s problem. Press conferences were held, conspiracy theories advanced, doubtlessly lies were told, and perhaps just a bit of compassion…..perhaps. I have no idea if T.O. was trying to off himself, or not, but I know that I felt like a ghoul for a while today…or at least a peeping tom, and since I was not alone, I wonder why? What is it that draws us to spectacles like this…is it some sort of “I’m glad it’s not me” thought pattern, or is it something more visceral? I see this as a deep rooted, albeit less than pretty, part of human nature. Though I don’t know what drives us to rubber-neck train-wrecks like this, I do know it’s a dangerous trait that can distract, and even control us.

To bring about the inevitable “for instance”, consider the idea that has been forwarded that Clinton was so distracted by his…..smoking habit, that he was unable to respond properly to terrorist attacks, and get Bin Laden before 9/11. Yes, while I was disgusted by the foreign policy activities of that man, and I do fault him for his actions, I’ve got to admit that I was distracted by the Lewinsky affair, and I think much of the public was as well. Granted, it was a big deal, and did deserve attention, but it really may have turned focus from where it otherwise might have been. The Clinton Presidency became in many ways a spectacle in itself, due wholly to his own actions, but a spectacle all the same. The point is the voyeuristic tendency in us, hurt us- in this case inadvertently, at least as far as terrorism goes. I’m not convinced that Clinton was not slick enough to use that spectacle to his advantage-the tail wagging the dog, because a bigger dog bit the tail, so to speak. The Romans used “Bread and Circuses” to pacify the mob, I’d like to think we’ve come a ways since then- today I’m not so sure.