The Katywompus Journal Observing Life's Little Quirks by Diane Moody |
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Entry #62: SO EASILY DISTRACTED
As I dig through the foggy labyrinth of my mind this morning, I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to come up with a topic for my column this week. Oh, there are plenty of things we could talk about. That's not the problem. What gives me pause is how everything else pales in comparison to the continuing horror of the tsunami in Asia. I don't want to write about it. What could I possibly say that could add to the thousands of reports we've all heard over the past several weeks? Nothing. Incomprehensible. I think that word best describes our reaction to these reports and the images that continue to fill our television screens. We simply can't wrap our minds around such complete devastation. Do you remember having those same thoughts about the hurricanes that swept through the south this year, primarily those in Florida? It occurs to me that we haven't heard much on that subject in months. Oh, there's the occasional reference in passing. Like when Governor Jeb Bush accompanied Colin Powell to the tsunami-affected countries, we were reminded how much experience Jeb has had dealing with natural disasters when his state was ravaged again and again by those hurricanes. But when was the last time you heard an update on the areas hit by those hurricanes? When was the last time you saw a news report about the reconstruction efforts down there? When was the last time you watched a human interest story about someone whose life was forever changed by one of those storms? Can you even name one of those hurricanes now? Let's see, wasn't there a Charley . . . an Igor? (Or was it Ivan?) It's a reminder to all of us how easily - and how quickly - we forget such tragedies. Out of sight, out of mind. True, life goes on. It always does. But as a society, are we sometimes too quick to move ahead? With so many cable news stations reporting world, national, and local events literally minute by minute, are we swept on to tomorrow's big story before we've had a chance to process today's? I think so. At least in some cases . . . For others, we're submerged into a never-ending diatribe of facts and images about certain stories that just won't go away. I don't know about you, but I want this whole Scott Peterson story to just go away. Other than the OJ Simpson trial, have we ever been subjected to such non-stop, detailed coverage of such a tragic story? And I don't EVEN want to think about the pending Michael Jackson trial. Can you imagine the incessant media blitz that will parade us through that one? But isn't it interesting how much more coverage those stories attract - the ones revolving around celebrities or high profile murders - as opposed to the natural disasters which claim thousands of lives, affect millions more people? Why is that? It's been over two years since Lacy Peterson disappeared, yet the story is still front page news. The trial is over but Scott's mistress, Amber Frey, is everywhere - all over the talk shows and news programs - part of her book tour, of course. Haven't we had enough? Remember Gary Condit? He was the California congressman suspected in the disappearance of Chandra Levy. That story dominated news and tabloids alike, day after day. Home videos of Chandra and her family graced our televisions for months. Until a bigger story came along - the attacks of September 11, 2001. Suddenly no one cared about the Condit/Levy case anymore. It wasn't until they found her body a year later that the story was even mentioned again. I'll ask again. When was the last time you read a report or saw a news story on those hurricanes? And lest we forget, those blew through just four months ago. But apparently we are no longer interested in what happened to the people of Punta Gorda, Florida. Apparently we no longer care about the thousands of senior citizens in that state who lost everything. I'm curious as to when our interest in the tsunami story will wane. Once the celebrities throw their fund-raising concerts, once Diane Sawyer and Brian Williams return home from their mandatory on-the-scene appearances in places like Phuket, Thailand, and Banda Aceh, Indonesia, I suppose we'll simply yawn, grab another handful of popcorn, and click the remote over to something else. Say, Access Hollywood. After all, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston have split. Click HERE to send Diane an email. She welcomes your comments and suggestions. She's Flying the Coop Blessed are the poor... Back to School It All Started With Eve It's Almost Here! Forget About Weapons of Mass Destruction - let’s Talk Hormones The Other "W" "If only I could..." "Put Down That Remote and Step Away From the TV!" Take This Job and Love It! As the Stomach turns! Pet Peeves Cue the Balloons! 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