Prolly All the Time

whispers...

[WARNING -- BUMMER OF A POST AHEAD]

From the time that I was a very small child, I have been one of those people (like Holly) who feel others despair and suffering at a very personal level.  I was not allowed to watch Live Aid (the original), any of the coverage of the famines and genocide in Africa, or the tsunami coverage because I would sit for hours engrossed... crying myself to sleep and awakening to horrible dreams.  There are movies that I can not watch because the suffering portrayed in them stays with me far too long, haunting everything that I do. N. can attest to the fact that I cry for homeless people when I see them on the street, even when they are busy cursing me out. I simply can't shake them from my mind or heart.

For this reason, I have been (to the best of my ability) avoiding the news. I have preferred to watch only morning news shows, as they can't show really troubling footage due to the likelihood that young children maybe watching. That is right, I have been limiting myself to the "Wiggles"-version of news broadcasts to try and stay informed without getting destroyed.

Until today, when I turned to CNN for a quick update and was knocked over by what I saw.  For the past three hours, I have been held hostage by the images on my TV and the stories on the Internet.  I had to lock myself in the bathroom so as not to freak out the nanny with my sobbing.  And when I got control of myself, I turned off the TV and shut down the news websites.

I know that everyone has been moved by what we have seen and heard over the past few days...  but for me, when I see those images, I can not turn away, I weep openly for these people and their pain and suffering and, in some cases, the grief for their suffering is simply overwhelming.  I want to save them all, but I am paralyzed by the scope of the fear, pain and desperation. 

I give my money dutifully, offer my prayers and support, and hope that I can shut it off and out long enough to get through my day.

I feel incredibly selfish as I KNOW this is not about me.  I am tucked safely with my family here far from the disaster.  My friends and family are all safe, and I am so glad to hear that others, like SugarMommy's in-laws, are as well... but then there are so many more who are... in need. 

Godspeed to all desperately trying to get away. May you find the strength to survive and rebuild your lives.

There are collective, constant whispers being offered up on your behalf... that you may find some comfort in this hour of great, great need.

industrial strength brain soap

Ok, I have resisted commenting on a topic covered far and wide in the blogosphere, but an AP article I just read makes my skin crawl and forces me to speak out...

I think that is is fair to say the "crazy-man" Tom Cruise has somehow brainwashed Katie Holmes.  It is either that or he has body snatched her and replaced her with some kind of automaton...

During the W interview, the actress wouldn't part from Jessica Rodriguez, who is described as her "Scientologist chaperone." Rodriguez's role in Holmes' life remains vague, though Rodriguez says they're "just best friends" since meeting around the time Holmes met Cruise.

"You adore him," Rodriguez told Holmes when the actress was at a loss for words to describe her love.

Not to forget their day jobs, Holmes says she wants to make a movie with Cruise.

"That would be such an honor," she says. "Such an honor."

Where I come from, that is called "fucked up" -- we also call that significant break with reality.  I am organizing a rescue effort.  Someone has to stop him.

a moment of silence and desperation

I am whispering prayers for all those impacted by yesterday's violence in London.  There is no cause on this earth that is worth the lives of innocent people.  And I cannot believe that any god, by any name, would condone this kind of action in his/her behalf.

It breaks my heart that as human beings, we are capable of such hatred. I only pray and desperately hope that we will all recognize that this is unacceptable and work together to create a world where hate has no room to grow. And not do so with guns and bombs, but with patience and understanding...

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth...

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shalled be called the children of God. (Matt. 5:3, 5:9)

Run Away, Run Away

Am I the only person in the whole of U.S.A that just doesn't care about the "Runaway Bride?"  I recognize that by devoting energy to writing about her, I am, in fact, indicating some kind of vested interest in her situation... trust me.  I don't care, but my job requires me to monitor the news so unfortunately, I am informed.

I can understand how people in her community would care and feel the need for an explanation for her act.  But as I have mentioned, I live in Texas.  Her actions did not affect me, my family, my friends, my tax dollars, etc.  And I believe that the same may be said for 99% of Americans.  So why... WHY? have we been subjected to this story on national news for 7 whole days. 

People run away from their problems and do stupid things everyday, perhaps CNN can dedicate a whole channel to it and then get back to actual news.  What makes this young woman's mistake seem so horrible is the intense media scrutiny.  So the thing that burns me the most is this...

My local CBS station is running a promo for a "important special report" -- How can you tell if your loved one is headed towards a wedding crisis! As if this is some serious disease, like post-partum depression, an EPIDEMIC...

Do we all need a healthy dose of perspective?  Prolly all the time.