TORRANCE TRIBUNE August 2, 2012 Page 3 A Student’s Perspective Empathy Not Apathy By Glen Abalayan, individuals have even offered their own accustomed to calamities and merely daily lives, we should not let it turn us into Torrance High School Student services and donated substantial amounts shrugged off the tragedy. But who can blame apathetic creatures and use it as an excuse Tragedies have always exposed the best of money as their way of assisting the them, as the news bombards its viewers not to sympathize with those affected. and worst in people. It has always been, victims. In the days following the incident, with daily reports of rape, robberies and The acts of selflessness shown in Aurora and will continue to be, true ever since hundreds of people all over the country, murders as if it was something to expect should set an example to people on how our species developed sentiments. As the including actor Christian Bale, who played in daily life. These daily reports, which others should coexist and cooperate for a saying goes, there are always two sides as Batman in the movie, joined candlelight mostly contain negative content, gradually common cause. To not follow the model to every story and just like in every story, vigils to pay their respects to the victims. condition viewers to become apathetic and set forth by those before us will only take there are the righteous and the sinful. In President Barack Obama and his opponent, belittle matters that would be considered us a step backwards in becoming the world one end are those who willfully give up a Mitt Romney, have also decided to put their front-page news in past decades. A deadly we envisioned to be. It is simple--mankind piece of their pride to help someone less political and ideological differences aside to freeway shooting, which could have been will never move forward until the ethnic and fortunate. On the other side of the spectrum mourn with those affected in the incident. headline news before, would now be used ideological barriers which separate us are are the individuals who give in to their During the minutes in which the shooting as filler between the day’s main headline broken. Hatred will only beget more hatred arrogance and exploit one’s grief for their occurred, individuals overlooked another’s and the quarterly weather reports. In the and this cycle will always continue until own selfish motives. The tragedies which different skin color, religion and background high-speed world that we live in, some empathy replaces apathy and observance occurred throughout our lifetime, and those and instead considered them as their own individuals expect a story worthy of three replaces inactivity. • before us, will always be remembered in brother, sister and companion. This gath- pages to be condensed into a three-minute history by how people choose react to the ering of individuals from various walks blurb. circumstances given to them. of life assisting complete strangers shows But the fact is that what most people The disaster in Aurora, Colorado is mankind in its most altruistic form. It is consider a simple news report is a disaster an instance when humanity’s integrity is the most basic, but effective statement of to the ones affected. Although it may seem exposed as well as its wickedness. The empathy and selflessness the world will insignificant to those viewing it safely at incident needs no introduction, as anyone ever come by and shows what the human home, millions of lives have been changed who woke up on Saturday, July 21 is now race as a whole should aspire to achieve- forever through events that have been over- very familiar to how far hatred can shat- -true brotherhood by setting aside petty looked by most viewers. For example, a ter even the most blameless souls. But in differences to help one another. short two-minute blurb about gang violence contrast to the horrors of the evening were Unfortunately, apathy and sour jokes have in South LA would rarely be listened to also small glimpses of hope and heroism. also resonated in communities and forums and would most likely be forgotten once In the midst of such confusion were a hand- and show the evils some individuals choose the commercials come. Unfortunately, a ful of individuals who set aside their petty to do during such a tragic moment. I found news story like the one listed above would differences to save those around them. One it odd when I visited Facebook and hardly hardly scratch the surface in showing how of those brave few were Stephanie Davies, saw a status about the incident and, to my such an event has changed the lives of who saved her best friend’s life by apply- disgust, even encountered a few untimely those affected and hardly gives the victim’s ing pressure on her friend’s wounded neck, and bitter jokes about the incident during a families the sympathy they deserve. and Jon Blunk, who saved his girlfriend’s visit to a few Internet forums. It is one thing In the interconnected society which we life by using his own body to protect her. in failing to act, but completely despicable now live in, it is unacceptable that victims Within minutes the effects of the incident when someone makes such a tragic incident of such tragedies still mourn alone and spread throughout social media sites and into an untimely joke. This is nothing but others exploit this resource to rudely poke quickly became filled with people offering disrespect and an injustice to everyone af- fun at such a sacred moment. Although their condolences, prayers and thoughts to fected and killed in the calamity. our minds may have become numbed to those affected. A large number of generous It appears that some people have grown the bombardment of negative news in our Looking for the Torrance Tribune? You can find us at all the following locations as well as our Web site: www.heraldpublications.com Want a subscription? For $95 a year, we will mail a newspaper to your home. Just mail us a check. We will use the address on the check for your subscription address, unless instructions state otherwise. Mail the check to Herald Publications, 312 E. ImperialAve., El Segundo, 90245. Please add “Torrance Subscription” in the memo line. 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Torrrance 8.2.12
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