The key word there is almost.
I do hope they catch the Boston bomber(s) and that whoever it may be is actually brought to justice. It’s okay to pray for justice. So long as we know what we are actually praying for.
But part of me hopes that they never catch the bomber. I say this because of the irresponsibility of our media and because of our growing culture of narcissism. At present we don’t know the identity of the bomber(s). We know nothing of his/her story. We can’t put a face to it. There are no stories asking, “What caused _____ to do this?”
Because of that our attention has to focus on the victims and the pain. On the morning after we feel the pain of a family that lost their eight-year-old son. A young man, full of life, eating ice cream one second, in eternity the next. In these moments we ask all the questions that pain causes us to ask. We grieve. We mourn. We hope. We try to make sense of shattered remains. We hurt.
Once the perpetrator is found our eyes will turn away from the victim to the person behind the attacks. We will know more about him than we know about that eight-year-old boy. His face will be plastered over every news station. He will go down in history. And our pain will turn to outrage.
Somewhere a teenager or a desperate narcissist of any age will view this perpetrator with a different set of eyes. He’ll begin seeing this perpetrator as successful, accomplishing the fame and attention that this failed narcissist would like to achieve himself. His eyes will not see the victims. His heart will not feel the pain. Mass murder, bombing, terror, will now become a means to an end; namely getting his face on every newspaper in America.
That’s why I almost hope they never catch the Boston bomber. This way we can’t make another “hero”. We won’t be able to quickly turn our hearts away from our pain or away from the victims; we will be forced to feel instead of pontificate.
Or maybe when they do find the perpetrator we’ll have the chutzpah to keep our eyes and attention where it belongs—on the victims, and not on a shameful person engaging in pathetic acts of terrorism.
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Mike regularly blogs at Borrowed Light. You can follow him on Twitter (@mikeleake).
In what ways is our culture messed up? It’s kinda hard to count, isn’t it?
Good stuff.
I agree with you. And I agree with what the judge said to the “shoe bomber”.
You can read it all here, and it is certainly most applicable here. And it’s also worthy of reading, so go check.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/shoebomb.asp
Mike,
Thanks. May your tribe increase.
Blessings
Marilyn Manson couldn’t have said it better himself.
what?
Blake, you’ve said some strange things on here, but this one goes to the head of the odd comment class.
I’m not sure whether to ask you for clarification or just ignore this. But I guess I will ask you what on earth would make you say something like this.
Wow.
It was the entire point of his name and music to satirize American culture’s obsession with giving fame and celebrity to vices especially superficial vanity (Marilyn Monroe) and violence (Charles Manson). He’s stated as much in interviews often throughout his career. I just thought it was ironic that Mike is challenging us (in a way I wholly agree with btw) along the same lines Marilyn Manson has been for more than two decades now.
Thanks for the explanation, Blake.
Mike,
I think you have hit on the right note here. The way our media runs away from the victims and to the murderer says so much about what our society lusts for. We want revenge, judgement and condemnation. It is just a feel-better mentality for us, not the victims. However, the media only scratches the itch of society. The media constantly evaluates what the public desires to see and we blame the media for being so cold. Maybe if the ratings were different our world (Christians) wouldn’t be so affected. Maybe the media is just a barometer of our nation’s barometric sin. It is subtle, but many so-called Christians have already bought into this mentality.
Great post.
…and people still say they don’t need Jesus.
Mike, have you considered that perhaps the “victims'” families do not share your view? Could it be that pursuing the perps whatever the cost is at least part of the way to “focus on the victims.”
I do get the point you are making but I don’t think catching the monsters as quickly as possible negates concern for the victims.
Absolutely. Solid point.
I’m more talking about the way the media focuses on the perp. Not so much about him being brought to justice.
Mike,
Again, I get what you are saying I agree we seem to forget “why” it is we go after the perpetrator. Justice aids healing. I agree the media does not seem to really get that point.
Nice article.
I agree about the media turning it into a victimless crime by consintrating on the scum….but they could find him and do it in secret by turning the scum over to the family to deal with.
One comforting thing is, there is no doubt but that justice will be done. At least, that is the position of the Believer. Governments are established in order to pursue the unjust and make things right, as Paul ironically tells Rome in Romans 13, but seldom do we get it 100% right. Regardless of this, God will use it for our good. I can’t imagine how… but then again, I neither need to, or have a desire to 🙂
I would prefer a closing statement at the end of a news day “a few months ago the Boston bomber has been apprehended, tried, sentenced, and justice executed. Much useful information to keep the American people safe has come to light as a result of questioning.”
A good word.
I’m glad they catch the guy. Glad for Boston, and the families hurt by these worthless guys, and hope the guy coaght gets the death penalty. At the same time, I am disappointed in our national media. Not once did they update on Friday about a tragedy that so far killed 14 people, injured 200, and 60 still missing, without a murderer. Yet, they focused on a killer, and drama. They rather publicize the acts of a terrorist, than report on a town devastated. I understand why Boston was the lead story, but to not once update America on West, Texas is a shame. These people committing these mass crimes are low lives, and all they want is attention. Well, U.S. media is giving them that. Ridiculous. Don’t kid yourself President Obama called them out with his Boston response.