Measuring everything with Hiroshima-Nagasaki

Today's topic is on the heavy side but it has been weighing on my mind lately and I felt I needed to share my thoughts on it.

Everyone is aware of the tragic events of Hiroshima-Nagasaki at the end of WWII in August 1945. When America hit the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons that devastated the area permanently and killed over 300.000 people. It is one of the most tragic events of the 20th century and is the only known instant of nuclear weapons having been used in warfare in the world. It is an extremely complicated, controversial and difficult event to explain and come to terms with and it's my feeling that it can never be explained properly. But that does not mean we shouldn't try.

Earlier this year, my local library held an exhibition about the events which featured stories of the events, real items from it like singed shirts, shoes and books, pictures and an explanation of the effects this has had upon the area, the Japanese nation and how it is being dealt with today. It was a very well received exhibition and it affected everyone that went there. I know that for me personally, it was devastating to see it. Devastating but necessary. I know many teachers brought high-school students to the exhibition and it affected them a lot, many parents took their children as well to teach them about this difficult history and raise awareness of the issue.

And how does this relate to the TV world?

It seems to me that every single time my favorite TV shows deal with nuclear weapons and distribution of them (or just bombs in general) they always reference Hiroshima-Nagasaki. But not to acknowledge these events or attempt to deal with them. No, it is used as a measuring device. I cannot count how many times I've hear something along the lines of: "The nuclear device is so big it can kill up to 3 million people, that is ten times as much as Hiroshima-Nagasaki". And then all the characters nod seriously. Am I the only one that feels that people are trying to upstage the death toll of Hiroshima-Nagasaki when they do this? It's like: "Yeah sure, those bombs killed 300.000 people but our fictional bombs, they are much deadlier. Take that Hiroshima-Nagasaki!"

NCIS has had this, Castle and NCIS:LA. And for the life of me I cannot understand why. Hiroshima-Nagasaki is what it is - a devastating and terrorizing event with immense political controversy attached to it. It should never be used as a measuring stick for fictional death toll on television. 

It crossed my mind that when measuring death toll I have never heard certain things. I have never heard people comparing death tolls to the lives lost in the Holocaust, the tsunami in 2005, the earthquake in Haiti, The Armenian genocide, the Boznian and Serbian civil war in the early 90's, the civil war in America in the 1860's, the number of people killed by Stalin and so many other events. And it is obvious why, to use those events as a measuring stick for fictional death toll would be highly disrespectful and ignorant. 

So why then is it fair-game to use Hiroshima-Nagasaki as a measuring stick? Devastating events when masses of people die, be it due to war or natural causes should never be used flippantly on TV and never ever as measuring sticks. They should and can be dealt with deftly and with respect. But never ever for the sake of pure entertainment.

I have sometimes written about here my worries on how TV shows approach reality and how it can shift our perception of it. TV represents heightened and freaky reality and should always be taken at a surface level. But when TV reality starts treating the real reality flippantly and without caution and respect, we are on a dangerous path. It seems to me that the TV world is partly on that path already but it can be changed and it should. Otherwise, we are in dangers of starting to approach historical events as if they do not matter, as if history and it's effect isn't real. And that is something we cannot allow to happen. 

(And in case people need a measuring stick instead of Hiroshima-Nagasaki. Iceland has a population of roughly 320.000 people, similar to the death toll of Hiroshima-Nagasaki. So just reference the Icelandic population instead. Much easier, inoffensive and will make a lot of Icelanders happy)

What matters, what not - terror in one place, excess in another

Today's topic is on the heavy side. It has weighed on my mind in the past few days and I have organized my thoughts enough to write coherently about it.

Normally, I do not care a fig about award shows. They go above and beyond me and I have other better things to think about. The most I do is to keep up with the Oscars - only because I love films. The last time I watched an award show for just 5 seconds I felt repulsed. Somehow the showmanship, how excessive it was, the gaudiness, the falsehood of it, the display of riches, the pretentiousness, just the sheer notion of it made me feel sick.

Last Saturday morning, a terrifying terrorist attack was committed in Nairobi, Kenya. It has taken three days to overcome the terrorists and it is truly an international incident, both in regards to the perpetrators and the victims. There was also an explosion in a church in Pakistan which killed almost 80 people and an explosion in Iraq as well...
I have followed the news over the past few days. It is kind of hard to articulate my feelings on it - it ranges from fear to sincere sympathy and endless frustration with the world in which we live today.

Then I realize the Emmy's had just been hosted. And for some arbitrary reason I listened to the beginning monologue of the show - and quit after 2 minutes. I couldn't listen anymore after realizing that this show essentially revolved around people patting themselves on the back for producing TV shows (American) in an golden age of television. Where there were 6000 people in the room and 34 million people watching. It took me back to the Oscars this year when it was stated that the entire world was watching. Yes, quite apparently the entire world follows award ceremony which deals with American films pretty much exclusively and with American actors only.

It seems mind boggling that there are so many award shows hosted every year - Grammy's, Emmy's, Oscar's, Tony's, SAG, Golden Globe, MTV/MTV teen - I mean how often is it needed to celebrate achievements within the American entertainment industry? How often is the parade needed?

And then it hit me - there were people suffering in Kenya and a new threat has just arisen in terrorism, there were people dying in Middle-Eastern countries, civil wars, poverty, economic troubles - at the same time an award show was being hosted, a real glitz and glam and showmanship award show, celebrating achievements in TV shows in America. This paradox is just crazy. Absolutely crazy. In one place there is human suffering and terror - in another there is a display of wealth and superficiality. Both at the same time, in the same world, both involving real people.

I am not going to pretend that things like this are not happening all the time - I live a privileged life myself here in the North (I am not saying I ain't guilty in this paradox as well!). But that does not make this right in any way, just because things are this way does not mean they have to be. And it seems kind of mind boggling this paradox, mind boggling and sickening.

So as I observe this paradox - terror in one place - award show (otherwise known as display of wealth) in another - in the third everyday normal life of a university student.

 I choose the things I care about, I choose my own attitude, I choose what annoys me and what not - Today I choose caring about this paradox and being reminded of my own privileges while at the same time reaffirming my own thoughts toward certain things. 

Sympathy and empathy have nothing to do with race - an angry outburst about racism

One of the things media and news outlets are horrifyingly good at is deciding what people are worthy to be written about and who not. One of the most tragic things about media is the fact that when a Caucasian person dies, is kidnapped, has an accident, survives, has a heroic story; the media is careful to report on it and give it much coverage. Whenever something happens to a Caucasian person the media is all over it When the same happens to a person of other races the media does not care nearly as much. The coverage is much less and interest in reporting on the case fades quickly.

This makes me want to scream. The way the media reports on people based on their skin color. The lighter the better. The darker you are, the less you matter. Sorry, but the media only cares about the white. It is hypocrisy at its worst and I HATE it.

But there is one thing I also hate. When people decide not to care about news or what has happen abroad in the world or bad accidents based on skin color. Because many people are guilty of the same hypocrisy. They do not care about others unless the people are the same race as themselves. This can apply anywhere.
BUT, that does not mean everyone reacts to news like that. It is not as if all Caucasian people care only about Caucasians, All black people care only about black, all Hispanic people care only about Hispanics, All Asians care only about Asians and all native/indigenous people care only about indigenous people. So we have created a nice stereotype that states that people only care about others that are of their same race, the rest does not matter one bit.

The world is more complicated than that and human nature is as well. People all over the world love, respect and have sympathy for other people irregardless of their skin color and ethnicity. They react to sad news from all over the world with sympathy and respect and express condolences and offer support. They are aware of the media bias and fight back.

So it makes my blood boil when I read blogs from people that state they don't care or will not offer their sympathy for other accidents or terror attacks where white people are involved. They will not do it because the media/people do not care about when people of other races die.

It makes me wonder whether people watched the terrorist events in Norway in 2011 and decided 'Nah, Norwegians are mostly white so I don't care'. Or whether people watched the collapse of the factory building in Bangladesh and decided 'Nah, they're brown, I do not care'. Because, people's death only matters based on their skin color.

Can I just scream?!

First of all, all shootings, terrorist attacks, accidents, natural disasters warrant our sympathy no matter where they happen or who was involved. A persons life is worth so much and they are so loved no matter where in the world you go. When a person is shot or killed it is always a tragic, horrifying event. The same applies for any person that inhabits this planet. Race has nothing to do with the tragedy of losing a human life. Every human death that is unnecessary and uncalled for is tragic and deserves our sympathy. Every human life is worth the same, irrespective of what the media blasts out.

You see, I am white so I shouldn't care. I should only care about white people and what happens to them.  Because some stereotype has decided that I, because I am white, care only about people that share the same skin color. And I should not notice the media bias because of course white people matter more than brown or black. Except I do not. So excuse me if the Bangladesh victims are on my mind. Excuse that I cannot forget Rehtaeh Parsons or Audrey Potts. Excuse if the death of Trayvon Martin still affects me.

People all over the world are sorry that they do not apply to that neat little stereotype. They are sorry that they see beyond skin color and race and care about people because they exist, because they are alive and have the same right as everyone else.

Except, no one is ever going to apologize. Because this is a fundamental step towards reaching a more equal world. Loving and caring for others is what makes us human.

Racial problems and racial tension is very prevalent and affect our society. But if we are going to continue this charade we are never going to get anywhere. We will never reach a world where races can live together in harmony and respect if we continue deciding that our sympathy only lies with people of our race. Sympathy, empathy, respect, outreach and love are the tools we need to care for and about each other and reach a better world without racism.

Respect and sensitivity - realizing that there is real life, real tragedy, real people beyond the TV facade

One value which I strive for in my life and actions is respect. Respect towards myself, society, other people, different cultures and traditions, children, languages, life and reality. I consider the virtue of respect to be one of the most important ones to strive for each and every day and in everything I do. Not that I always manage to do it but I try. I believe it is extremely important.

As I watch my favorite TV shows Castle, NCIS, NCIS:LA and Criminal Minds I am both entertained and challenged. There is always at the back of my mind the thought of that what they are dealing with, what they take on and turn into fictional material is based on reality, often a sad and terrible reality. It is easy to turn terror, sadness, panic, tragedy and pain into fictional storytelling on TV. But I always wonder, do the TV producers and the actors realize that what they are dealing with is real. Do they acknowledge or think of the fact that what they portray, glamorize, judge or even mock on their shows isn't fictional. It is reality. And reality needs to be treated with respect. Because it sometimes seems they forget.

I like both NCIS shows very much. But I can help but get a bitter taste in my mouth every time I read an article about the rise of homeless army/navy veterans and what they are up against when they return from a war-torn place. I am in no way supportive of the institutions of armies or navies. I oppose them. But I also see the people behind it and I acknowledge that they sacrifice and risk everything to protect. An army/navy veterans have saved people, protected and made places safer. Here in my area, soldiers died to protect my own country. None of them was from it and they still came here and protected us. They have lived a more difficult reality that most of us will ever experience and seem the worst of mankind. And yet they return and often find themselves facing another terrifying reality of homelessness, being without a job, very bad mental illness and dealing with the shock of returning. It sickens me.

I think about the fact that the actors are paid very generously to pretend to those people. To pretend to have army training, to have been in a war torn country, to have made endless sacrifices, to risk their mental health, well being and their family. They get paid for pretending to have been involved in a terrifying reality when those that were truly involved often do not get what they need or even the acknowledgement. When TV takes on those things they turn into something else than what they are. Respect and sensitivity is forgotten and ignored for the sake of entertainment.

How can that be right?

How did we come to the place that it matters more to pretend to be involved in a terrifying reality rather than having actually been in that reality?

Somehow we managed to turn reality into a showmanship, where fiction matters more than what is really going on.

This plays in with respect and sensitivity. When portraying people and dealing with matters such as war, soldiers, conflict and whatever is connected with that it needs to be done with respect and sensitivity. And sometimes, that is lost in my opinion. It is easy to throw out words and reference events when it's fiction but there needs to be constant recognition and respect towards the reality that fiction is taken from.

And sometimes I wonder. Do we realize that or are we happy to continue pretending and refusing to see what is right in front of us? Have we lost our respect for reality for the sake of being entertained?

I hope with all my heart we haven't.