This post has been circling for
quite some time, despite its length, and has gained somewhat national acclaim. I
read it and also reacted strongly—it has quite the universal appeal, and I
hardly doubt that you will react strongly— and I encourage you to read it too.
In short, the article shows that by
showing people love unless they’re gay, Christian, Atheist, male, female, rich,
ugly, whatever goes against every religion and secular teaching practically
ever. And it is also a sin against our own humanity.
It follows no current issue: it is
not events-based. Yet it is timely. It is biased and comments-based. Yet there
is truth to it. It does not address the government or the election or policy of
any sort: it is not political. Yet it bears political consequence.
It aims to affect behavior, and in
a way, it transcends the role of the traditional media. While we have a few
shining jewels in the history of the American press that have created an outcry
of support, a burst of passion, a movement of love; while we can boast a few
rare and beautiful occasions that we were united by the media, that we created
change… these are rare.
And yet the blogosphere causes us
to think—not just about others, but to introspect, to think of our shortcomings
and our cruelties. To think of how we treat other people and how we perceive
other people. And it reminds us that those “others” aren’t just other—they’re
human.
Can the traditional media do this?
Certainly. But it is rare. Traditional media is drifting too close to the
business model, stooping too low to the bottom line. It regurgitates as many
events as possible, hoping that any one of them may bring in enough interest,
enough money to keep the company afloat, or at least the CEO’s and Presidents’
pockets heavily lined. But where is social responsibility?
Is this the role of the new media?
God, I hope so. When these things go viral, do we not show a demand for this
supply? People still have the hearts, the compassion for the social responsibility
model. And the internet offers the space for multiple-page articles that tackle
real social issues.
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