If you listen to the media these days there is a constant theme. Be alert. Watch your neighbor and those around you. If anything or anyone looks suspicious point it out to a law enforcement officer. Well, I understand the thinking behind this but I think there is a healthier way to change our culture. I agree that we need to be alert. We need to watch the behavior of others, but for a completely different reason and with a completely different purpose. What would happen to our society if we all were trying to catch one another in the act of doing something good? So much good is done quietly behind the scenes. Quiet people doing what needs to be done….taking care of the elderly, feeding homeless, supporting all varieties of charity, reading to kids, all without any recognition. Moms and dad who stay up all night with sick children and then still go to work. Teachers who go the extra mile and purchase school supplies for their classroom with their own money. Nurses who help patients retain their dignity when no one else is looking. The list is endless…..so why,oh why, do we not focus on these things? We rarely say thank you. We just take all this for granted. If something evil happens it has all the attention of the media! It is not that it should not be reported, but the laser focus on what is bad in our society and the total blackout about what is good is something none of us should tolerate. The media only cares about what sells. They do not care about our safety or our mental health. So lets send a message about what sells. Turn off the bad news after hearing it once…after all, that is all you need to know. And if you ever see a good news story, send an email to whatever network aired it and say thank you!
As a physician I can attest that many in our culture are affected negatively by the “news”. Patients worry more about ISIS than they do about their own health. Our teens are worried about all sorts of things when what they really need to worry about is getting prepared for college or trade school. Turn off the media and you will be happier and healthier