The Only Thing We Have to Fear

    Fear has always been a mortal object that drives us. It keeps us alive in moments of true danger and takes advantage of our brains to keep us on edge. When used properly its one of the more useful emotions. However when played on, when it is manipulated it turns from a helper to a crippling vice. It can destruct our sense of security, break down our minds, and fray what little sanity we start out with.
    I understand that the bombing in Boston was a terrible tragedy and i would agree with that. I feel for the family's of those lost in the explosion. I am truly sorrowful of the events that transpired. This does not give the media the right to play to footage of the bombing, of people dying on the news multiple times in one single hour. Even now it s a focal point of the media's investigation. You can Google any national news website and find multiple articles detailing graphical maps, computerized reenactments, and other similar showings. For an unknown amount of time shortly after the bombing that was a picture circulating on national website of one of the cameramen before it a disclaimer that the following picture was not appropriate for sensitive viewers. If you ignore that  a picture of the man with his legs literally blown off is shown. They display him like some kind of monster without legs as if this will help us understand further that this truly was a tragedy.
     I know the situation, I understand people died, but shouldn't we then give them respect and mourn them without having to be bombarded with news coverage and media drivel at every single turn. To look at it from the stand point of a family who lost someone in the bombing. Every time you turn on the TV go on the internet and even pick up a paper, all you see is more pictures and words detailing the carnage that took your loved one away.

An Art worth living for

     My colleague Alec Bainter has made a very interesting point in his blog of political insights. In his article A Need for Art he discusses the issue of the lack of art teachings in colleges. Art for me has always been an integral part of life. I love music and sketching and every form of individuality of human life. However a living to be made by these forms is hard to come by. It is simply not prudent to teach children the arts and tell them to go make a living that way. At least that what Ive always been taught. My own family doesn't support my art endeavors.
     Shouldn't that be all the more reason for schools to have programs and events that teach those that truly want to make a living with their talent. I don't believe that just small colleges and communities should have these but the larger institutions as well. With so many young people in the world desiring to spread their individuality through their arts why not teach them how to do so and give them an education they could truly use. That way we would have more students and more people living a life they are truly happy with.