A Society In Denial

Many modern Americans unknowingly suffer with in denial. They hear what they want to hear, and are deaf to ideas that are hard for them to deal with. They confuse dreams with the unbearable truth, leaving them blind and unprepared when the unthinkable occurs. Often times, tragedies occur because people are unaware of what is really going on. People are deaf and blind to reality, living in fantasy because they are incapable of handling the painful truths in life.

Many administrators were both deaf and blind of the risks of Cho Seung-hui, the shooter behind the April 16, 2007 attacks at Virginia Tech. Though Cho had a horrible background, administrators still considered him to be no harm. Teachers complained about his creative writing, which contained more violence than what is acceptable. Young women complained of being stalked by him. Roommates claimed he was suicidal. His own classmates did not even want to attend class with him. These warnings from several people concerned about Cho's behavior were voiceless. Virginia Tech's administration did not take any precautions and simply went about normal activity, ignoring all complaints. Eventually it resulted in tragedy. Thirty two lives were gone forever merely because administrators were unaware of the dangers of Cho Seung-hui.

Citizens all over the world fail to realize the severity behind global warming as well. They are deaf and blind to how the environment is being destroyed, and are unknowledgeable of the consequences that will be faced as a result of their stubbornness. More and more gases are being emitted into the environment. Temperatures are increasing in average each year. Storms are getting worse and worse. People do not want to hear it. They say, "temperatures always fluctuate." The unknowledgeable consider global warming to be in God's control and they think there is nothing that can be done to reverse it. People claim, " What is done is done." Truth is, global warming may not be stopped, but much can be done to slow it down. Recently on the news, reporters mentioned how arctic caps are melting 30 years ahead of what scientists originally estimated. People are still deaf and blind after these results. Not until we have more tragedies like the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, or other strong storms will people finally realize that something has to be done. By that time, it may be too late.

For myself, blindness and deafness to painful truths has hit close to home. My grandmother has diabetes, high blood pressure, and she is overweight. My family continuously warned her that she had to eat better and exercise. She did not want to hear it though. She did not see the dangers behind her bad eating habits, and lacked the knowledge of what the consequences would be. She would say, "You have to eat so much shit before you die." Little did she know, by eating unhealthy and not exercising, she was killing herself. This past October, she had a heart attack and was in the hospital for nearly three months. All she would say while she was in the hospital was "how could this happen to me?", but her in denial led to tragedy that almost cost her her life. Unfortunately she had to open her ears and eyes and learn the hard way.

People are deaf and blind to the reality that is too painful for them to handle. They refuse to acknowledge the truths in life simply because they are unknowledgeable. This ignorance may allow people to escape the sooth for a time, but the consequences will be even more breathtaking. People need to start facing the problems in the world today while they are in our hands instead of ignoring them and considering them uncontrollable. Eventually, if no steps are taken, even more tragedies will occur and they may be last.