Bleeding Heart Liberal, Canadian or just a human with a heart?
There was an article about South Korea rescuing hostages from South Korea being held by Somali pirates. 8 pirates were killed.
The comments were all "Nuke Somalia" "Yay, now let's go kill the rest of the pirates" "If only the US dealt with terrorists this way" etc, etc. And unfortunately, they weren't being sarcastic.
I couldn't help it. I commented that "I am very glad for the safety of the hostages, but life had been lost. I'm not saying there was another way, only that somewhere, someone was mourning those that died."
The replies to this were:
"Spoken like a true bleeding heart Liberal. We should kill them too."
"Fine, you go there and ask them to stop and see what happens"
And one "I agree with you"
My inner response to the first was "Actually - Spoken like a Canadian, but that could be worse to some."
And I'm wondering why it is that I think death is sad is so offensive to some people? Sadly, it seems, to a majority of people. Scanning through the comments again today, I didn't find many sharing my sentiment.
It's not like I said "Those bad South Koreans! They shouldn't have killed those poor pirates!" I just think that there's always parts of the story we don't know.
I'm one of those people who rarely complain about food and usually eat what's in front of me. I'm grateful I have food. I'm grateful I'm not scouring dump sites for garbage to fuel a fire that doesn't keep my family warm. I'm grateful I have a place to live that isn't on the streets, that's protected from the elements and that the cold or heat doesn't penetrate to the point of the walls only serving to keep strangers out.
I'm grateful that I'm the kind of person who asks if someone is okay. Once, a friend and I were walking in Jackson Square, planning on a movie and something to eat. A girl in her teens was sitting on a bench, crying. A fresh black eye coloured her face. Parents walked by. Teenagers walked by. Elderly people walked by. I watched the entire time we approached and not one person - of at least 50 - talked to her. I made my friend stop. I asked the girl if she needed help. She said no, but that she was worried. The person who'd given her the black eye and some of their friends were waiting for her, having been removed from the mall by security. So I invited her to the movie. My friend thought I was crazy. What if those 'friends' of this girl's got angry at us? I said by the time the movie was over, they probably would have given up. And if not, I had my cell phone, we could go back inside and find security... we'd be fine.
So I convinced the girl to come with us. We took her to the bathroom to wash her face, went to the movie and took her to Tim Horton's to get a coffee afterwards. There was no one outside. I made sure she got home safely. I think just gave her a bus ticket, and waited at the stop with her. Just the same, the girl felt a lot better. I made her call me to tell me when she was home safely. We didn't become friends or anything, but I've seen her a few times. She's fine. She always smiles at me, even if neither of us has time to stop and talk.
There was a man sitting on the grass, his shoe off and rubbing his ankle. I didn't approach him or anything, but I did stop. I asked if he was okay. He was stunned and thanked me for asking, assuring me he just had a sore ankle that never went away and since it was nice out, he thought he'd give it a rest.
I don't understand people. I don't understand why I am so strange that these acts were so...profound to the people involved.
I don't understand how I have walked down a busy street, crying my heart out, and been completely ignored.
I'm glad I'm 'strange'. I hope that never changes.
If that makes me a true bleeding heart Liberal, the so be it. I'd rather be like I am than be like my friend who thought I was stupid for trying to take care of young girl because it could be 'dangerous'. I know there are risks and I do what I can to avoid those risks...but it doesn't take much to offer a little sympathy.
The comments were all "Nuke Somalia" "Yay, now let's go kill the rest of the pirates" "If only the US dealt with terrorists this way" etc, etc. And unfortunately, they weren't being sarcastic.
I couldn't help it. I commented that "I am very glad for the safety of the hostages, but life had been lost. I'm not saying there was another way, only that somewhere, someone was mourning those that died."
The replies to this were:
"Spoken like a true bleeding heart Liberal. We should kill them too."
"Fine, you go there and ask them to stop and see what happens"
And one "I agree with you"
My inner response to the first was "Actually - Spoken like a Canadian, but that could be worse to some."
And I'm wondering why it is that I think death is sad is so offensive to some people? Sadly, it seems, to a majority of people. Scanning through the comments again today, I didn't find many sharing my sentiment.
It's not like I said "Those bad South Koreans! They shouldn't have killed those poor pirates!" I just think that there's always parts of the story we don't know.
I'm one of those people who rarely complain about food and usually eat what's in front of me. I'm grateful I have food. I'm grateful I'm not scouring dump sites for garbage to fuel a fire that doesn't keep my family warm. I'm grateful I have a place to live that isn't on the streets, that's protected from the elements and that the cold or heat doesn't penetrate to the point of the walls only serving to keep strangers out.
I'm grateful that I'm the kind of person who asks if someone is okay. Once, a friend and I were walking in Jackson Square, planning on a movie and something to eat. A girl in her teens was sitting on a bench, crying. A fresh black eye coloured her face. Parents walked by. Teenagers walked by. Elderly people walked by. I watched the entire time we approached and not one person - of at least 50 - talked to her. I made my friend stop. I asked the girl if she needed help. She said no, but that she was worried. The person who'd given her the black eye and some of their friends were waiting for her, having been removed from the mall by security. So I invited her to the movie. My friend thought I was crazy. What if those 'friends' of this girl's got angry at us? I said by the time the movie was over, they probably would have given up. And if not, I had my cell phone, we could go back inside and find security... we'd be fine.
So I convinced the girl to come with us. We took her to the bathroom to wash her face, went to the movie and took her to Tim Horton's to get a coffee afterwards. There was no one outside. I made sure she got home safely. I think just gave her a bus ticket, and waited at the stop with her. Just the same, the girl felt a lot better. I made her call me to tell me when she was home safely. We didn't become friends or anything, but I've seen her a few times. She's fine. She always smiles at me, even if neither of us has time to stop and talk.
There was a man sitting on the grass, his shoe off and rubbing his ankle. I didn't approach him or anything, but I did stop. I asked if he was okay. He was stunned and thanked me for asking, assuring me he just had a sore ankle that never went away and since it was nice out, he thought he'd give it a rest.
I don't understand people. I don't understand why I am so strange that these acts were so...profound to the people involved.
I don't understand how I have walked down a busy street, crying my heart out, and been completely ignored.
I'm glad I'm 'strange'. I hope that never changes.
If that makes me a true bleeding heart Liberal, the so be it. I'd rather be like I am than be like my friend who thought I was stupid for trying to take care of young girl because it could be 'dangerous'. I know there are risks and I do what I can to avoid those risks...but it doesn't take much to offer a little sympathy.