Humans have a fundamental need to create and maintain a narrative for their lives in which the universe is not implacable and heartless, that terrible things do not happen at random, and that catastrophe can be avoided if you are vigilant and responsible.
- Ed Hickling
Two questions to ponder: Is this true about humans? And is this true about the universe?
(click here for full article on child hyperthermia. Warning: Reading this will make you sad. The article is well written and thought provoking, it won a Pulitzer, but it is difficult reading.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Sad, but a great read. I've heard about random child hyperthermia cases here and there, but never knew the seriousness of the matter. I always thought they were just random tragedies that would not be repeated anytime soon I had no idea they were so frequent.
Is the quote true about humans? I would guess that most people think it's true, but I don't think it is, because in my opinion, it's not possible.
To me, saying something like, "catastrophe can be avoided if you are vigilant and responsible," is like saying, "Mistakes can be avoided if you're perfect." It's a true statement, but impossible to fulfill. We're human, and no matter how hard we try to be completely vigilant and responsible, there's going to be a time we aren't- which is when a random terrible thing could happen. And as much as I'd like to believe in what Hickling says, it's like believing the impossible is possible, in my opinion.
And how would Hickling view a terrorist attack? No matter how vigilant or responsible I was, I could not stop something like a terror attack that was totally unbeknownst to me. The catastrophe could not be avoided on my end.
Is the quote true about the universe? Again I say no. Because I believe it's not true about humans, that random terrible things can occur despite best efforts for avoidance, I believe that the universe is thus capable of being heartless. I suppose the many cases brought forth in the article could be my examples. No matter how you try for the best, there will always be some tough moments that you can do nothing about.
Just out of curiousity...do you think the parents should be tried for manslaughter? I'm definitely in the 'no' camp, but I'd be interested in reading your thoughts.
No question that the universe can be heartless, and that everyone will struggle with adversity at some point in their life. I think most people accept that.
But I think most people, although certainly not all, believe that the universe (a euphemism for God?) is just. That if they work hard, try their best, and try to do right, that they will be rewarded for their good behavior. Call it guardian angels, call it karma, call it whatever.
Not that bad things CAN'T happen to good people, but rather that bad things happen to good people less frequently than average, and/or that bad things happen to bad people more frequently than average.
I think the decision to prosecute should be made on a case-by-case basis.
If it's clearly a case of forgetfulness, like in the case of Miles Harrison, I think it is absolutely, flat-out wrong to prosecute. What would be the point? Whose interest does that serve?
But in some cases it isn't so clear cut. Like if a child was being rambunctious, and the parent left the child in the car as a "time out" while they went grocery shopping. I think that cases like that can cross the line into abuse/neglect. And should be prosecuted accordingly.
I guess I had a very literal interpretation of the quote. From the quote alone, it sounds like Hickling is being very concrete.
The sense I get is that Heckling is a strong believer in free will, and that ultimately any path we take is of our own doing. He would be one who would be for murder charges in the hyperthermia cases. "...terrible things do not happen at random..."
Hickling isn't saying that bad that bad things don't happen at random. He's saying that people need to tell themselves that bad things don't happen at random.
Like when I'm driving, I tell myself that pedestrians will always look both ways before crossing the street, and that even if they don't, I will be able to see them and stop before I run them over. If I didn't tell myself that, I'm not sure I could ever get behind the wheel.
I tell myself a lot of little narratives like that. That's what I think Hickling is getting at.
Okay, I think I get what you're saying =). And that makes sense to me. It's the belief that the universe isn't heartless and that terrible things do not happen at random. I think I was missing the 'belief' part in my first interpretation.
Post a Comment