There is a scene at the beginning of the movie, "Children of Men" where a crowd of people are standing around in a cafe weeping over the death of the youngest person in the world. In this story, all the women of the world are infertile and are unable to have children. So in this reality, each young person who dies is another signpost that marks the end of the human race. Seconds after the protagonist walks out of the cafe, a bomb rips through the cafe and kills everyone in it.
After hearing about the events at Virginia Tech yesterday, I kept thinking about the dichotomy that exists in our lives. One in which the duality of hope and despair continue to battle for position. I am deeply saddened to hear about the 30+ people who were killed, as I am saddened to hear about the soldiers abroad who die in battle, or the innocent bystanders in Iraq that die every day over ambiguous perceptions and invisible loyalties.
What I don't understand is why people mourn so greatly over one life, and choose to ignore the loss of others. Can we really, as a people, evaluate which life is worth more? Maybe it is proximity to our own lived existence that determines its effect on us. In that case, out of sight...out of mind.
And..I guess when you think of sight, you also think of things that brings these things to light. Namely...the media...an institution that either creates or distorts the true reality of things. I'm seeing the wheels churn as we speak regarding the VT tragedy and it leaves me a bit saddened and depressed.
Hope and Despair...the revolving door of human existence. Within any event, both exist. One story that emerged from this tragedy was of a college professor barricading one of the doors in the school as the gunman approached, giving his students just enough time to safely exit through the window. He was killed moments later. A moment filled with despair...but also filled with an altruistic love and hope.
Humans can do so much to ensure that life continues. Unfortunately, it might take a miracle for us to understand it.
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