What You Hear Is What You Get, And Keep

Several months ago an acquaintance told me of a tragic, horrific child abuse story that was plastered across the internet news. The things that were perpetrated against this innocent child were disgusting, unspeakable acts.
I responded by saying I did not like to hear of such things, because you can't unhear something once it enters your brain. And this was something I most definitely did not want in me. I know we need to know what's going on in the world. I know I'm not supposed to bury my proverbial "head in the sand." But sometimes it gets to be a little too much.
Consider for a moment what we are subjected to every single day with 24-7 information available. Every time we read, listen to or view a story about some terrible crime we are witnessing it in a very real sense, just like an actual physical witness. We are virtually "in the room" watching the crime happen, only we can't do anything about it. Are we voyeurs? Do we enjoy this sort of thing?
Personally, I don't want to see, hear or otherwise experience these kinds of things. When I see or hear of a child being beaten, a woman being raped or an elderly person being victimized, I get upset! Very upset! A lot of us are getting upset, even traumatized by "witnessing" dozens (or more) terrible acts against humanity every day. Problem is, none of us is getting any kind of support for this-because we're not considered real witnesses! It's not real.
For compassionate people, it's like literally carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders! Instead of just the local newspaper dishing out the bad, worse and worst behavior being acted out, it's the "net" disseminating all of the above from around the globe! I won't even mention examples of what people are doing to eachother because we all have plenty of examples inside our souls already. But it's ugly people, really ugly. And I don't know about you, but it makes me a very angry person, and very sad. Sad for the state we're finding ourselves in.
Then there's the question, are people commiting more acts of violence or are we just more aware of them because of the modern ubiquitousness of information? People will probably be arguing about this question until hell freezes over, but the fact is these things are going on, and we are all right smack in the middle of it. Like it or not. And the view from where I stand isn't pretty.

Dining "Al Fresco"

My four-year-old great-nephew, Anthony, brought this bird feeder to my house last summer and insisted that we hang it on the crab-apple tree outside the sun-room in the back yard. I have to say, I can't remember the last time I had a bird feeder. Never thought much about it. I have enjoyed seeing Hummingbirds flitting around my coral-bells many times though. So I thought, what the heck?
At Anthony's behest, he and my husband went to the garage to find something to hang the feeder with. The two of them returned with some wire, a pair of pliers and a whole lot of determination. And viola! There was now a bird feeder at the Jansen homestead!
The two of them found a spot that offered an unobstructed view from my favorite wicker chair and got it arranged just so. Of course I had to test the view-and it was perfect!
I have had more fun watching and photographing a variety of birds stopping by to feed. The best part is that I wouldn't have bothered hanging a feeder for myself!

Observations

I wish I could say that I'm shocked at the daily headlines lately, but sadly, I am not. I have been observing the changes in people's attitudes for decades now. More and more I am coming to the conclusion that our society is reaching critical levels of apathy, selfishness and complete disregard for anyone or anything outside of "self." Add to that widespread mental and physical laziness, inability to think without the crutch of technology, and broken educational and judicial systems and what do you get? A mess.
According to Merriam-Webster's, the word "society" means: (2) "a voluntary association of individuals for common ends," (3a) "an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another."
Likewise the word "community" means: (1a) "unified body of individuals: as (e) "a group linked by a common policy."
As far as I understand, it is impossible to have a properly functioning AND mutually beneficial society or community without the elements of common courtesy, accountability and respect for oneself and others. Those things seem to be dwindling before our eyes, making our society very dysfunctional indeed.
Accountability is of utmost importance if we are to have any semblance of safety and peace of mind. Unfortunately from the courthouse to the schoolyard and everywhere in-between, people are not held accountable for their actions. As a result we have acts of horrific violence being perpetrated by offenders who are barely out of diapers!
I wish I could offer a "national" suggestion for improvement, but I'm afraid my resolution is much more diminutive than that. It starts with calling a wrong a wrong, and if someone needs a little (or a lot) of help with that, we as a society of supposedly civilized people should help them-and stop "looking the other way."