Tossing Out Desensitization

by Daniella Nicole

Over the course of my life, I have often heard talk of people becoming ‘desensitized’ to the evils in the world. It is in this process of becoming desensitized that the horrors increase. This is due to no one ‘batting an eyelash’ at them any longer, assuming they are commonplace, because, well, the media says so. It is in this process that those who would push the boundaries of common decency continually cross the accepted lines, telling us its ok because its their right to do so and we can just not look or buy.

Perhaps it is the right of those who prefer the evils of the world to those things of value to pursue their own downward path, but it is not their right to inflict it upon others. There are those who cry foul when any effort is made to stem the tide of indecency into society, apparently believing they, and only they, have any rights to speech, belief or action.

Somewhere along the way, it became acceptable in society to launch personal attacks against those with whom we disagree – even justifying it as ‘truth’ and ‘free speech’. It is hard to support any move toward societal decency or change when such efforts are also laden with those things that are in direct conflict with the goal. It is so rampant that people are becoming desensitized to it, accepting it and even jumping onto the dogpile of attacks.

We have the right to our own thoughts, feelings, perspectives and beliefs. We do not have the right to verbally or physically assault others. We have the right to speak freely and passionately about issues – whether based in fact or opinion. We do not have the right to defame others.

You lose all ground in any debate of any issue when you season it with hate, name-calling and judgments. The wise stick to facts and use critical thinking to make their point.

Morally speaking, none of us is without sin and none of us is wholly good. We all have faults, sins and flaws that lessen the greatness of who we are. To label someone as ‘evil’, ‘a sinner’, or some other name associated with wickedness is the epitome of hypocrisy. Who are we to shout about the mote in another’s eye when we have a beam in our own?

Let us focus on acts, not people. Let us focus on facts, not opinion. Let us return to a time of civil discourse when people took the high road and refused to be sucked into less than civil behavior. Let us toss out desensitization and stand up for those things that are decent and good . . .and kind. One person can make a difference and one courageous person can inspire a multitude.