Where the heck is Osawatomie Kansas?
Jul 05 '07
The Bottom Line For amber waves of grain....thats Kansas. Take a drive by sometime and see what it means!
Before this past week, most people had no idea where Osawatomie, Coffeyville or even Fredonia were. It took floods waters and devastation for these small communities to be recognized.
I can picture it now, people sitting in front of the television watching the weather channel saying "Those poor people." As the days wore on and news got old, those same couch potatoes were saying "OK, enough already. This is old news." It was time in between those two scenarios that has me fuming mad. As with any tragedy, the media has a tendency to hype things up and over-tell the story. They focus on our hunger for more news by integrating fictional tragic circumstances that could emerge during the chaos.
Being in the center of all the hoopla made me hypersensitive to how the media cashes in on other's misfortune. I have developed such a foul taste in my mouth for reporters and commentators as a result of this past week's events.
First, let me start off by saying I was fortunate. I didn't lose my house or any property. I was lucky enough to be on top of a hill and the small community in which I live worked feverishly for days to keep the waters away from our homes.
My family and friends weren't so lucky. I watched friends of mine on television choking back the tears as they talked of how they lost everything. I ached for them...with them...and then became outraged when the news played it over and over until it became a stuck record in my mind.
Now, mind you, I understand that people want information. But why must information be based on other's emotional trauma? Can't they just tell the story, show the pictures and keep us informed? Is it a fear that people won't tune in if the story isn't gruesome enough? Will the average viewer become disinterested if there isn't death and destruction in some fashion?
In many of the reports I watched, often the reporters led with the segue "So far, no deaths or injuries were reported, but that could change quickly." Why would they say things like that? To keep us glued to the television? Its almost as if they WANTED death or injury so they could exploit the situation even more!
I remember the 9-11 tragedy and the Katrina devastation. I remember being horrified over the images that I saw. I felt for the families that lost their loved ones. But, I drew the line on watching when they showed the fictional death toll tallies. Every station started guessing on how many were dead. Why do they do that? Sure, the people want information, but it soon became apparent that it was a race to see who came the closest to the 'actual death toll'. Insane, simply insane.
Kansas is a simple state full of hard-working people full of pride. To see those proud people lose so much and then become a part of a media circus that preyed on their tragedy simply turned my stomach.
To the media I say this...Tell the story, just the story. Kansas had a flood. People lost their homes and all their belongings. FEMA is helping. Here are some pictures. Here is how you can help if you want. Don't try to make us watch because someone MIGHT have died. Don't keep us glued to the set because there MAY be a fictitious plague in the flood waters. Do not tempt us to tune in with threats of fake explosion possibilities.
I, for one, don't ever want to see another hip-high wader wearing reporter standing in the middle of flood water waiting for a body to float by. I will wait for the story to peak and then tune in if I feel that I need any more information.
Kansas will snap out of this and will once again be one of the few states that this great America relies on for many of the staple foods we eat. Cheers to all Kansans, keep your heads high and remain proud.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
grneyedcwboy
|
|
Member: Teresa Whitaker
Location: LaCygne KS
Reviews written: 107
Trusted by: 101 members
About Me:
I have a tendency to show up here at the strangest times!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.