Getting off the sidelines
Being aware opens a world of opportunities to get involved
- posted: 05 June 2007
- scrollopinion@byui.edu
Recently, a fight broke out at a local gas station. A larger man was offended by something a smaller man said. The larger man decided to use physical violence to “solve the problem.” The smaller man used no defense as his attacker landed blow after blow.
There was a group of about five onlookers who just stood on the sidelines and did nothing as the smaller man crouched down and received the attack.
After awhile, a spectator called 911, and the offender fled the scene.
Are those spectators any different from the observers who watched in Detroit, Mich., on May 14 as a 91-year-old man got hit in the head more than a half-dozen times by a culprit who wanted to steal the man’s car?
The video surveillance of the incident showed a group of customers outside the gas station where the old man was attacked. The customers just stood and watched the old man take hit after hit; no one intervened.
There are arguments as to why people choose not to get involved in situations like this, such as, “I was too busy,” or “I was scared.” But is a person ever too busy to break up a fight? Is being scared a sufficient excuse?
We rightly condemn those who did not help the old man, but are we that much different?
How often do we choose to ignore the suffering going on around us—locally, nationally and globally? How often do we let a rumor into our ears and then out our lips?
The solution to this problem is for us to get off the sidelines. But when do we get off the sidelines? How do we help?
First, we need to be aware of our environment. Many students seem to be walking around on their own personal missions. They are thinking to themselves, “I am going here to get this done and then going home, and nothing is going to stop me.”
We put on personal blinders and miss all that is going on around us. We ignore those around us and lose opportunities to get off the sidelines.
Are we aware of what is going on nationally? Why does it even matter?
Events like the Virginia Tech massacre and the Amish school shooting in Pennsylvania bring out compassion in people. When tragic events like this occur, people flock together to help soften the ache and pain.
When students here at BYU-Idaho heard about the shooting at Virginia Tech, they put together a book of condolences and invited students walking through the Manwaring Center to sign.
How many students had blinders on and walked right past this opportunity to help?
One girl wore a shirt on campus that said, “Stop the genocide in Darfur” across its front. Another girl read the shirt and asked, to the dismay of those who heard, “What’s genocide?”
Currently in Darfur, a region of Sudan, over 200,000 people have been killed and about 2.5 million have been chased from their homes. The situation in Darfur is genocide.
Are we aware of what is going on globally, or do we think it doesn’t matter? Do we say, “It’s not happening in my life, so I don’t care?”
We are the future leaders of America; if we choose to ignore what is occurring globally, how are we going to be effective? How can we not know about genocides and civil wars in other countries? We cannot wear blinders.
It is not difficult to learn about local, national and global current events. We are blessed to have technology that will provide that information in seconds. All we have to do is choose to learn, to get off the sidelines. Second, we need to act. One person can make a difference.
When a group of people get together, it is easy to start talking negatively about someone who is not there. It only takes one person to stop the spread of rumor and gossip. It only takes one person to give a smile to somebody who needs it. Simple actions that almost sound meaningless can mean the world to someone who is suffering.
Although it is not often that a 91-year-old man is beaten in front of you, and thankfully so, is his suffering any more real than the suffering of all those around us?
We can condemn those who stand on the sidelines during a time of need or a time of crisis, but maybe we should take a look at ourselves. Are we held accountable? Would we condemn ourselves?
