As French flag-filtered profile pictures and vaguely worded solutions to societal issues dominates social media, a main theme was noticed. Most people don’t let the entire story unfold, or “let the dust settle” before a crisis becomes artillery in heated debates pertaining to school shootings, gun control and much more.
Directly after the atrocities in Paris, news feeds infected with inadequate statements and memes were used to emphasize personal opinion. The abundance of arbitrary controversies and assumptions displayed on social media showed a lack of empathy. Can humanity as a whole take time to grieve and extend a helping hand after the crisis?
The New York Times published an article titled, “The Exploitation of Paris.” It brought to light many instances the atrocity is used to promote personal interests, largely on Twitter. Newt Gingrich, U. S. Representative tweeted, “Imagine a theater with 10 or 15 citizens with concealed carry permits. We live in an age when evil men have to be killed by good people.” This was nearly two hours after the attacks. The timing is simply disrespectful and intentions inappropriate.
The next tweet truly dug deep, and should agitate most readers. Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter Judith Miller tweeted, “Now maybe the whining adolescents at our universities can concentrate on something other than their need for ‘safe’ space.” The level of intertwined ignorance in this statement continues to grow after every word. These issues cannot be that simply compared, even if both resulted tragically. The Paris tragedy was committed by Islamic State terrorists, which is very different from school shootings. The Charleston Church, Sandy Hook, Colorado movie theatre shootings and even dating back to Columbine, were performed alone, with personal motives. Not because they distinguish with a radicalized group. There is a clear distinction between the two issues, somehow obtusely overlooked by Miller.
The article stated social media, “Was a megaphone to be used for whatever you yearned to shout.” This was seen when 12 journalist were killed during the Charlie Hebdo tragedy. Donal Trump relentlessly tweeted, “Isn’t it interesting that the tragedy in Paris took place in one of the toughest gun control countries in the world?” Using catastrophes to promote his own agenda, as well as insinuating France should adopt the U.S.’s Second Amendment showed indisputable ethnocentrism and insensitivity.
Trump’s indecency is seen again after the Paris incident, seemingly as a campaign tactic to promote his opinions on gun control. He stated in a interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” “Had there been some guys with a gun, there would have been a shootout and probably the primary people that would have got whacked would have been the killers.”
These examples, and countless others on the internet clearly show prematurity, indecency and a focus on promoting personal views. Before the next opinionated Facebook post or imprecise meme is shared, let the wounds heal, let the families be informed and “let the dust settle.” Let Paris restore their sense of safety and community before it is made about another country’s.