Come on feel the noise.
Do you hear what I hear?
Come on, come on; you gotta hear me now…
We often don’t move until the volume increases — until we actually hear something. Just as Thursday’s post acknowledged how our sense of seeing changes us, our sense of hearing makes us move. When the cultural clamoring increases to conscience-stricken decibels, we act. Finally. Just like this week…
Just this week… across the country…
We made much noise after a video of the assault of his wife by Ravens running back, Ray Rice, was made public. While the incident occurred in February — and his wife has consistently stood by his side, pleading for privacy and mercy — the outrage was still loud…
“Ray Rice should never play in the NFL again… although I know we are a country of second chances… The league does not need anyone like Rice representing it.” — James E. Causey, writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“The NFL has lost its way. It doesn’t have a Ray Rice problem; it has a violence against women problem… The only workable solution is for [NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell to resign…” — Terry O’Neill, President of the National Organization for Women
“The owners and the NFL need to publicly and loudly fire you.” — (again to Goodell) ESPN’s Keith Olbermann
Rice had already been suspended for two games; after the noise, however, he was suspended indefinitely. He was cut by his team. The calls now continue for action to be taken against the commissioner, believing he knew, should have known, and/or should have done more.
Just this week… across the globe…
We continued to make more noise about the ongoing atrocities in Iraq and Syria by ISIS, the violent terrorist group. Our voices reached a peak level with the beheading of a second American journalist. Friends, here’s the embedded challenge (put away any partisan hats, please). This horrific persecution by the Islamic terrorists has been going on for months… months. Violent for years, their executions, beheadings, stonings, and crucifixions, etc. have been going on all year. Only after the decapitation of a second journalist was made public, did we get loud. Thus, our government — cautious or confused –pending your partisan bent — only announced some kind of specific strategy after the nation was loud.
We respond to loud noises.
A bump in the night… a bang on the door… a cheer from the TV set… when the noise is loud, we respond.
Let me not suggest one way or the other that any of the responses above are errant, misguided, or ill-advised; the Intramuralist is not evaluating the wisdom of the response. My point is that our response has opportunity to be most effective if we are prudent and proactive… if we think things through ahead of time… foreseeing possibility… foreseeing the danger or damage… acting accordingly… and thus not putting our reputation on the line…
… by seemingly, simply responding to the noise.
Respectfully…
AR