in passing

At the end of each year, news, entertainment, and various other television programs memorialize the many people, some household names others not so much, that have died. We see their faces, hear their stories, listen to the tributes, and are reminded of why they should be missed as we note the dates of their birth and passing. We may even care that the words, music, theatrics, inventions, intentions, creations, movements of those who rose to prominence for their gifts are now at rest, may also feel sad that they are no longer with us. Yet the majority of us don't personally know any of these individuals, more familiar are we with their contributions to the world than with who they were on the day-to-day.

At the beginning of this year, I unceremoniously found out that someone I knew personally had transitioned last year and now find myself wondering about the loss of the not so famous lost every year. Who besides those who knew them are holding up their life stories for the world to acknowledge, we know not the impact they may have had on who knows how many. And what about our servicemen and women and those who were taken in acts of violence or terrorism that played out for all to see? Where are their faces, their stories as the year comes to a close?

Which brings me to this: Each year at the end of the year some of the same shows referenced above walk us back through the newsworthy events of the year we're leaving behind. More often than not, the faces of evil are shown; the smirks, grimaces, blank stares and smiles of those who have taken lives are once again displayed for us to see. Unfortunately their faces are shown way too often when the events actually happened which in my opinion is more than enough. In fact, I wish we didn't have to see them at all (unless the person is at large) because isn’t that what they wanted?

My blog is not a place for political dialog however, I felt the need to voice my feelings, so violent, cruel, senseless and offensive are the happenings of the day. I am not in broadcasting though I do think that the sensationalism of some people and stories drives what admittedly, we are not forced to watch. I truly exercise my freedom to change the channel when it comes to the airtime given to those who are in desperate need of attention (killers and everyday fame seekers) or who feel that in the name of some cause, they have the right to take lives or who jump the trigger just a little too quickly though I do know and understand that in some instances it is justified.

Honoring death should not be reserved for only the famous as the masses will never miss them the way we will miss those who have been a part of our personal, intimate lives. So I ask the world of broadcasting, at year's end, why not say words of remembrance for ALL who will not go with us into the year ahead?

We can only hope and as we do…

keep your peepers open!®