Charles M. Madigan’s July 28 article headlined “Demanding instant answers to complex tragedy” (Perspective) addressed an issue that has troubled me with regard to public and news media responses to disaster.
Without being uncharitable to those who lost loved ones in TWA Flight 800, I have to say that many of them seem to have lost track of who the enemy is. Irrational anger is certainly part of the grief process, but the press and politicians encourage it, manipulate it and capitalize on it for their own purposes.
Journalists all hear the same press conferences and read the same press releases, but they can set their stories apart by delving for the “tragedy behind the tragedy.” Whenever a catastrophe occurs, we’re soon told that the “real tragedy” is that rescuers were slow or ineffective, the 911 system didn’t work, recovery efforts are inadequate, a coverup is underway, someone was insensitive, someone failed to do his job–take your pick.
Politicians also promote themselves by hurling accusations of coverups, mismanagement and insensitivity. I felt sorry for the TWA spokesman who was lambasted for saying, on the evening of the crash, that he had had a bad day. If I had a business, and more than 200 of my customers lost their lives while using my products or services, I would certainly characterize that as a “bad day.” Judging from the outrage, you’d think the man had told the bereaved, “Too bad for you, but I personally have had a darn good day.”
I want to thank Mr. Madigan for having the integrity and clarity of mind to take a reasoned approach to this situation. I haven’t seen or heard any other commentators who have done so.
