Blog post 1/5

People have become very visual because of TV and magazines, mostly TV. Images are used in courts as evidence that helps back up a defense or accusation of a convicted criminal. Images also sell stuff to us the consumer. But what I want to talk about is how individuals and society as a whole have been led by fear caused by the ill use of images. There has been a great focus on war for many years now. Yes this might sound redundant to you... another veteran talking about war. Where's the news in that. Well, my focus is not that. My focus is fear, fear through images and the manipulation of images and how it influences people when it comes to making decisions, their mental health, and way of life. It's really saddening the amount of dissinformation in the media. For example, being in the Middle East I was able to see how rich the culture there is. Most of the images and videos in the media you see ALL of the people there portrayed as extremists and born killers. I was able to mingle with locals and even sat down with them for meals. They are very family oriented and very protective of their values and beliefs. It's really sad the percentage of Americans who don't see this and only take into account what the media shows them. But we are told almost constantly to fear "them" and even hate "them" because of what "they" do and are capable of doing. Honestly it pisses me off because I met great people there who are only interested in providing for their families. Not to say that terrorists don't live their but they're not the majority. By the way, if your house/country was invaded by foreigners, how would you feel or react? Think about it. Back to fear... The greatest example I can talk about and something that will forever be engraved in our memories is the 9/11 attacks. It was a sad day that day and I feel for the loss of life. I really wish it hadn't happened because of the great loss and the "collateral damage" that ensued after that day. The images of those buildings coming down flooded our TVs and were at the time considered a wake up call for America. The level of fear in the U.S. overflowed. Amplified by the news coverage and our leaders pointing fingers, this misguided fear was used to invade a nation who had no direct influence in the attacks. But at the same time, those images allowed me to see what really happened and allowed for questioning and the search for the truth, the truth that those who come to realize don't speak of because people wouldn't be able to handle it. Fear has reached a level so high in the US to the extent that people are much more anxious and skeptical of the future. Suicide and depression rates have increased across the board. The mental health of people in this nation is being damaged greatly due to fear, the intentional fear mongering through the use of images. The only buffer I think there is, is the desensitization of society through movies, video games, and constant blasting of violent images into our brains through the news media. Not that this is a good thing because that would allow us to accept violence as a normal thing and maybe even acceptable...I want to say that we are far from that still. People who are controlled by fear aren't able to see or think clearly. We need to control our fears and really study images for what they are and not what those using images want us to think they are. We have to be very critical when watching images in the news and not as accepting as we have been. It use to be that the news gave us actual and good information, now it seem like they are manipulated and biased. I leave you with this: When you see something that causes fear and anxiety, step back and calmly look at the images closely. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated by the images and those presenting them. You lose part of your freedom by focusing on your fears. Don't allow fear to drive your decision-making process and way of life. We are all dying anyways, don't waste this life by living in fear. Be aware and prepared, but no biased or led by fear.