At this time, I’m sure we have all heard about the tragedy that struck Aurora, Colorado.
Last night, for some unknown reason, I watched Anderson Cooper who devoted his one hour show to the victims and the family and friends of the victims. It provided a different aspect to the tragedy and touched my heart.
What really caught my attention was something that one of the victim’s, Alex Tevez’s, father pointed out -
Why do we always make the bad guy infamous?
He’s 100% right. The media puts the criminal on this pedestal and makes him infamous. Alex’ father said that years from now, we will remember the name of the shooter, but won’t remember the names of the victims.
He’s right. The Tucson shooting. We know who the shooter was, but name one victim (besides Gabby Giffords who is “famous” in her own right). Do you remember the name of the youngest victim in the Tucson shooting? (The answer is Christina Taylor Green and I only know that because I Googled it.)
Let’s go back to 1995 to the Oklahoma City Bombing. I can tell you the first name of the bomber, but I couldn’t name one single victim even if I tried.
We as a society need to take the media, the attention, the fame off of the bad guy and give more media, attention and fame to those lives lost.
So I am taking that first step and introducing you to the names and faces of the Aurora, Colorado, tragedy on July 20, 2012. Gone, but don’t ever forget them.
Aurora, CO: The Names and The Faces of Those We Lost – A Dedication to the Victims via @LifeasLeels bit.ly/OWYFAI
— Leila (@LifeasLeels) July 24, 2012
About Leila
Thank you for sharing.
I haven’ been following the story closely, but it’s good to know that some are making the effort to remember the victims.
Kallie Greenly recently posted..Sizzling Summer Giveaway!
Thank you. I will share this with my friends and loved ones, and on my social sites. I want to know the names of the victims of this tragedy, not the name of the coward who cut their lives down.
Elizabeth Towns recently posted..UBC #14 Motivation
Leila, this is FANTASTIC. I couldn’t stop myself from crying because John Larimer (who you have pictured here) was my cousin’s roommate at the Navy base in Pensacola, FL. I think it’s disgusting that parents took their child to a midnight showing of this movie and wasted her life. She was a kid! That’s just selfishness on the parents part. I have a nearly 11 year old son who I wouldn’t take to a midnight showing of ANYTHING. But maybe that’s just me.
I hope you share this on your social networking sites every day for the following year.
Oh Summer, I am sorry to hear that! It really is awful all the lives lost. Breaks my heart.
I might accept the challenge to post to social media every day for the next year. It would be a great way to remember!
On the anniversaries of such events, I try to make it a point to go back and read the names of the victims. The media is going to go where the story is, unfortunately. They can’t continue to sensationalize the death of a person, but they can play up every angle of the prosecution of the killer. Of course everyone wants to know “why?” and the media plays on that as well. Then the politicians will make it about any number of social issues. It’s up to the individual to make the effort to remember the victims. The best thing you can do is turn the news off when they start talking about these killers and criminals.
Thank you for making it easy to go back and search for the names of the victims! Now hopefully they can be properly honored on the weeks and months to come!
Marisa recently posted..Early Literacy Series, Day 1: Just read!
Thanks Marisa! And what a great idea to do on the anniversaries! I understand everyone wants to know why, but chances are, we never will know the why.
I, for one, refuse to give my attention to the criminal and will remember the ones we lost.
Jessica Ghawi (Renfield) survived a mall shooting last month.
Headant recently posted..How to Beat the Summer Heat With No Air Conditioner
You are so right, I kept looking for names of victims but all they constantly talked about was the shooter! Thank you for your work towards remembering the victims. I shared on Twitter!
Kelsey recently posted..Child Safety: Land Line Phones
Thank you! Every day I see that criminal’s face plastered all over the internet and I refuse to open the new articles. Although I am pleased that today, I have seen nothing of that man and have seen articles all about the victims – as it should be! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Great post. You are so right. Some of these nutcases out there commit heinous acts for the fame that it brings them. The media should really put the spotlight on the victims of these crimes instead of the bad guy.
Diane N – Philzendia recently posted..My Revlon Expression Experiment
There have been many tragedy’s where we remember the bad guy but not the victims, I totally agree with you and Anderson, thanks for the great post!
Heather Bryant recently posted..Review 5 Chicken Soup for the Soul~Here Comes the Bride
Thank you for this. It’s very true, always hearing about the bad guy. My heart goes out to all the families of these poor people
Tara recently posted..Clean Bottle Review
My husband and I were just talking about this in the car. I had said, No one will remember the victims in a few months, but everyone will know his name, and that is probably exactly what he wanted. Great Post. My prayers are with the families of these loved ones!
Amanda recently posted..SodaStream Giveaway 7/24- 7/31
It’s so true and so heartbreaking and sick. His name will be a household name for months because the media plasters it everywhere, but who is going to remember those who gentlemen who risked their lives saving their girlfriends, or the father who died, or the budding sports reporter, or the little girl, or the military members who died in the theater, or the guy celebrating his birthday who was going to celebrate his one year wedding anniversary? No one. It makes my heart hurt that all these lives were lost and outside of friends and family, they will not be well known names in a few months.