Category — Attitude

In Kanji, one of the three scripts in the Japanese writing system, the word for person or human being is “hito”. Written like this: 人

What’s unique is that Kanji represents ideas rather than words. 人 is two people supporting and holding each other up.

I pose the question, “Are We Losing Our Humanity?” because as a society, we seem to be spiraling downward into tragedy and despair. In fact, we seem to revel in it! We have become so obsessed with “dirt” and chaos and destruction that these things have consumed us!

I normally don’t like to talk about Hollywood celebrities and the drama that surround their lives. However, I feel compelled to share something about what’s been going on with Britney Spears and her recent head-shaving incident. Every news and gossip site (ABC News, People Magazine, Hollywood Rag, CNN) seemed to have picked up on this habit of treating Britney’s recent actions as newsworthy. It’s amazing to me that major news outlets like ABC and CNN have nothing else worthwhile to write about. But what’s most disturbing to me is that these news and pseudo-news sites have scrutinized her every flaw and character traits (calling her a poor wife and a bad mother), smeared her image, and harassed her and invaded her privacy and then have the audacity to turn around and call it “news.”

The worst culprits are these “paparazzi” (freelance photographers who pursue celebrities to get photographs of them) who sends out photographers to follow her every move, snapping away pictures of her knowing that she’s emotionally in a state of distress. In one incident they stalked her and she became so enraged that she smashed their car window with an umbrella! Hypocritically, they send their “best wishes” to Britney, yet they press forward with the harassing and stalking.

In contrast to these bottom feeders, who seem to delight in others’ misfortunes, stands one late-night talk show host named Craig Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson has refused to do Britney Spears jokes about her recent calamities.

This week, BeyondBehaviors.Com applauds Craig Ferguson for rising above the rubbish that calls itself “news” and for exemplifying the true meaning of “hito” (人).

“I didn’t do it for anyone else but myself. I did it because it was an act of conscience. I’m amazed that not poking fun of somebody has become a news story.”

“For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it. It should be about attacking the powerful — the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards — going after them. We shouldn’t be attacking the vulnerable.”

“I think that as a society, we should look it up every now and again. I think that society, there’s something, kinda social, socially lacking … Isn’t there any restraint?”

A psychologist when asked by Oprah Magazine told this story:

When my son was first born he was in the intensive care unit (ICU). Being the loving father that I am, I began to worry and eventually panic set in. But, instead of letting fears overwhelm me, I followed the advice I had often given my own clients - jot down the negative thoughts and make concrete/realistic responses.

These were my fears:

1. My son will be retarded.
2. People will think I’m a bad father.

But this was the realistic responses I came up with:

1. Fortune-telling: I don’t know for certain that my son will be retarded because I cannot predict the future.
2. Mind-reading: How would I know if people will judge me or look down on me? I don’t.

As it turned out, my baby boy was fine and eventually left the hospital.

Moral of the story: Before freaking out and panicking, take a big step back. Are you using fortune-telling and mind-reading to scare yourself silly and worry to death? If so, really take a realistic and concrete look again. You just might be overreacting and contributing to your own fears.