Disturbing is an understatement. Images of starving children in an abandoned orphanage in Iraq are still reeling in my mind as I prepare to anchor the news tonight. It’s the story of U-S and Iraqi soldiers making the heartbreaking discovery of 24 malnourished children in a Baghdad Orphanage, some tied to their beds. Check out the story – it’s all over the web. At least for now.
Similar stories occur every day in places across the globe, but what’s so important about it is that it will call some to action. If nothing more than that, it’s done the job of raising awareness of the world around us and the people around us. The chaos of this horrid scene elicits emotion and response. It’ll bring some to their humanitarian knees, will bring others into an immediate state of prayer and perhaps trigger rise in donations to children’s charities.
It pulls at the heartstrings, but moves us to thought out of our comfort zone. The media will stay on this story for a bit and then move on. A depressing agonizing scene, yes, but it brings us a dose of reality. And this scene juxtaposed against the biggest story in London brings us to the other end of the spectrum. The Ecstasy of an exalted underdog.
To the left, is Paul Potts. He’s the overnight sensation who wowed audiences during the UK’s popular program – Britain’s Got Talent. He won. That’s him performing on NBC’s The Today Show.
He first inspired people across the globe on YouTube and now this mobile phone salesman, a seemingly shy soul, is giving the world a dose – of a different kind of reality. The triumph of the human spirit.
It’s a refreshing spin on what’s making headlines. We’ll be talking about both Potts and the Iraqi children for at least the next few days. The question is – which story will stay on the front pages?
Potts is rocking our hearts and perhaps that deep desire to go forward passionately toward our goal, regardless of the opinions of others. It’s easy to want to see and hear more. Potts will go on to make an album and lead a happier worklife driven by continued media coverage within the realm of celebrity. No more cell phones, I gather.
But what about the Iraqi children? Those images are more difficult to Digest. Perhaps it’s easier to let that story slowly ease off the front page as we get on with our lives. It would be a shame if it did.
