Bad news seems to impact small communities more deeply and last longer than it does in a larger community. For example, a murder in a town of 500 shakes the very fabric of the community, while a murder in a large city while no less tragic does not seem to elicit the same community response. The commonness of the experience desensitizes the community. The unfortunate reality is that at one time or another these things happen everywhere. In addition there are certain things that impact every community whether or not they want to admit it. The ignorance towards drug use in a community is the most readily available example in my mind.
Recently the Holland Patent community has had a string of unfortunate events. The most prominent was announced this weekend, with the arrest of two individuals charged in cases involving sexual abuse. If you would like more information on these events visit www.uticaod.com or www.wktv.com. As an aside my view may be slanted but it seems that the local news agencies have a penchant for headlining every piece of bad news from the school and make a point to write Holland Patent in every title. It is possible to write a headline without rubbing the district’s face in the mud, but I digress.
When I hear bad news my heart grieves for the victims, but I have learned to not necessarily take bad news as a negative reflection on an organization or community. Instead I see it as an opportunity for the victims of such cases to get help and justice to be served on the criminal. Ignoring the issue benefits no one. I heard a marriage crisis psychotherapist say that “any marriage can be helped when the people are willing to be open and honest and deal with their issues.” In response I asked him, “What brings people to a place where they are willing to deal with their issues?” His reply was, “pain or tragedy.” I don’t like that answer any more than the next person, but often pain and exposure are a necessary component for healing to take place. They force people to seek the help that they have always wanted. Sometimes the wounds need to be reopened so that the debris can be removed.
Would you rather have the drug dealer or sex offender arrested and imprisoned and the headlines trashing your community, or would you prefer that they continue in their destruction and only their victims know the pain? When they are exposed both the victim and the criminal have an opportunity to receive help. Maybe reading that headline prevents another person from going down the same path, I don’t know but there’s always something good in the bad.
Perhaps in the next few days I’ll write some more thoughts on why people respond so negatively to these things. I believe it is related to our view on the nature of people. So until then, I encourage you to find the good in the bad, and for my friends and colleagues in Holland Patent keep up the good work!!!
