If you were to start typing "Mississippi State" into google, the first thing to pop up would not include their credible education programs, the curricular advancements made in the past decade, or even the extensive list of athletics/registered organizations the college has long worked to establish. Instead, the immediate result is the "Mississippi State Shooting." I thought to myself how deeply sad it is that we can only nationally recognize an institution in times of crisis, rather than to admire its achievements.
Personally I've never been one to enjoy the news. Maybe it's just the complacent faces of reporters after they feel they've done a good job talking about a national tragedy, or perhaps it's the insincerity behind the "in other news, some good was done today" type of story. Regardless of the national injustice or local hero, it seems that one thing is apparent: to the world it's just a story. But there's so much more to know than just a thirty second short on the facts. Despite the lack of actual shots fired at Mississippi State, to someone the entire episode was very real.
What the news can't show you is the fear in the eyes of the students who are hiding behind book cases, or the tears from someone who thinks to themselves, "so this is really it; this is the end." They can't show you the post-traumatic stress suffered by the people who were on lockdown two rooms away from the supposed threat. All of these people have dreams, and interests; talents and desires. These people who could do miraculous things for our world one day, have only made the news because a school shooting would make a good story. Our news has a knack for forgetting the true emotion behind their subjects, and replacing it with thrilling footage that will capture as many views as possible. What's worse--this is what we as a society have accepted as a norm.
The boy who is suspected of having a weapon is held in the custody of officials for interrogation, but I have to wonder, with the insensitive nature of our television, are we being held captive to the truth ourselves?
