Desensitization

Published September 14, 2023 on LinkedIn

The following is an excerpt from my new book Heroes Wanted:
The Screams Of Children Haven't Fallen On Deaf Ears.

We see the sensational news headlines. A child has gone missing, only to be found dead days, weeks, months, or even years later. The details fit an all-too-common narrative. She was abducted, raped, tortured, and then murdered. These once taboo, horrific crimes have become commonplace to the point that society has become desensitized. The days of these terrible crimes sparking mass outrage, public outcry, demands for accountability, and even mob justice are remnants from a bygone era. The desensitization of these horrible crimes, along with society’s apathy, has allowed evil to thrive unabated.

For its part, the mainstream media does a fantastic job of sensationalizing these horrible crimes yet sanitizes the details to make the story more palatable to a broader audience. Consider the definition of the words rape and murder. Rape basically means unlawful sexual intercourse without the victim’s consent. Murder is defined as the intentional and unlawful killing of another human being. We hear about a young woman who was forced into non-consensual sex and then she was murdered. Yes, the story is unsettling, but we have bills to pay, shopping to do, kids to pick up, and jobs to get to. We have other, more important things to do with our time and focus. Without much effort, our brains have been tricked into diluting and processing a horrific crime into a sanitized, impersonal experience.

We’re further desensitized about these horrific crimes because we live in a civilized society. We have placed our trust in numerous government agencies that are supposed to protect us from monsters and bring the perpetrators of these horrible crimes to justice. Between our dependence on government, our hectic lifestyles, and the media feeds we choose to follow, we mindlessly go about our daily business, following the daily narrative that’s been provided to us without question.

Other than saying a brief prayer for the victim, and the victim's family, as well as taking a moment to be grateful that God is looking out for our family members, we just don’t have the time or motivation to give serious consideration to the plight of victims of abuse, rape, and murder. We’ve placed the horrible crime in God’s hands, and we’re now free to continue on with our everyday activities.

The Screams of Children

For me, there's nothing benign, unoffensive, or desensitized when I read about a predator that has abducted, raped, and murdered a little girl. I get incredibly emotional. I don’t get to skim over the details. My train of thought doesn’t just process the term “little girl.” Instead, when I hear the term “little girl,” I imagine an innocent child full of life, wonder, happiness, playfulness, curiosity, adventure, and mesmerized by the incredible world around her. I can see her smile and hear her laughter, and if I were to look into her eyes, I’d see the miracle of God’s creation looking back at me.