CBS Hating

Dear CBS,

While I was searching through the television channels this evening I had the unfortunate displeasure of viewing a program where an insane criminal shot and killed a woman point blank. Oh, I'm sorry, we as the audience didn't actually see her being shot, we just heard her being shot and had the pleasure of imagining exactly what it looked like to see her skull obliterated and the life taken from her.

You know, I've been debating about this program, and I truly don't know what's worse? The fact that this person was while speaking on the phone with her desperate husband, who heard her being shot and killed and couldn't save her, or the fact that this family had a young child who's life was also threatened by this criminal and who will most likely in future episodes exhibit signs of serious psychological damage.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out why you feel the need as a company to present programming with such extreme and graphic violence. In fact, if your writers are incapable of presenting interesting, thought-provoking, emotional, funny, or dramatic television without extreme violence, without objectification of women, without crude humor, without overt sexuality, then you have done a poor job of selecting your staff.

This program shows me, the viewer, that your judgment as a company is very seriously flawed.

In reflecting further on this episode of Criminal Minds, I was reminded that one of the best things about the United States as a corporation or citizen is the First Amendment. Obviously, most pertinent to you, CBS, is the right to free speech. What a wonderful world, huh? You are protected when you choose to present filth and unimaginative violence to the people of the United States, but the FCC will censor the word fuck because it's wrong. I would love to be able to completely ignore any personal responsibilities in my life, too, CBS, just like you ignore the responsibilities you as a company has to your viewers. Something I think your company has lost sight of is just that, responsibility.

If you don't think that by showing the kind of violence I witnessed tonight you are contributing to the increased violence being seen in cities across the U.S. and the world, then you are diluting yourselves in an unforgivable and ignorant manner.

You should know that I will never watch another CBS program again, that is how unacceptable your programming is to me. And while you are not the only network that shows these truly heinous images, the amount of television programs you support with the kinds of themes I mentioned above vastly outweighs the programming that stands on its own merits, such as your news programs.

Shame on all of you at CBS. You may think that I am insignificant and my opinion doesn't matter, and if that is the case, then you are very, very wrong. I doubt this letter will make any impact on your programming, and for that I am truly sorry. Sorry that you will all fail to realize that by perpetuating these images, you are sculpting exactly the world in which we live, and that world is and will continue to be extremely violent unless influential people and organizations take a stand.

As the great Dalai Lama once said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

Your programming shows a world in which I never want to live, never want to participate, never want to belong.

I urge you, CBS, to say, "Enough!" and to end your violent, distasteful programming. You have the power to make a difference, to lead the fight against negative imagery and build, positive, uplifting foci for all watching. Please think about your actions and choose to make a positive difference, not continue to support the negative influences you currently project. I would be interested in viewing those changes, but until then, I will be content never to support your organization again.

Most unhappily,

Rachel D Fassbender

tree hugging

why not hug a tree? why is there a stigma associated with living a lifestyle harmonious with the environment?

"you see his dreadlocks? tree-hugger"

"look at the tree-hugger driving a prius."

"who cares if i don't recycle, the tree-huggers?"

at various times in my short life, i've heard these statements. when did tree-hugger become a four letter word? (well, during the environmental movement in association with the vietnam war, the seventies, increased drug use, etc.... so i do know when it became a bad word, i was being rhetorical).

i personally love to physically hug trees.

yep, i wrap my white, freckled arms around them and send my positive vibes of love and gratefulness into their outer skins of bark. i thank them for their service, shade, oxygen, the sounds they make when the wind blows, the interesting patterns they make with their shadows.

there is a joy in wrapping my arms around an ancient being, riddled with rings of knowledge, weather, years. there is life, energy in the most literal of forms. i feel connected with the earth-- truly connected.

trees are deceptive in a way. they are usually as large underground as they are above ground. they are strong, yet flexible. the ones who aren't, those old, wise beings, they unfortunately fall and pass on, much as humans do.

i am a proud granola-eating-hemp-wearing-bus-riding-tree-hugger. the only four letter word in my vocabulary that describes my tree-hugging experiences is love.

hug a tree today. be the crazy nut embracing the earth, appreciating your environment, giving thanks for a tree. you're giving thanks for life, for experience, for good.

cheers.

personal responsibility

The president of Poland and nearly all of the important officials of the country died in a plane crash in Russia today. Ironically, the place of the impact was the same place where the Red Army secret police killed 20,000 Polish officers during the Russian invasion.

On NPR this morning, I heard a woman complaining about how the US Census is requesting her demographic information. She felt that she isn't a valued citizen, and doesn't "count" in terms of government, so why should she be "counted"?

I am appalled at how ungrateful people are today. You don't feel as if you count? Then submit your census form-- that is how you contribute to your government.

You don't feel as if you count? You count when you volunteer for your local community. You count when you strive to be a better person, a better citizen. You count when you fight for what you believe in, and not just sit back in your house and complain about all of the injustices you feel you are experiencing. You have a house. You have an opinion, and you can voice that opinion on National Public Radio-- if you don't feel you count, that is of no fault but your own.

I wish everyone read Margaret Mead. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

You don't feel as if you count? Vote. Educate yourself. Give back to your community. If you want to have personal recognition from Barack Obama, you're right, that's probably not going to happen. But if you want to count, that drive should come from within, and shouldn't have to be recognized-- the sheer efforts you are making should be enough reward for you. If it is not, then don't blame that on the US Census Bureau.

You feel there are political injustices embedded in a census form? You are ignorant. The statistical information gathered from the US Census Bureau takes less than 10 minutes to fill out and return, and is a cornerstone in many of the technological, sociological, anthropological, environmental, any kind of study that is currently happening in the United States and around the world. Major political changes, allocation of government funds, even stupid things such as test markets for your favorite bottle of wine or tennis shoe or video game gather information from the Census. If you choose not to participate, then you are bringing to fruition the very idea that you don't count. You are absolutely right: you don't count when you choose not to be counted. It's not the other way around, sorry lady on NPR.

Today, I am sure the people of Poland feel an injustice that their elected leader and many officals were suddenly stripped away from them. Even though the Polish president has been a thorn in the side of the EU, it doesn't negate the loss of a leader. Imagine if that leader were not the Polish president, but rather, the President of the United States. I don't care on what end of the political spectrum you fall, if that loss were to occurr, the ripple effect of damages would be felt worldwide, not just in the United States.

You don't feel as if you count? Imagine living in a country where your president dies, and the world is indifferent, unknowing, and unresponsive.

Shut up, take responsibility, and make yourself count. You are the only one who can, and your recognition will be the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference and contributing to the betterment of one of the best places in the world.

I learned this week that if you have even a small amount of money in a bank account, you are richer than 75% of the world's population.

You don't feel as if you count?

Then I'm sorry for you that you don't realize your potential for greatness, and the wonderful platform of a country where you can express that very quality.

You don't feel as if you cont?

You're right, you don't. Not if you don't believe.

We have to believe, people, in the greater good of all individuals, of all countries, of the world.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

WE.

WE must be the change, not them. Not they. Not the government. WE must be the change. We must instigate this movement of togetherness and fighting for the betterment of all people.

Tragedy abounds in this world. The death of a president, bombings in Moscow, a religious war that has lasted for centuries, has claimed numerous lives, has spurred the creation of seriously destructive weaponry, has stripped the innocence and love from the people who have been gathered to fight.

We must be the change, the spark, the contagious smile. There is but one life for each of us. We must be impactful. Everyone is unique, everyone is a mystery, everyone is teeming with the inherent knowledge and the ability to bring peace and happiness to the world. You don't believe me? What do you need to be happy? I guarantee that the things that are of value to you are of value to others. Shocking, I know.

You don't feel as if you count? Be apart of the movement for change. Not just change from Obama, but change for yourself. Be selfish. Make yourself happy. When you're happy, you'll be more inclined to make others happy, and that, my friends, is the spark that ignites the engine of this well-oiled machine we call humanity.

I am so happy and proud and grateful for the opportunity to continue educating myself. I feel that this world has so much to offer, and I want to give back ten times that and more. The more I offer, the more I, in turn, receive. It's karma, the "Golden Rule", whatever you want to call it.

You give to get, and when you can stop feeling as if you deserve the get, the give will be outweighed so immensely, you won't know what to do with the abundance of happiness, fulfillment, and joy.

I fully intend to make a difference in this world. I call all of you to do the same.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE.

LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE.

HELP OTHERS.

BE KIND.

UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE A MAGNIFICENT BEING, AND YOU MAKE THE CHOICE TO SHOWCASE THAT MAGNIFICENCE OR SQUANDER IT.

I send positive thoughts to the citizens of Poland today, and I send positive thoughts around the world. I don't pray. I don't even believe in God. I believe in kindness and good, and I believe we all can make a difference.

I hope that you are inspired.

I hope you make a difference, if not because of reading this (although, I'm not so bold as to think that I was the flint awating your strike), because you care and you want to count.

A very enthusiastic and positively driven, cheers!