It's Not Lack of Sympathy, Just Lack of Knowledge

Today’s array of films was quite disturbing for me. This wasn’t because I had experienced any of these traumatic events or implemented any of these injustices. Rather it was because I hadn’t. You see, many a time, I feel as if I have nothing to contribute to the conversations on feminism or broken families. I have never held the belief that men were better than women, nor have I grown up in a broken family.

            So when I watch films like The Stain, I am frustrated as I try to comprehend them. I am frustrated as I try to identify with them. And I am frustrated as I try to talk about them. I feel terrible that people have to suffer such injustices, but really at times I feel like there is nothing I can do.

            Now to be fair, perhaps being exposed to such material is good for me. Perhaps by watching such disturbing media, I will be discouraged from ever turning into a creature that mirrors the characters of these films.  However, in the mean time, if I appear to be lacking sympathy toward these topics because I remain quiet in discussion, it is not because I don’t care about the issues. Rather, it is because I do not yet feel equipped to engage in the conversation.