Hard news hardens viewers

Be a candle in the darkness and shed some light, one viewer writes.

To the Editor,

It is never too late to make a New Year’s resolution.

A long time ago hard-nosed newspapermen learned bad news sold papers. Unfortunately most of us are overly fascinated by the tragedies.

By routinely watching graphic news reports about the unimaginable violence and misery that has just occurred in corners of our world, we risk becoming paralyzed by despair, or even worse, desensitized to brutality and corruption.

Robert Alden wrote, “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.”

There are countless candles flickering all around us, but they are often obscured by the glare coming from our television sets.

If you make a resolution to look for those candles, you will be pleasantly surprised how much brighter your life will become. And by the very act of looking, you may become a candle for others.

Lloyd Atkins,

Vernon

Alberni Valley News