SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND: CHALLENGING ‘WHAT BLEEDS LEADS’

Below is an exclusive opinion article from Susan Koscis, the Communications Director at Search for Common Ground’s Washington, DC office. 

Lest anyone possibly forgot, the media made sure we knew that yesterday was the 100th day of the Obama Presidency.  The media frenzy about the significance of the day was shared only with news of the impending swine flu pandemic.  This morning’s radio news included an item that Washingtonians are getting scared about the spread of the flu.   Well, it’s difficult to not get scared when radio and TV news programming is “all swine flu all the time.” 

And then there is Susan Boyle who sang about her dream; and Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, the airline captain who landed on the Hudson; and Richard Phillips, the captain of the Maersk Alabama who gave himself up to Somali pirates to save his crew (and was later rescued).   The people have spoken.  We love them.  They are like us and they have inspired us.

Here’s the thing.  They are not extraordinary people.  They are ordinary people to whom something extraordinary happened.   They stepped up and more than met the challenge in response.  That could have been us. 

Our work around the world with Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in countries and regions in conflict, brings us countless stories and examples of ordinary people taking great risk to save the life/lives or their “enemy.”   In fact, SFCG held a “heroes summit” in Africa, to honor those who saved the lives of Hutu and Tutsi in Burundi.   I wish there was a way to bring some of their stories to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Who can watch the footage of an unimpressive looking but somehow confident Susan Boyle walk on stage; see the judgmental expressions on faces of the audience and panel; watch attitudes shift within the first few notes of “I Dreamed a Dream”  and not be moved?

I’m grateful for Susan Boyle because she makes me feel good.  I hope the media is watching and listening.  Sometimes what does not bleed, can and should lead.