We watched on the news, in horror last week, as a large saucer shaped helium balloon sailed through the air with the unthinkable caption: "Boy thought to be trapped inside." 6 year old Falcon Heene was thought to be in that balloon floating thousands of feet in the air.
We stayed glued to the screen, tv or computer, hoping that :
1. there wasn't a boy inside, he jumped out early and safely
2. it would land softly and he would be okay
3. this better not be a joke.
We watch because we can. We watch because we care. We watch and learn.
We watched OJ's slow LA freeway run from the police after the brutal murder of his wife pointed all fingers (gloved or not) at him... we actually watched the Gulf War ala CNN in Baghdad...when baby Jessica fell down the well , we watched the urgent engineering feat that drilled into the ground to her safe retrieval ... the Quecreek miners...we witnessed 911 from our breakfast nooks all over America, tears streaming down our faces, in shared anguish.
The backlash of Balloon Boy, has been that "cable news"...and by the way, all news is cable in this digital age...so what is up with that tag line?...the backlash, is that it was covered at all.
Excuse me?
We have several news channels that cover news 24-7, this is what they do.
I remember when Ted Turner talked of starting CNN , the world's first 24 hours news network...he was laughed at..."no one will watch it " was the naysayers mantra...hmmmm.
We now have 4 major 24 hour news networks and various other options.Balloon Boy was not only news, it was an incredible visual story.
The chase of the balloon through the blue Colorado sky was incredible, the heroes who throw down for these gigs, the question of what will be in that balloon and the over riding aspect of a child involved...in a word: compelling.
Then the story became even more interesting...this might be a hoax... a hoax?!? You can hear every one across this country stomping their feet , angry over the time and emotions invested in the well being of this child... we all felt a collective disgust.
It was the first time we have all felt a feeling that was the same in a long long time.
It didn't matter if you were Republican or Democrat or pro Healthcare reform or attending a Tea Party or protesting the war...we all felt collective disgust over this news story.
It actually felt good, galvanized, intertwined.
So now we will watch the ensuing investigation into a very strange story, shake our heads at the fact that children are wrapped up in this mess, point fingers at the parents, give Jon and Kate plus 8 a break, and move on.
I'm glad I watched it on the news, I'm glad I cared, I'm glad I was mad and felt outrage at the possibility of a hoax.
It happened here in our world on our collective watch.
It was news. Plain and simple.
It's okay if you want to be "too cool for the room" and say this story doesn't matter, that's your decision..and that is why it's on the screen for us to decide. And we do.
Maybe because of this story , someone will take a good hard look at the Heene household..and in turn take a good look at their own.
The fallout from this, is the lesson.
So, yes, I care about the endangerment of a child, the possible twisted hoax, and opinions and decisions of those involved...and I also care about all the other stuff, healthcare, taxes, war, etc...my scope of concern doesn't stop at the doorstep of wonks.
Everything matters...even Balloon Boy.
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