The Face of American Apathy: Smiling, Dancing ‘Scarf Guy’ Mugs for Camera at MD Mall Shooting Presser
Another day, another shooting at a public place in America…
It could be an elementary school, a high school, a campus, a church, a Navy Yard, an airport, a Chicago street…doesn’t seem to matter anymore. It’s mourning in America again, this time in Columbia, Maryland…located about halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC in suburban Maryland. All told, three are confirmed dead, including the shooter. Four are reported injured. We still don’t know if the two victims were targeted or randomly taken.
In trying to learn more by watching Chief Bill McMahon of Howard County Police on CNN, the behavior of the gentleman you see pictured in the background—the one with the glasses and scarf—was as sickening as it was shocking: At first he smiled for the camera. And upon realizing he was likely on national TV, began typing something on his phone, likely a “Look at me!” text to a friend. As you’ll see from the video, he proceeds to fix his hair while smiling and even dancing like he’s behind an Al Roker standup outside at The Today Show.
Because, you know, it’s not every day you get to be on TV, and at the scene of a horrible tragedy, no less.
Now imagine being a family member or friend of someone you know was at that mall at the time of the shooting. You tried reaching out to them via phone, via text, to make sure they’re OK. But you haven’t heard back yet, and your mind immediately jumps to the worst.
And then you see “Scarf Guy” doing a jig while having a chuckle with someone on the phone. You then see another (much taller) gentleman casually waving to those at home as well. If you’re me, you start to really wonder if anyone even cares about these kinds of arbitrary acts of violence anymore.
Are we really that immune to indiscriminate violence? Do we even reflect and ponder what it must be like if a son, daughter, mother or father is watching at home not knowing if their loved one is alive or dead, and has to be subjected to absolute idiots who are just happy to be there so they have a story to brag to their friends about later?
In 2013, there were 23 mass shootings in this country. Note: “Mass shootings” is largely defined as four or more shot and killed in a single incident. Having said that, Saturday’s Maryland mall shooting doesn’t even reach those criteria. And with the shooter dead and no Boston-style manhunt happening, this story will sadly be forgotten in the news cycle within 36 hours.
It’s mourning in America again.
These types of events used to be a very big deal.
Now…they’re par for the course.
And through it all, there’s one guy worried about his hair while dancing, giggling, mocking the entire event.
Welcome to 2014.
Watch below, via WJLA/CNN:
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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
