Elsa tells Mrs. Lowell, "[I]t is a mistake to think news happens somewhere else. To others. The news is always about you." Do you agree?

Elsa tells Mrs. Lowell, "[I]t is a mistake to think news happens somewhere else. To others. The news is always about you. You must simply fit yourself in it. You must see how—you must be vigilant." Do you agree? How is this idea reflected in the book's plot? What is the author suggesting about collective responsibility?

When we hear the daily news, some items fall by the wayside because we don't know those involved in the headline; however, many items catch our interest...either because we know the 'players' or because it is covering an issue that touches our hearts. The evening news says what happened...but the real news is what we do with that information.

There is always a ripple effect. Ignoring evil allows it to flourish and grow, and you may be the next victim. Shine a light, protest, fight, and perhaps no one else will be victimized. highlighting and praising good things encourages more good things. It is easy to think -"well it doesn't effect me" but that is a mistake.

ruthlea makes a great point that ignoring evil allows it to grow. That truth is frightening to me. Which evils can or should one fight? There are so many. It is impossible to do something about each one, except perhaps through prayer.

If the news is a big issue that is world changing then the fact that it is happening at a great distance does not negate the effect its results will have on the individuals of that world. The changes may be small or large, immediate or slow in coming but sooner or later they must be acknowledged,

No, I don't agree. News happens all the time, everywhere. Some of it is closer to home. The news isn't always about you, or me but that doesn't mean we cannot try to help where we feel we can make a difference.

I disagree. There are a lot of things that happen that are news that aren't about or related to me. Seems kind of narcissistic & simple to remove others from the equation & think it's only about yourself. There is an impact to each person (they become more informed and/or emotionally invested) when they learn the news but it doesn't mean that it's about them vs the people actually experiencing the event.

What Elsa tells Mrs. Lowell is very much true, maybe it doesn't affect you immediately but at some point down the line it does. Events have a ripple effect and eventually our response or lack of one will have an impact on us or those that follow us.

The news generally has an effect on all of us in one way or another, as long as we pay attention and do not hide our heads in the sand.