By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)
The image above shows a puzzle map of the place I still want to call home. If you want to learn more about its origin and even purchase the puzzle, just visit this link.
I selected this image because it graphically depicts a place that is radically out of order and needs to be put back together.
Given the news that’s transpired — and you can make your own decision on what’s “news” these days — over the past eight or so months, I honestly don’t know how we have plunged into such an unrecognizable and mountingly caustic nation. And, what’s even more disturbing is that there are no immediate signs of any cohesive efforts to preverbally put all the pieces back into place.
In past posts over the years, I have raised the question: “What can public relations do?” Or to better clarify, how can the practice of ethical and strategic public relations help address a challenge or mitigate a threat.
Realistically, the gravity of the situation at hand is so profound and encompassing that it will take much more than effective communications to steer us down the road to some semblance of “normalcy.” What is needed? Man, I wish I had the answer.
On a seemingly daily basis, new affronts to our established democracy and way of life are not just contested, but rather obliterated. Like many, I do my best to enjoy the simple pleasure of just enjoying a regular day, something granted to those of us living in this place (well, to some or most of us), only to be bludgeoned when turning on the TV, flipping through emails, or visiting a social media platform.
An example. Earlier today, someone you assuredly know spoke at a meeting of a global organization that focuses its work on “the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of the well-being of the peoples of the world, and international cooperation to these ends.” That person uttered unsubstantiated insults, fabrications, and utter nonsense rather than any commentary supporting the foundation of said organization.
Perhaps a solution is to just follow that hippie-era phrase, “turn on, tune in, drop out.” Well, that’s pretty hard to do in this digital age.
So, I guess I’ll just keep trying to build awareness for the urgent need that all of us who really care about this place we call home have to keep working tirelessly to put the place back together again.
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