Today I want to introduce a commercial recently done by General Electric. When I first watched it, I was floored by the realness of it and how close the video hit home for me. I will admit also that the first few seconds after seeing the creature made me sick to my stomach. These feelings were caused by fear. I was truly afraid of what I was about to see, that I didn't want to even watch. Since this commercial came on my computer while I was watching a TV show, my mouse hovered over another tab so that I could hide it until it was over. I'm so glad that I didn't because the message G&E is portraying is a powerful one that many need to understand and appreciate.
There are a lot of things I could mention about this video, but I will limit myself to sharing two reactions. The first being that this "monster" is treated cruelly. Why? Because he's ugly, he's different, he's scary. Just because someone or something is weird or makes you uncomfortable doesn't justify you to have the right to treat it/the person horribly. How would you feel if that man threw a cup at you or if that woman yelled at you to "GET OUT!"?
Another point worth mentioning is that bullies tend to be the ones to lash out at those who are different. They huddle in groups and whisper. They feel pity. Why not lend a helping hand instead? Why not be a friend? I asked myself while watching this, "When we see someone who's different, why do so many treat them with contempt before getting to know them?" I love the fact that General Electric has made this commercial because it makes us think, really think about those new ideas and how we treat them.
It's true that "Ideas can be scary" but that shouldn't mean we should stay away. Instead, we should be like that G&E employee and help that "idea" grow into something more beautiful than we could ever imagine. Think about those inventors that got laughed at and now look around you. We have the light bulb, traffic lights, airplanes, solar energy all because those inventors didn't give up. If they all succumbed to taunts I'm sure they received, we wouldn't have the world we live in today.
If I ever get the chance to meet the person who came up with the initial idea for this commercial, I will applaud them! Well Done!
--Ruth Jackson
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