Typically, public outcry surrounds a horrific event or a catastrophe that has a wide-spread impact. If there is some form of negligence or wrong-doing, the outcry is just that much vengeful, loud and passionate.

Generally, public outcry comes as a direct result of the publicity surrounding an event - when the media “discovers” the crime, mayhem, disaster - or the mishandling of the situation. Once the media has delivered their reports and shocked us with picture and descriptions, the letters to the editor begin, the discussions start on “punishing the wrongdoers” and “why doesn’t the government do something” - “ban the breed”, “blast the infidels”, “you can help, send money to…”.

But unfortunately, apart from retribution and helping the victims, the efforts from the public outcry come too late to prevent the past, but that’s just how the universe works - we can’t change the past.

However, sometimes there are little voices that are crying out before disaster strikes, just a few voices that aren’t quite numerous enough to be really called the “public”. These voices are calling for action or at least attention, and they shout about ancient levies, dog fighting clubs, abusive adults, incompetent/overworked government agencies, terrorists or the lack of solid evidence being used to justify a war.

These little outcries, if researched, if publicized, if heeded, if acted upon could make a difference, and while they might not prevent a hurricane or a terrorist attack, they might save lives. If we listen to voices of reason and experts, the voices of the “little public” rather than waiting for the media to tell us what to think, if we didn’t wait for problems to reach Biblical proportions, then perhaps the “little public” outcry WOULDN’T be too late.

And maybe the media should be the ones to take the lead. Rather than pandering to the masses, rather than trying to up their subscription numbers by creating hysteria over minor, trivial issues and rather sitting back waiting for a disaster, the media should do some real reporting. Then, perhaps, the outcry “little public” would be heard before a catastrophe, before it was too late to prevent or at least minimize a disaster.

So with our current mentality, yes, public outcry is always to late for anything other than cleanup. But if we started listing to the voices that are trying to warn us before disaster strikes, perhaps the outcry of just a few members of the public would be just in time.