Again I sit to write a post in which the first thing I have
to do is apologize to my little, neglected blog for keeping away for so long. I
don’t really have a readership (apart from my husband and my father—thanks guys!)
and sometimes it’s hard motivation to sit and write my thoughts when I have no
idea if anyone is reading them or why they are doing so. Apart from that, just the act of sitting and writing
does not come as naturally to me as I thought it would which perhaps proves
that my teenage dreams of becoming a writer were pretty ridiculous and
idealistic--but then what teenage dreams aren’t?
The events in Paris however, have forced me to return to the
blank page and say something. Since the attacks last Friday, I’ve been glued to
my television and online news sources trying to learn the latest information in
a strange and probably obsessive way in order to try to turn my thoughts in a
productive direction. At the same time,
whenever I’ve ventured elsewhere on the internet this week, I’ve been
disappointed in the American blogs I read for not even mentioning the events,
instead preferring to concentrate on Thanksgiving recipes, fall fashion, and
other frivolous things. While I totally understand that many prefer not to
dwell on current events because they find them depressing, frustrating, or
disillusioning, it somehow feels so wrong to me not to acknowledge major
tragedies like these. The silence seems so much louder than a quick
acknowledgement would be.
When I learned of the attacks, I was actually on the point
of heading to bed (I know, I’m a geezer who tucks in at ten). I ended up not sleeping at all that night not
only because my eyes were glued to my phone watching the latest developments unfold
but also because I had a sick toddler in bed with me with an ear infection. My
sweet little boy was tossing and turning and crying and tugging at his ear in
pain. And as I held him pressed to my chest, soothing his hair and trying to
whisper comforting things in his non-infected ear, I was overcome with sadness
to think of how many people were not warm and snuggled next to their loved ones
that night. My heart breaks for the people of Paris who are mourning the loss
of their family members, neighbors and perhaps their way of life.
I am so sad to learn that after the attacks, there have been
so many statements of fear mongering, vilification, mistrust and hate from
people in the media, politicians and acquaintances on social media. Perhaps
these feelings are a natural outgrowth to a tragedy like this. It’s
instinctual, perhaps even visceral to respond in such a closed way. But I think
we can only counter the hateful actions of these terrorists by showing a
unified, loving, and humane response to all, no matter where they hail from. It is tremendously generous to include the
people of Paris in your prayers tonight. But spare a thought as well for all of
the other innocents all over the world who are facing terror, tyranny, famine,
isolation and desperation. And be kind to your fellow humans today at the very
least. At the very most, endeavor to be loving.
(Photo: The New Yorker)
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