I just don’t understand.
In the last two weeks, the world has seen a bombing at a major European airport, a suicide attack in Bagdad as Eid celebrations were underway, a mass shooting in Orlando, individuals gunned down by police in at least two American cities and just yesterday, police shot in an apparently orchestrated manoeuvre in Dallas.
I just don’t understand.
People of spiritual persuasion, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and others I’m sure, espouse values of taking care of others. Of helping those less fortunate. Of sharing our wealth. And yet we close our borders, our pocketbooks and our minds.
I just don’t understand.
Wars are being fought in the name of religion. Refugees are flooding out of countries, so desperately searching for a better life for themselves and their families that they are taking unbelievable risks. Countries are closing their doors to them. People don’t want to help anyone who isn’t “just like them”. Britain has voted to remove itself from a state so they can protect themselves and the United States seems set to elect a president who wants to build literal walls to isolate his country from another.
I just don’t understand.
As all of this is going on, people hide behind screen names and anonymity to post hate-filled diatribes against others who don’t share their opinions. They viciously attack people – real people – with no regard for their feelings or the fallout they are causing. They don’t have the decency to consider other views or take the time to at least listen. They’ve forgotten that you can have different views without hating each other.
When did we stop looking out for our neighbours – whether just down the street or half way around the world? When did we stop being willing to give up a little so others could have more? When did we start thinking that everything would be fine if we just took care of ourselves and “they” took care of themselves? When did we decide that two wrongs make everything all right. When did we forget that it takes a village?
It seems that every day I come home to news of more tragedy and every day as I try and make sense of all, it gets harder. I know some will see this as naïve – the ineffectual handwringing from the vantage point of white western privilege in Canada, but I truly believe the world can be a better place. It’s possible. But it takes the will of many and I despair that the will is not there. My heart weeps for our world.
What is becoming of us. I just don’t understand…..
