This whole Paris thing really does suck. What a horrific tragedy, to say the least. I close out media in my life, so when I do get word of something that has happened, I am a bit clueless and baffled and unfortunately it may pull me to read a news article so I have the clarification I need. I can only read so much, though, as I am a sensitive soul and do not wish to carry that negativity on my shoulders. It may come across as being insensitive or lacking compassion...but yes, I do care immensely...I just don't allow myself to be overly sympathetic or even, at the extreme, empathetic.
Media has embedded those behaviors in us to the extent that we don't know how to process in our own personal way anymore. It is a social norm to show a cookie-cutter way of expressing our condolences and reaching out to those who have made it to the mainstream news. Especially with the internet at our fingertips, we are supposed to relish in sadness as well as anger. It creates more of a disconnect than a sense of unity. We are programmed to feel and respond a certain way when it comes to war, tragedy, catastrophic events, etc. And we need to react to it the same as everyone else. If we don't, we get a nasty look. Oh, and we need to change our profile picture on Facebook to a filtered color/colors or symbol that represent those who have been affected. That merely creates within us a sanctity for one particular person or group of people and a complete disgrace for the instigators. The problem with this is that it demonstrates a narrow focus- who to love and care for and who to despise, judge and blame. We are being separated and divided more and more with each event that takes place.
What we need to do is probably the hardest thing to do, but we have been told in the past how to react to personal tragedies- extend peace to those who need it and extend forgiveness to those who need it. I see so much hatred and ridicule from those who claim to be devout followers of Christ, for instance. This is not what the bible teaches! We have no right to judge and we have no room for hate! God Himself is based on forgiveness. So those hypocritical acts are just as bad as the horrific acts of violence and terrorism that occur.
Not only this, to single out the affected is close-minded as well. If my country was attacked- I wouldn't want to have anyone showing their support by waving a flag and shouting God Bless America. I did not show one American Flag after 9/11- I refused. Behind the colors of the flag, underneath the shade of our skin, behind the system of beliefs we are attached to- we ARE ALL HUMAN and we all live on the same planet called Earth, and we share this one home- TOGETHER. Borders don't matter. Color doesn't matter. Religion doesn't matter. If the attackers are attacking people of a certain creed, race, religion, belief, nationality or issue- they are attacking what they are against, not the people. It just so happens that those people fall into that category and unfortunately are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We, as humans, as living beings...are NOT our skin color, are NOT our religion, are NOT our nationality. We are more than that. Those things aren't truly what defines us. Hate is materialistic and of the physical world. If we took away everything that society tries to define us by, hate wouldn't have a place. So if I were to show my support and compassion for someone else, it will be reflecting on a greater scale- something bigger which I cannot put into words, onto a Facebook post, profile pic, tweet or Instagram photo. They tell us catchy things like "Never Forget" so that we hold onto a memory of something negative. The only thing we shouldn't forget is that UNITY is in hUmaNITY. That's more meaningful and powerful than any event.
