Some days I’m able to write as if there wasn’t an atrocity happening somewhere in the world. I’m able to put pretty pictures in this space and rattle on about my life. That’s not a bad thing.
But it’s not a truly good thing, either. Because every day we hear of some bombing, of some attack, of horrific loss of life. Some of it terrorist sponsored, some of it perpetrated by an angry and screwed up lone wolf – a terrorist wannabe – all of it fueled by hate. Attacks occur all over the world: in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Syria, Nigeria…
And in France. Maybe I have to acknowledge this one because we happened to turn on the television (which is silent during the day) just after the first news of the unspeakable attack in Nice broke. And we sat there and watched, horrified and sickened, saying what we have been saying daily: “Every day. It seems to be happening every day.”
A world gone mad.
This is a day where I simply can’t write as if it’s a normal day. This is a day where I find myself at a loss.
And that’s all I can say, except to express my heartfelt sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones in this carnage. And to all those who have lost loved ones to all the carnage that goes on in the world and in this country every day, endlessly. Over and over and over again.
A very sad day.😢
Yes, it is, Doris. xo
yes
xoxo
A world gone mad.
Yes, indeed. xo
Taking my coloring book and retreating into my blanket fort.
Good idea, Shanna!
No words. . .
xoxo
I have no words. I just want to do something. Make a difference. But I don’t know what to do. Another sad day of horrific loss.
xoxo
Yes…it does seem as though the world has gone mad. Sad, sad day…which makes it hard to carry on with the mundane. But that’s just what I need to do. ;)
Me too. I’m going to get the next book by Jo Nesbo. I need an escape. xo
A repeat scenario for us at home, just like Dallas, where the TV is off, my husband has just gotten off work, going online to wind down, comes into the living room and says to me, “Turn on the TV.” I say, “Please, God, no; not again.”
Nice? That loveliest of azure coast French resort cities? What? Speechless. Children. How.
Insanity. STOP. It.has.to.stop.
Insanity. When will it end?
I find I’m crying too much. Constant horrible headlines; staggering numbers of innocent lives lost, too many times. I feel broken down. Then I remember that this is exactly what they want. Which is why I made myself go out today, be in a store, eat in a restaurant, go to the post office, go to the bank, go to my doctor appointment, go where people gather; live my life. It was empowering; strengthening. Now I feel belligerent, just like when 911 happened – defiant in the face of a bully: You will not do this. You will NOT. As good people, we will rise up…and you will fail.
Fond memories of three days in Nice remain in my brain from all the many, many years ago when I was privileged to be a tourist there as a young woman (on a budget) barely out of my teens. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. A happy kind of place; relaxed. Pleasant; pleasing, as ocean resorts are…but skies were particularly clear and bright; cleanest air. I’d always heard of the natural light in Nice, which has attracted artists/painters. I grew up in a coastal environment but this was a white sun that really did seem unique; special. I have strolled that very promenade in the soft sea breeze with my boyfriend, stately hotels on one side, clear blue Mediterranean on the other. That’s all people were doing for Bastille Day; having fun, enjoying the stunning beauty of the French Riviera, the summer, vacation, the national holiday and indeed the lovely, scenic beach boulevard just like others have done for nearly two hundred years since it was constructed.
It’s incomprehensible; I look at the video of carnage and I can’t connect the dots. Heinous.
And now turmoil in Turkey. It’s as if the world is a boiling cauldron.
I can’t comprehend such insanity, such hatred.
Unspeakable horror. Makes me want to retreat from the world but I know I can’t because light has to continue to shine from those of us that believe that love is more powerful than hatred and that light must overcome darkness.
Beautifully put, Valerie. Thank you.
Senseless. Madness. Horrific.
I said to my husband, as we were watching yet another atrocity, that Brian Williams seems to have MORE than a full time job on MSNBC as their main reporter/ correspondent for Breaking News. When I hear that Breaking News sound-byte, my heart simply sinks. We both say “Oh, no” and watch in horror, yet again, as it unfolds. It appears that this is our new normal, and that there is, sadly, no end in sight to it. All we can wonder is where it will happen next. Because we know it will. And the feeling of being completely powerless and overwhelmed continues.
Yes. Completely powerless. We were watching MSNBC, too. I told Don that I find Brian Williams at the Breaking News desk or at the desk during election returns comforting. I’m glad he’s back. But you’re right. He seems to be on with Breaking News quite often. And it’s all sad news.
I feel what is needed, at a time like this, is prayer.
xoxo
When my husband comes in from work early and I am in the den watching television he immediately says what? Where? Oh my God.
Embroidery, Etta James and ice water do it for me…but sometimes it is hard to escape the world.
A book I can lose myself in – ironically, usually a grim and bloody mystery – but the difference is that it’s fiction, not reality. xo
I feel the same way you do. I am beginning to think there is no where in this universe that has a species that is more capable of hate and horror that can even come close to our species of man. It can make me hang my head in shame. But we are also capable of so much love and compassion. I hope that heads smarter than mine can come up with a solution which doesn’t involve more hate and killing.
I hope so, too, Tana. Thank you. xoxo
Why?
Do you mean why is this happening? I wish I could give you a sane answer, but I can’t. xo
Yes, why do these atrocities keep happening? I tried hard to raise my children to be tolerant and accepting of people, ideas and beliefs that are different from their own, but are fundamentally decent. And to be intolerant of hatred and senselessness. I didn’t want to have children for years because I didn’t want to being children into a dangerous world. Now, I see that I have brought two wonderful compassionate people into the world and hope that with other like-minded children, they will tip the balance to a better future for all.
I hope so, too. They certainly are our hope of better future.
I turned to my husband last night and just said, the whole world has gone crazy. I just don’t understand.
I don’t either. xo
So sad…..I can’t even watch the news anymore. It just saddens me so.
It seems there’s nothing but tragedy upon tragedy. xo
Sometimes I feel like crawling into a cave or living in the middle of nowhere so I can remain oblivious to it all. I realize that is not what I should do. It just overwhelms me at times. Tonight the BBC Symphony Orchestra started out with La Marseillaise as a tribute.
I feel the same way. I just want to go off grid and hear nothing of the state of the world.
Claudia, you have wonderful followers/readers. If we all continue to say and do the right things, maybe we can start to make things right in our little part of the world and then it will spread & spread & spread!
I sure hope so, Nancy!
My heart hurts.
Mine too.
I have no words to describe the feelings I had when I came back to town yesterday and turned on the news. I think I’m going to head back to the mountains and bury my head in the sand. I just plain can’t stand this hatred spilling out everywhere.
Blessings Claudia,
Betsy
I know. It’s hurting my heart and I feel powerless.
I had to run away and hide from the real world today. I can’t always do that but today I was able to spend the day having fun with a friend. Home again and reality is back. The world has gone mad and it is scary and frightening. I appreciate your voice Claudia, always saying what we need to hear.
hugs,
Linda
I’m glad you had a respite from all of this, Linda. You deserve it.
I appreciated reading your thoughts today. It is hard to find the words in these unsettling times… sometimes there are no words.
I’ve had a real hard time putting my thoughts into words, Kim. Thank you.
Yes, it has been another awful month. I try to remain informed but won’t permit myself to be glued to the news. I wonder sometimes if the wide availability of the internet, news channels and social media play a part? Maybe back in the days of the IRA or the Bader-Meinhof anarchists (to name just two) incidents were more contained and sporadic because not every lunatic in the world could follow the horror live and think ‘I could do that’. Also, it is so easy to find like minded people via the internet, which can make it a breeding ground for ever more violent attackers. Violence is so infectious. Social and economic injustice have a lot to answer for, too.
All I can do is to teach my children tolerance and love and lead by (good) example. x
P.S. I am a bit behind with blog reading, hence the late comment.
I think you make a very good point, Christina.