- Combat Paix, by Picasso, 1962
How can one understand senseless tragedies such as the one that has forever blemished the face of the Boston Marathon. Yet, they keep happening. We kill and we maim. We have a very bad reputation.
When someone is the victim of a needless tragedy, I want to trade places with the aggrieved individual. Send me to the gas chamber, but spare my neighbour. It’s a silly reaction, but it’s my first reaction.
Second, I hear myself say: “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry. How can I help?” But I’m alone. No one can hear me and there is very little I can do.
Third, I’m indignant. “How dare you? Isn’t life hard enough? Why make matters worse?”
There are so many things we cannot change. We do our best to predict earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, devastating hurricanes. Yet they happen. We fight diseases, epidemics, pandemics, but all too often these defeat us. There are so many ways in which we are powerless.
But tragedies such as the Boston bombings need not happen. They are man-made tragedies. So this we can change. This we must change, if we really want to…
There are so many ways in which we are powerful.
But, at the moment, I simply want to say that I feel very sorry for the victims of Monday’s bombings and for their families and friends. I would like to be with them and comfort them.
Pablo Picasso (photo credit: Wikipedia)
composer: Frédéric Chopin Nocturne in B Flat Minor Op.9 No.1 performer: Sviatoslav Richter
- Blue Nude
Micheline's Blog 
Very sad, Micheline,
I appreciate and understand your need to speak your truth, and I agree with you.
I hope that you are well.
Carolyn
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Dear Carolyn,
I thank you for your kind words. It was a terrible event. My first reaction is strange, but it is based on being a powerless witness…
I would so like people to stop hurting one another. Happiness is mostly within our reach. One of the killers is now dead. He and his brother were raised in a region of the world where there have been terrible conflicts. How unfortunate.
We have been raised to be kind to others. So we are privileged. I am glad there was an interfaith service to mark a horrible event. The victims who have survived know that the world got together and grieved and they know we will always remember. We must still hope.
At the moment, I am somewhat paralyzed. However, a friend took me in and is looking after me. That was very kind.
Take care Carolyn,
Micheline
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Dear Micheline, It has not been a good week but I am determined to remember that for every evil doer there are hundreds of wonderful people who help and love and care and do their very best to make the world a better place. I am grateful to them.
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Dear Gallivanta,
You are right. For every evil-doer there are hundreds of wonderful people. As for evil-doers, I do not think they were born to kill and maim. They were probably raised in a rather sick environment where they were taught blind revenge.
I thank you for your words of hope. You are one of the good persons who make a difference. So I am grateful to you.
Love,
Micheline
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I think we are all born with love; things just go wrong for some.
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I also think we are born with love. Something went very wrong in the education of the young man who was apprehended last night and his dead brother.
There are virtues we can teach our children: respect for human life would come first and it would lead to kindness, generosity, acceptance, tolerance, tact, all the things my mother and father taught me.
Imagine the harm they have caused.
Dear Gallivanta, I thank you for writing and I wish you a good weekend.
Love,
Micheline
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No one deserves to be blown up. Something all our leaders should consider. Too few are concerned with cause and effect. I totally disagree with the politically correct mantra that “9/11 changed everything”. You can’t eradicate “terrorism” by declaring war on it. The only way to end it is to love our neighbors and to respect our differences. — YUR
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No, one cannot declare “war” on terrorism. One fights terrorism using intelligence. On September 11, 2001, the Iraqui government did not invade the United States.
You are quite right.
Best,
Micheline
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