As the world emerges from the shock and horror of the events in Paris this past week, I’ve seen and read a lot of commentary in the media about how we must endure, and live life without an imposition of fear. Be defiant, but be kind. I think this is why this video has struck such a nerve.
Watch the boy. Look how he is comforted only in those last few seconds. His face relaxes and the corners of his mouth turn up. I wonder and worry about the next generation of children, my own included. How will these events, if they continue, affect their world view? I think it’s different from when I was a child – terrorism seemed (to me) to be isolated to particular countries. Some I visited, and remember the fear when we were evacuated from an Underground station in London in 1991.
Skip forward to now in 2015 when, in Istanbul airport, an abandoned bag was discovered in a security line (while we were in it). Voices rang out in all languages, people raised their arms to madly wave down security, telling them to come over. All the while the line pressed forward and eventually we passed by it – small, brown, innocuous. Eventually it was collected without incident and the fact that no alarms were raised meant it was evidently left by accident.
We also saw militia stationed at various landmarks in Paris, and signs of declaration for a unified city back at the start of the year when we were there.
All witnessed with my children by my side.
When people have said to me this week, “Why didn’t you hide your kids from the news?” it’s been hard to articulate an answer. Perhaps so I could ensure that I was there to be that same voice of hope as they asked their questions and expressed their thoughts. I don’t want them to I wanted to keep my flowers ready.
So today I want to celebrate the world.
“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies-“God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” Kurt Vonnegut
