In terra pax would be really nice right now

[oloriel]

For a couple of years now, my parents have been taking a holiday trip to Berlin in December - my mother loves the Christmas markets, my dad the general bustle of the capital. So this has become a bit of a family tradition.

They came back home the day before yesterday.

This would be a completely irrelevant piece of information under normal circumstances, but as circumstances are not normal (or rather, I refuse to consider that "normal"), it has suddenly become a piece of information for which I am incredibly grateful.

It's interesting to observe, in that context, how my reaction to the news - which would normally be horror, and shock, and heartbreak for the victims and their families - is predominantly relief. To the extent that I have to actively tell myself to be shocked and heartbroken for the victims, but left to its own devices, my mind is just "well mom and dad are home safely so it needn't bother you". The personal always interferes with the big picture.
So I am, as bad as that sounds, more relieved than shocked. (I do tell myself that just because my parents are safe, sadly that doesn't make it any better for other people.)

I'm terrified of what this is going to do to the already toxic political climate in our country, though. >_>

Yeah, peace on earth would be appreciated.

Comments

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that at least your parents are home and safe.

[samtyr.livejournal.com]

*hugs gently*

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your family are OK. It is natural to feel as you do. Sadly, a tiny minority unleash a great deal of evil.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Very glad your parents are safely home! *hugs* What scary times, when people have to worry about whether it's safe to go Christmas shopping downtown - and then feel guilty about worrying, because nobody's going Christmas shopping in Aleppo... :(

The personal does always interfere with the big picture. If the big earthquake hit LA, I'd care about nothing but whether my daughter was safe. If she was, then I would have emotional energy to spare for others.

Alas, the political climate of much of the world seems so toxic now, just when Earth's physical climate and environment are at such grave risk. We're lucky to have had Tolkien (among others) to teach us how to live through dark times. "Estel ú-awarthad!" ()

Speaking of which, check out The Beasts Who Fought For Fairyland Until The Very End And Further Still (http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/the-beasts-who-fought-for-fairyland/): it's the first I've seen of that writer, and I really admire her spirit.

[hhimring]

I'm glad your parents are safe.

[ysilme]

I'm so glad your parents are ok! I think it's perfectly normal to mainly feel relief in your situation, as like you say, the personal always interferes with the big picture. Aside from the personal part (I also first thought about a handful of friends living there or close, and wanted to know how they fared) sometimes we might just feel "abgestumpft" (can you translate that in a fitting way? What the dictionary gave me doesn't really fit IMHO) after a certain number of events.... I certainly feel this way this time. I'm still shocked and horrified, and wary about the political and cultural developments and so on, but it doesn't seem to go as deeply as it still did the last time, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, just big *hugs* to you and yours.

[satismagic.livejournal.com]

I'm just kind of numb. I've been afraid that the popular Christmas markets would make an excellent target for a while now. I had been hoping that once the inevitable had happened, the constant dread I'm feeling would go away. Only it's still there...

And urgh, don't get me started on the stupidity and willful ignorance of politicians. Where have they been all year that they can contribute even more to the hateful attitudes sweeping over western societies...

[sermanya.livejournal.com]

I think this is so normal. Things that are closer to you touch you more than those that seem to be farer away.

I was so extremely relieved when I knew that my brother who lives nearby was ok after the amok diriver incident which left 3 dead and 36 injured in Graz last year.

Berlin touched me much more than anything that happened in France or Turkey or anywhere else. I know the place. I've been there numerous times, private as well as on business trips. I've run against a cardboard Usain Bolt in front of the Gedächtniskirche during the 2009 athletics world championships. I've eaten crepes on the christmas market with a friend a few years ago. There's a great sushi restaurant close by and I've been there so often...

Seeing other people just moving on hurts me. But they didn't live in Germany. For them it's not mich different than France.

But for me there is a difference. I love Berlin. And my heart is bleeding