Sad
I've been enjoying these beautiful images from Karen's Flickr pages. Today has been such a sad day for me, and looking at photo's like this reminds me not to give up hope and become too cynical. Over the last week, in shanty towns in and around Johannesburg, 22 people have been killed, 18 of them in the past two days, in an outbreak of shocking xenophobic violence.
I don't like to write about serious things on this blog, in fact this is the first serious post I've done, but this is all so horrible and distressing, it's the only thing on my mind right now. Nobody leaves the country of their birth unless they have to, immigrants from other African countries come to South Africa to escape from war, brutality and poverty. How can we treat them this way? Powerful countries like America were built from the hard work and ingenuity of immigrants. Why can't we be the same?
20 comments:
So sad indeed. The U.S. has its share of hatred and racist violence. It is human (or man)'s nature, sadly. Not an excuse, I know.
I pray for peace & love in your country & for the world.
Chris
That is a very disturbing situation. I am saddened by the way we sometimes react to the unfamiliar.
I am also hoping for Peace.
So horrible. may peace prevails soon.
Oh Bronwyn this is terrible - I have tears in my eyes. I read the article - there doesn't seem to be a real motive - competition for jobs and tribal maybe it seems, but why now and why this and why there?
The situation is in my prayers
The photos are so beautiful and reflective... such a stark contrast to a truly awful, horrific situation. Such sad news that we can treat one another like this.
very sad. If only there was enough time to set examples one fragment of kindness and compassion at a time.
I think of you everytime I see the beads you sent with your mail art and hope that you are safe and happy.
I understand but will never comprehend that the one very thing that every human being wants is Peace yet it seems like it gets further an further away from us.
I too cried..am not sure why there are beings out there so full of hate that they could physically hurt others intentionally and cruelly...the world is shockingly sad at times, your flowers reflect that...
Its so so sad and horrible. I've been talking a lot with my students about the situation in your country. Many of them have similar experiences and sometimes the situation feels hopeless. How history repeats itself. Its awful. But we must not loose hope and beautiful pictures like this its a small small step for a better world. I'm sure of it. Maybe easier to say from a far distance though. I so feel for you and your country.
I know what you mean about not posting sad things on your blog but this is real, authentic and I'm glad you are increasing awareness of this.
I am so sorry to hear about this. In America we tend to be self-absorbed and don't get a lot of international news, I'm afraid (lots of election drama playing out here at the moment), so I hadn't heard about this until I came by your blog. Very sad. -Julia
This is very sad! I can feel your concern and pain over this. I am sorry and will keep you in my prayers. I wish we all could simply see each other as human and have compassion and love one for another. RM :)
I heard a wise man once say this. He said the issue isn't poverty, unemployment or lack of education. He said the issue was sin. I tend to agree with him. Because I know that if you take a man that is poor, unemployed and uneducated and you help him financially to gain employment by educating him in essence you don't change a thing, because man by human nature is prone to depravity. It is inherent no matter what we may believe. If you take a look at some of the worst crimes on human nature, genocide etc. Take people like Hitler, Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe and the list goes on. All relatively wealthy, employed and educated men. Man is prone to depravity irrespective of his status.
oh africa!
there is turmoil all over - planet going through big changes. gotta stay strong and look up!
much love yr way!
Come back.
I guess sometimes you just need to write about the more serious stuff. It must be so weird and awful to live in the middle of such events. Life can be so unfair sometimes, makes you wonder: is this really my world we're living in? I'm from the Netherlands, fortunately there isn't much violence here, and I can hardly imagine what the things you describe are like. Wish you and the people in your country all the best
It's just so shocking and scary. I really wonder what is happening to the world. There seems to be such regression. I am not hopeful about the direction our world is going in. Each of us has to work doubly hard to espouse the values we believe in and promote tolerance.
Thank you for your honesty and beautiful pictures. Makes me feel like smiling and a warm content.
Simple
i am in close second on the most absent blogger lately...and as you can see it's been a while since i've visited. this post was so heart-wrenching...you know it's real...it's what's going on...i'm glad you posted not just the pretty...which you do so well i might add! but, it's my hope that love and peace will seep into every soul...that love will be the victor in your country...and ours! every country for that matter...it's what will heal the world. blessings dear one.
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