This weekend, for me, was wonderful. I spent it all with Alex and his family celebrating his 21st in both Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Usually, I would now go on to do a post about all the fantastic places we went to and what a brilliant time was had by all; but I can't.
On Friday night, there were terrorist attacks upon Paris. According to reports they were the most deadly attacks in Europe since the Madrid train bombings 10 years ago. Due to these horrendous events many have been calling people to #prayforParis, but thankfully light is now being shed on other atrocities that also occurred and deserve our prayer. ISIS also attacked Beirut, there were earthquakes in Mexico and Japan, and bombings in Iraq. On a daily basis ISIS are raising hell across the Middle East, but I can't say I remember seeing the Syrian flag across the Sydney Opera house.
There is a whole world out there that needs our prayer, our focus, our attention, and our help. 3 out of 4 of those things can be done without a person believing in God, because this isn't about religion. This is about a group of people who want to watch a large section of the world burn, and they're willing to burn with it where necessary. If this was about religion, then the 1.7 billion Muslims in the world would probably be very close to being in full control of every single one of us by now. I fully agree that in many respects the West should never have invaded the Middle East, and if the cultures there truly do not want our culture thrust upon them then that's fair enough. However, the likes of ISIS who say that that is their aim, to rid the world of western culture, are being fled by the people they are trying to 'save', the West is being chosen above them.
And why is the West being chosen above them? Because it the West, we are still surprised into a humungous reaction whenever we are attacked as it doesn't happen that often or severely. That's a privilege. Our news reports can't stop going on and on about Paris because it's brand new and shocking, whereas unfortunately countries like Iraq are atrociously attacked everyday. I'm not saying that any of it's right, but that's how it is.
We are of privilege. My main worry this weekend was would I manage to fit in enough work around Alex's celebrations? My main worry about the future is will I get the degree mark I truly want? Will I work hard enough to achieve what I want? Safety and security are handed to me on a plate so I have room to figure out my dreams and work hard enough to achieve them. Can you honestly imagine what people are going through where they're so insecure and unsafe, all they can dream is that they wake up tomorrow? We need to think outside of ourselves and do whatever can be done to help. Right now, for me, that's praying and donating money to the refugees (yes, one of the Paris attackers came through Greece from Syria as a refugee, but that only implores us to do tighter checks, not stop helping those in true need), and awaiting better instruction from those who know.
On Friday night, there were terrorist attacks upon Paris. According to reports they were the most deadly attacks in Europe since the Madrid train bombings 10 years ago. Due to these horrendous events many have been calling people to #prayforParis, but thankfully light is now being shed on other atrocities that also occurred and deserve our prayer. ISIS also attacked Beirut, there were earthquakes in Mexico and Japan, and bombings in Iraq. On a daily basis ISIS are raising hell across the Middle East, but I can't say I remember seeing the Syrian flag across the Sydney Opera house.
And why is the West being chosen above them? Because it the West, we are still surprised into a humungous reaction whenever we are attacked as it doesn't happen that often or severely. That's a privilege. Our news reports can't stop going on and on about Paris because it's brand new and shocking, whereas unfortunately countries like Iraq are atrociously attacked everyday. I'm not saying that any of it's right, but that's how it is.
We are of privilege. My main worry this weekend was would I manage to fit in enough work around Alex's celebrations? My main worry about the future is will I get the degree mark I truly want? Will I work hard enough to achieve what I want? Safety and security are handed to me on a plate so I have room to figure out my dreams and work hard enough to achieve them. Can you honestly imagine what people are going through where they're so insecure and unsafe, all they can dream is that they wake up tomorrow? We need to think outside of ourselves and do whatever can be done to help. Right now, for me, that's praying and donating money to the refugees (yes, one of the Paris attackers came through Greece from Syria as a refugee, but that only implores us to do tighter checks, not stop helping those in true need), and awaiting better instruction from those who know.
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