When horror hits, home

Good morning all.
Hope you are all well.

I am in a sad,
place,
right now.

It is cold, very cold, 
February right,
around the corner.

The last week brought,
what seemed like nothing,
but,
bad news,
from around the world,
from our neighbors,
and then on Sunday night...
a young man walked into,
a mosque in Quebec City,
and,
opened fire.

He shot and killed,
six men,
five more are hanging on,
to life,
thinly,
in some cases.
My hopes and prayers,
are with them,
with all of us.

How does one react,
to such hatred?
I think the only way,
is through love,
but,
also deep,
sadness.

Thousands of people,
gathered in Quebec City,
Montreal,
all over,
in vigil for the victims,
and,
for our Muslim,
brothers and sisters,
for all of us,
to mourn and,
show our support.

I live and work,
in a multi cultural,
multi ethnic society,
I don't have issues,
with ethnic groups.
I think, 
that sometimes,
it is difficult for all,
of us to understand,
each other,
to accept each others,
peculiarities,
quirks,
differences

this happens in our own families, why should it not happen on a societal level?

sometimes,
effort,
is required.
So what?
All things worthwhile,
require,
effort,
why should,
understanding,
and
getting to know,
people,
be an exception?

I work with many,
people of North African,
origin,
of Muslim faith.
We get along,
some more than others,
but,
I can say that of,
anyone,
no matter,
where,
they were born,
and,
raised.

I have been thinking,
about last Sunday's,
sermon at church.
Our pastor discussed,
the first book of Samuel.
I had never read,
the book of Samuel.

Something he said,
Graham,
our pastor,
really struck me.
We tend to associate,
with people like,
us.

My first instinct,
was to think,
not me:
I have friends,
from all walks,
of life,
all origins,
and age groups.
I have friends,
of different faiths,
of no faiths,
humanists,
atheists,
gay,
straight,
searching,
men,
women,
all kinds of people.

and...
as if he read our minds,
he said,
you know all kinds of people,
interact with all kinds of people,
work with all kinds of people.
but,
the people,
you would have over for dinner,
on a Tuesday night,
are they not...
like you?

I had to look,
into myself and admit,
to myself,
no one else-
that yes,
the people I am,
most comfortable with,
are like,
me,
sort of,
we all of us,
have uniqueness,
we are individuals,
but,
much more unites us,
than,
divides us.

There is a wave,
of intolerance,
of hate and ugly,
sweeping over,
the world right now,
we must,
all us,
stand tall,
take our neighbors hands,
resist,
with love,
with peace,
with determination,
fight back,
stand tall.

be well,
all of you

Later girls,
BB

Author: Bookish Butch

I am a bookish butch in my mid early fifties. I live in Montréal and always have. I used to run a small used bookstore. Reading keeps me sane. My latest jiggie is photography, book project in the works, living the dream View all posts by Bookish Butch