something to think about - from Tunisia

[Kali]

Whatever is Lovely

When we cancelled school at noon last Friday because of a scheduled protest at the U.S. Embassy, across the street from the school, we hastily grabbed a few things and headed out to start the weekend a few hours early, giddy to enjoy what I call football weather: sunny and cool.

<snip>

Grief has these predictable stages. Denial is always first and we were certainly in that state all through the first night and then the acceptance set in and so did the mourning. Saturday, we faced reality either visiting school or scrolling through pictures on Facebook trying to figure out whose classroom the charred remains represented. There were constant phone calls and emails from friends in Tunisia and around the world to offer condolences and help to rebuild.

But anger is the next stage and I understand it. Some people have begun to refer to our Tunisian hosts as “these people”. Evidence of bad behavior from reckless driving to maids that finger items from their employers is lumped together with this event and drawn into a generalization . I don’t think so many people believe it was motivated by righteous indignation for Islam, but was more of a misdirection of attitudes toward America, founded or not, coupled with the opportunity to steal some stuff.

<snip>

As per my ritual, I went to my corner produce vendor this morning and filled my shopping bags with beautiful fruits and vegetables from the Tunisian countryside. Tunisia isn’t all broken, it’s really just our international community at the moment. We don’t need to live like we are hostages; we’re really not and in so many ways, nothing is different from the way it was last Friday morning. This cornucopia of beautiful produce is symbolic to me of all of the good things and people I so love here and it reminds me that I have the strength to start this all back up again.

more at http://bergamotorange.net/2012/09/16/whatever-is-lovely/