Really, WHY?!!!!!
I have watched as the weeks and the months have passed with more and more stories of kidnappings, and death in this region. In fact, I'm almost surprised when I don't hear anything about the Delta region. I have waited for the booming voice of the new government to speak loudly against these occurrences and possibly present a plan of action but alas, she remains quiet.
When will our government even begin to take some responsibility and attempt to address some of the issues in this region?!!!! Will it perhaps be when a child dies? Even though all human life is valuable, for some reason a child's life seems to be more valuable. But still, would it be enough to mobilize our ass of a government to do anything? I doubt it, and it saddens me.
For some reason, this story conjures up the movie "Man on Fire" in my mind. With the recent spate of child kidnappings, will the targets in that region need armed guards to protect their families, or simply lock them up so home becomes a prison? If the government doesn't do anything, perhaps we need a "Man on Fire" to go and take out all these militants. I am not a proponent of violence but maybe in this case......hell, I don't know.
I have to ask myself sometimes, are these militants really going about getting what they want in the best way? Hasn't their mission and message gotten lost in all the kidnappings for ransom and killings? What do they really hope to acheive with all this?
As much as I try to be optimistic about Nigeria, it is moments like this that almost successfully overshadow my optimism.
Showing posts with label sadness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sadness. Show all posts
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
One Of Those Days
It has been one of those days when I really miss my family. I have lived away from my mom and dad to varying degrees since I was 10 but except for about 2 years, until 2005 my sister has always been on every journey with me. We haven't necessarily always been in the same place but at least she's been close by. I certainly treasure my alone time and acknowledge that I've been forced to be more outgoing, more social, more personable, more open and more of a lot of other things that I probably wouldn't be because I've been and lived alone. Still, every once in a while I have moments, sometimes fleeting and other times, like today, prolonged, that my alone becomes lonely.
The days that I could pick up the phone and have marathon conversations with my sister when she lived in Dallas are gone. Now I have to catch up with her life through short and sweet text messages, 5 minute phone calls, or juicy tidbits on her blog. I talk to my mom and listen to stories of them hanging out, and doing fun things without me. Lots of "wish you were heres" and "we missed you today at....". I feel like I am missing out on important moments. Not just in my sister's life but with my parents and brother too. There was some comfort when there were two of us here but now, it's me, myself and I and most times it's fine but today is just one of those days when it hurts.
The days that I could pick up the phone and have marathon conversations with my sister when she lived in Dallas are gone. Now I have to catch up with her life through short and sweet text messages, 5 minute phone calls, or juicy tidbits on her blog. I talk to my mom and listen to stories of them hanging out, and doing fun things without me. Lots of "wish you were heres" and "we missed you today at....". I feel like I am missing out on important moments. Not just in my sister's life but with my parents and brother too. There was some comfort when there were two of us here but now, it's me, myself and I and most times it's fine but today is just one of those days when it hurts.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A LETTER TO MY FRIEND
Dear B,
For some reason, you have been on my mind and on my heart this week especially. It is not your birthday, nor is it because anything significant has happened this week. I have been listening to John Legend's first album, maybe that's why. The last time I saw you, we listened to the whole album because you were convinced that every song was John Legend's way of subliminally telling people to get high. And as we listened, even though I strongly disagreed, I could see your point. And we laughed SO hard. That is my last memory of seeing you - laughing with you. I can still hear that laugh that I love.
Then we didn't talk for so long because I thought you took my friendhsip for granted. And just as we started to talk again, you disappeared. You always disappeared, but never for so long. You always found a way to call me, or to reach out. This time, you didn't. You had promised that you wouldn't do it again, but I thought to myself, "here we go again". Except, one month turned into two, two into three, three into four and then I became really worried. You had never disappeared for this long. Instinctively, I knew something was wrong.
I called your brother, but he wouldn't tell me much. I tried to find out what had happened in other ways, and didn't have too much luck. In my heart I knew what had happened but didn't want to think about it. Then yesterday, I found the report on the internet and everything was confirmed. So just over a year has passed since we last spoke, and I am now letting myself think and feel. I am upset with you because you didn't trust my friendship enough to tell me. But I am upset with myself too. I never asked you any questions because I was scared about what I would hear if you answered me. But I should have asked, even if you wouldn't have told me. I should have at least asked. I was not a good friend to you in that way and I am sorry. I don't know where you are exactly, and I don't know what is happening to you, and I don't know how to reach you. I cannot imagine what you are going through. I wonder if you still laugh in the way that you do. Or if your smile ever reaches your eyes anymore. I wonder if you're getting the best help possible. I wonder if you are safe. I wonder if you will lose the last shreds of yourself in there. I couldn't stand it if that happens. I wonder so many things that I am afraid to say out loud.
If I could have 5 minutes with you, first I would give you a nice slap and ask you what you were thinking. Then I would ask you to forgive me. I would tell you that I am your friend. No matter what, I am still the friend that grew up with you, that had lessons with you, that you shared your rare moments of emotion with. I miss you. I am always here for you. I believe in you. You have a purpose and you will fulfill it. I have no doubt. I am here for you as I have always been. Stay hopeful. Laugh often even when there is nothing to laugh about. Keep your head up. I love you. All of this and more would come tumbling out for you to hold in your heart and always remember. I am your friend in the best sense of the word. ALWAYS.
Love,
M
For some reason, you have been on my mind and on my heart this week especially. It is not your birthday, nor is it because anything significant has happened this week. I have been listening to John Legend's first album, maybe that's why. The last time I saw you, we listened to the whole album because you were convinced that every song was John Legend's way of subliminally telling people to get high. And as we listened, even though I strongly disagreed, I could see your point. And we laughed SO hard. That is my last memory of seeing you - laughing with you. I can still hear that laugh that I love.
Then we didn't talk for so long because I thought you took my friendhsip for granted. And just as we started to talk again, you disappeared. You always disappeared, but never for so long. You always found a way to call me, or to reach out. This time, you didn't. You had promised that you wouldn't do it again, but I thought to myself, "here we go again". Except, one month turned into two, two into three, three into four and then I became really worried. You had never disappeared for this long. Instinctively, I knew something was wrong.
I called your brother, but he wouldn't tell me much. I tried to find out what had happened in other ways, and didn't have too much luck. In my heart I knew what had happened but didn't want to think about it. Then yesterday, I found the report on the internet and everything was confirmed. So just over a year has passed since we last spoke, and I am now letting myself think and feel. I am upset with you because you didn't trust my friendship enough to tell me. But I am upset with myself too. I never asked you any questions because I was scared about what I would hear if you answered me. But I should have asked, even if you wouldn't have told me. I should have at least asked. I was not a good friend to you in that way and I am sorry. I don't know where you are exactly, and I don't know what is happening to you, and I don't know how to reach you. I cannot imagine what you are going through. I wonder if you still laugh in the way that you do. Or if your smile ever reaches your eyes anymore. I wonder if you're getting the best help possible. I wonder if you are safe. I wonder if you will lose the last shreds of yourself in there. I couldn't stand it if that happens. I wonder so many things that I am afraid to say out loud.
If I could have 5 minutes with you, first I would give you a nice slap and ask you what you were thinking. Then I would ask you to forgive me. I would tell you that I am your friend. No matter what, I am still the friend that grew up with you, that had lessons with you, that you shared your rare moments of emotion with. I miss you. I am always here for you. I believe in you. You have a purpose and you will fulfill it. I have no doubt. I am here for you as I have always been. Stay hopeful. Laugh often even when there is nothing to laugh about. Keep your head up. I love you. All of this and more would come tumbling out for you to hold in your heart and always remember. I am your friend in the best sense of the word. ALWAYS.
Love,
M
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