Well said Ruth and we should not forget that even worse atrocities are being committed in the third world (and I do not just mean that wars being inflicted on Iraq and Afghanistan) where 'services' cannot cope. Only today 84 people, including many children, are reported dead in a raid on a school by Pakistani Taliban and children were held as hostages for some time.
Suman
-----Original Message-----
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ruth DeSouza
Sent: 16 December 2014 09:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A view on the Sydney siege
Thinking with sadness of all the people traumatized by yesterday’s events, the innocent people that lost their lives and all their loved ones in Sydney. Thinking also of people who live with and are caught up in acts of power, control and violence which are not of their own making globally. Thinking of the ways in which ‘our’ institutions serve ‘us’ and how responsibly they exercise their power and influence (police, media, politicians), whether their role creates calm, understanding, light or heat, marginalising and stereotyping. Whether the creation of an ‘other’ is necessary and what future it holds open for ‘others’ who experience heightened vigilance, policing and surveillance. Thinking of those who work for peace, who work to address injustice. Thinking of the need to not conclude too quickly, to not judge too harshly before understanding. Mostly today sending love, prayers and hope into the world in this season of peace and goodwill.
You might also be interested in this blog I wrote:
http://www.ruthdesouza.com/2014/12/16/to-surveil-and-marginalise-or-to-keep-our-hearts-open-the-aftermath-of-public-violence/
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