In the past I have completely avoided using social media as a platform for expressing my condolences or opinion when it comes to any tragic event that has happened around the world in the age of social media. I have also avoided tweeting or facebooking my condolences when it comes to the deaths of famous and/or influential people. I am not condoning or condemning those who do or don’t, but for me personally, I have always been of the opinion that my words on a social media platform about a tragedy will never be enough and will always fall short. I am a very political person and try to keep up with current events, and definitely have my fair share of opinions but keep them to myself becuase I just feel that for me, social media is not the place and anything I could or would say would just take away from the actual gravity of the situation.
That being said, last night there was a terrible incident that took place just a few hours before I decided to sit down and write this post. No more or less terrible than any other event that has happened in modern or ancient history to date, but one that has happened in my own backyard, just an S-Bahn or U-Bahn ride away. Because of this, I have decided to address the topic.
Let me tell you – it is an odd feeling checking a button on Facebook to let people know you are not dead. It is an odd feeling to get messages and phone calls from those asking if you are safe. It is an odd feeling to sit there and mentally go through your list of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to make sure they are safe and accounted for.
At this point in time, it is unclear if the events that unfolded were a terrible accident or a deliberate action, but suffice it to say when word began flooding Berlin that 12 people were killed in today’s incident, the first thing that sprung to mind was it’s eerie similarity to the incident in France on Bastille Day this past summer. Regardless of the motives (or lack thereof) behind today’s tragedy, it pains me that we live in such times where when something catastrophic happens, we must worry that the act was deliberate first and fear for our own safety.
I want you all to know that I am safe as are those I hold dearest. But with all that has been going on in the world as of late – the unrest in Aleppo, the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey G. Karlov, and the rise of racism and hatred spearheaded by extreme right wing individuals in both America and Europe to name a few – I have to wonder what the future holds for humanity.
I know there is good in this world – I have seen it first hand. But it’s moments like these where I truly question the fate and longevity of human kind.