My parents were a part of the Diplomatic Service for many years. We were stationed at the American Embassies in Zambia, Liberia, Ghana, Tanzania and Iraq. During this time, we became a part of a small community, a mini-America if you will, within these countries. When I think back on this time, I fondly remember the men and women we served with, including the Ambassadors who led these posts.
On Tuesday, when one of my patients mentioned in passing about the attack on the American Embassy in Libya, my heart sank as she told me four Americans had lost their lives. As we do not have TV or read the newspapers, we see very little news unless we specifically go looking of it. I asked, "It wasn't the Ambassador that was killed was it?" To which my patient quickly responded, "Yes it was!" Memories and experiences quickly flooded my mind and my heart began to hurt.
When I arrived home that evening, my husband had his Facebook page up and was scrolling through when I noticed some pictures. He indicated it was of Ambassador Stevens and I quickly became, what he might term as, enraged. "You need to get those off your page!" I demanded. Steve, trying to defend himself, made a few clicks of the mouse to hide the story and tried to explain he had not been the one to post them. It didn't matter his response, it didn't matter that he had hid the story, it was too late. The images were already burned upon my soul.
As we drove to dinner, I could no longer contain myself and began to cry. My mind racing with questions like, "Is he married?", "Does he have children, parents, siblings?", and "Have they seen those terrible photographs?" I was disgusted with how the American media has so twisted the right to freedom of speech, that they feel they can publish absolutely ANYTHING without regards to feeling or consequences. Steve was silent as I cried and said, "Those pictures, they are so horrible and disrespectful of his family, is that the last thing they are going to remember!"
Trying to contain myself, I went to my Facebook page and posted a status making people aware that if they put these photos on my timeline they would be immediately erased from view. I also added a sentence or two about my feelings regarding this situation. During dinner, I began crying again as I could not remove the images from my mind. The remainder of the evening was the most solemn I have been in some time. I googled about Ambassador Stevens to see if he did, in fact, have any family. As I was reading about his life and work, I noted that the pictures, which appeared to have been Libyans dragging him proudly through the streets, were actually thought to be Libyans trying to obtain medical help for our fallen American. While I was somewhat soothed at the thought, it still made me irate that someone felt it appropriate to post them everywhere.
The first senseless killing in the bible was between brothers, Cain and Abel. Out of nothing more than jealousy, did Cain strike down his brother. Of course, senseless killing has occurred almost daily sense then. Drive-by shootings killing 3 year olds in their own homes, wars, power hungry dictators and more have seemed to feel almost nothing at taking people's lives. I guess what makes it so disheartening for me, is that I already know the end of the story. God is clear in his word, that not only this country, but the entire world, will fall because He allowed choice to be apart of our life. With choice, always comes the wrong choice.
There will always be someone who chooses not to accept Jesus, not to turn the other cheek, not to put the gun down, and not to value human life. There will always be disagreement with regards to politics, religion, healthcare reform, and economics. With disagreement, eventually comes loss. I ask you to search your heart and find what makes you truly feel something about another person, a stranger. There is a connection between each and every one of us. Something that makes us care about each other, stand up for one another, protect one another and love one another. That is what we should be focusing on! What makes us the same, not different.
I will always remember.....
In His service,
Mally
On Tuesday, when one of my patients mentioned in passing about the attack on the American Embassy in Libya, my heart sank as she told me four Americans had lost their lives. As we do not have TV or read the newspapers, we see very little news unless we specifically go looking of it. I asked, "It wasn't the Ambassador that was killed was it?" To which my patient quickly responded, "Yes it was!" Memories and experiences quickly flooded my mind and my heart began to hurt.
| Ambassador Chris Stevens |
When I arrived home that evening, my husband had his Facebook page up and was scrolling through when I noticed some pictures. He indicated it was of Ambassador Stevens and I quickly became, what he might term as, enraged. "You need to get those off your page!" I demanded. Steve, trying to defend himself, made a few clicks of the mouse to hide the story and tried to explain he had not been the one to post them. It didn't matter his response, it didn't matter that he had hid the story, it was too late. The images were already burned upon my soul.
As we drove to dinner, I could no longer contain myself and began to cry. My mind racing with questions like, "Is he married?", "Does he have children, parents, siblings?", and "Have they seen those terrible photographs?" I was disgusted with how the American media has so twisted the right to freedom of speech, that they feel they can publish absolutely ANYTHING without regards to feeling or consequences. Steve was silent as I cried and said, "Those pictures, they are so horrible and disrespectful of his family, is that the last thing they are going to remember!"
Trying to contain myself, I went to my Facebook page and posted a status making people aware that if they put these photos on my timeline they would be immediately erased from view. I also added a sentence or two about my feelings regarding this situation. During dinner, I began crying again as I could not remove the images from my mind. The remainder of the evening was the most solemn I have been in some time. I googled about Ambassador Stevens to see if he did, in fact, have any family. As I was reading about his life and work, I noted that the pictures, which appeared to have been Libyans dragging him proudly through the streets, were actually thought to be Libyans trying to obtain medical help for our fallen American. While I was somewhat soothed at the thought, it still made me irate that someone felt it appropriate to post them everywhere.
The first senseless killing in the bible was between brothers, Cain and Abel. Out of nothing more than jealousy, did Cain strike down his brother. Of course, senseless killing has occurred almost daily sense then. Drive-by shootings killing 3 year olds in their own homes, wars, power hungry dictators and more have seemed to feel almost nothing at taking people's lives. I guess what makes it so disheartening for me, is that I already know the end of the story. God is clear in his word, that not only this country, but the entire world, will fall because He allowed choice to be apart of our life. With choice, always comes the wrong choice.
There will always be someone who chooses not to accept Jesus, not to turn the other cheek, not to put the gun down, and not to value human life. There will always be disagreement with regards to politics, religion, healthcare reform, and economics. With disagreement, eventually comes loss. I ask you to search your heart and find what makes you truly feel something about another person, a stranger. There is a connection between each and every one of us. Something that makes us care about each other, stand up for one another, protect one another and love one another. That is what we should be focusing on! What makes us the same, not different.
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| Sean Smith |
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| Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods |
In His service,
Mally
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