Yesterday over 30 people were killed in a bomb blast in Yola City, Nigeria. Today 13 more were killed by two suicide bombers in Kano in the same country. The bombers were probably members of the Islamic militant Boko Haram group and targeted shoppers in local markets. No-one has yet formally claimed responsibility. Did you hear about these deaths? In all the coverage of the events in Paris, these two stories may have passed you by, or may not even have been covered at all. I heard the news about the Yola City killings on the BBC World Service. It is always fascinating to me to compare the news that I hear on this channel, compared with what is covered on BBC Radio 4 – my news channel of choice. The World Service brings me stories from Africa and Asia that might be given minor coverage elsewhere. It covers news from Central and South America which we never get to hear at all. In many World Service bulletins, the UK barely gets a mention and it makes me smile when the person who is normally described on our news as ‘The Queen’ gets her full title of ‘Queen Elizabeth II.’
Sometimes it does us good to look at life from a different standpoint. It reminds us that we are part of a large and complex world. We may get hear about certain events because they happen close to us, or in a culture that is familiar. It is important to remember that people all over the world are facing and overcoming all sorts of challenges every day. The terrible events that unfolded in Paris on Friday were shocking in their brutality and also are very close to us geographically. They are receiving so much coverage because of the implications for security in this country and our involvement in military action in Syria. The lives that were lost to brutal terror in Nigeria are no less valuable in God’s eyes. Families in both countries will mourn their loss and struggle to make sense of senseless killing. Politicians will make promises which they may not be able to keep. More lives will be lost before peace comes to Nigeria, France or Syria.
The evil of these violence acts infects us when we start to value some lives more than others, based on geography, social status, colour of skin or gender. In the early days of MCC, several of our premises were damaged, vandalised, or visited, in the USA, by the Klu Klux Klan. In June 1973, someone set a fire which trapped many LGBT folk in the Upstairs bar in New Orleans*. 32 people died in the fire, including the pastor of MCC New Orleans, Reverend Bill Larson and several members of the congregation. The chief of detectives in the New Orleans Police Department said this about the incident in a local paper at the time “Some thieves hung out there – and you know it was a queer bar”. All lives matter. We are ALL made in the image and likeness of God.
God bless,
Cecilia
* You can find out more about the Upstairs Bar fire http://tinyurl.com/oby5bph
or read 'Don't Be Afraid Anymore' by Reverend Troy. D. Perry.
A documentary film has been made about the fire and its aftermath called 'Upstairs Inferno'
Sometimes it does us good to look at life from a different standpoint. It reminds us that we are part of a large and complex world. We may get hear about certain events because they happen close to us, or in a culture that is familiar. It is important to remember that people all over the world are facing and overcoming all sorts of challenges every day. The terrible events that unfolded in Paris on Friday were shocking in their brutality and also are very close to us geographically. They are receiving so much coverage because of the implications for security in this country and our involvement in military action in Syria. The lives that were lost to brutal terror in Nigeria are no less valuable in God’s eyes. Families in both countries will mourn their loss and struggle to make sense of senseless killing. Politicians will make promises which they may not be able to keep. More lives will be lost before peace comes to Nigeria, France or Syria.
The evil of these violence acts infects us when we start to value some lives more than others, based on geography, social status, colour of skin or gender. In the early days of MCC, several of our premises were damaged, vandalised, or visited, in the USA, by the Klu Klux Klan. In June 1973, someone set a fire which trapped many LGBT folk in the Upstairs bar in New Orleans*. 32 people died in the fire, including the pastor of MCC New Orleans, Reverend Bill Larson and several members of the congregation. The chief of detectives in the New Orleans Police Department said this about the incident in a local paper at the time “Some thieves hung out there – and you know it was a queer bar”. All lives matter. We are ALL made in the image and likeness of God.
God bless,
Cecilia
* You can find out more about the Upstairs Bar fire http://tinyurl.com/oby5bph
or read 'Don't Be Afraid Anymore' by Reverend Troy. D. Perry.
A documentary film has been made about the fire and its aftermath called 'Upstairs Inferno'
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