Solidarity is hard. Equality is hard. Justice is even harder.
Yesterday, European leaders, including our Prime Minister David Cameron, marched in a walk of solidarity in France in a united stand against terrorism and in remembrance of the 17 murdered civilians in the Parisian terror attacks and hostages.
It was called for. A public act that united nations and reassured us that the next people (and the harsh reality is that, this was not, and shall not be, an isolated attack) will have to contend with a less than unprepared government and, indeed, continent.
It was, in my opinion, a beautiful act. It was needed. Everyone needed and wanted to know that they were safe and not alone. It was so so so important, but ... not the epitome of importance. We then had our mandatory reality check that often occurs in the wake of European tragedy. It was our little #EuropeanProblems.
It was called for. A public act that united nations and reassured us that the next people (and the harsh reality is that, this was not, and shall not be, an isolated attack) will have to contend with a less than unprepared government and, indeed, continent.
It was, in my opinion, a beautiful act. It was needed. Everyone needed and wanted to know that they were safe and not alone. It was so so so important, but ... not the epitome of importance. We then had our mandatory reality check that often occurs in the wake of European tragedy. It was our little #EuropeanProblems.
In Nigeria, a photograph emerged of 2,000 civilians murdered in brutal attacks on the country. It's not that no one this side of the world cared, just that no one knew and, hence, no one was marching for them.
Atrocities like this are so common in some parts of the world that they almost occur and remain unnoticed in isolated incidences. It's only when they are collated that we can see the true extent of it.
No one is ever intensely worried about starving children when they're ordering drinks at a night club. No one is ever thinking about gang rape at a Chelsea away game. No one is ever thinking about Guantanamo Bay whilst they're shopping at Westfields. We have to - consciously - force ourselves to think outside the sphere of 'me' and remember others. It's hard when there are so many things going on and we ought, sometimes, to think about things happening 'across the pond' - which ever pond that may be.
No one is ever intensely worried about starving children when they're ordering drinks at a night club. No one is ever thinking about gang rape at a Chelsea away game. No one is ever thinking about Guantanamo Bay whilst they're shopping at Westfields. We have to - consciously - force ourselves to think outside the sphere of 'me' and remember others. It's hard when there are so many things going on and we ought, sometimes, to think about things happening 'across the pond' - which ever pond that may be.
The caption under this Nigerian photo asked when there was going to be a solidarity march for these victims?
The answer: probably, never.