Hitting Home

I feel I'd be remiss if I didn't comment or elaborate on my feelings of the past two days. It all began when I checked the news Tuesday evening and saw this article heading, "Protesters climb U.S. Embassy walls in Cairo" 

I shared it on Facebook with the caption, "*sigh* Seriously, dudes?" and went to bed shaking my head over those events and reflecting on past ones. By bedtime, I knew that a similar incident was unfolding in Libya.

In the morning, I got the kids off to school and then sat down to check the news. Events had escalated further in Libya and they knew of one State Department officer that was dead. 

Oh crap. 

I went about my morning with this at the back of my mind as I puttered about doing this or that, not really accomplishing a whole lot. Go change laundry, check news, open drapes in the downstairs, check news. By lunchtime, it was confirmed that the Ambassador was one of the dead; the State Department officer death toll at four.

I sat down and felt dumbfounded. Predictably, I went to Facebook. (if you can't tell already, I go to Facebook a lot. sometimes it's my only tie to adult interaction) I felt like I should say something, but what? This is what I said,

"I've been muddling over exactly what to say, words escape me right now . . . "too close to home" is so double entendre . . Prayers for the families and for us in this part of the world."

Profound, huh? I usually write something way too long, archive it in my writing file so I can go to it later as a writing prompt and post the boiled down meaning. 

I watched as my feed filled up with other people sharing similarly heartfelt updates. A picture of a black mourning ribbon and State Department seal began popping up and people started sharing it or changing it to their profile pic.

I went to bed again. Had it been just 24 hours? I woke up, got the kids off to school and checked in. I saw blog post memorials written by other FS (foreign service) bloggers that had had the privilege of knowing and working with Ambassador Chris Stevens. I found a Facebook page that had just been created called, "The Sorry Project"; a project showing that the majority of the Libyan people oppose the crimes and violent actions committed against the US embassy. There are over 25 pictures of people holding signs that say, "We are sorry" and "Sorry people of America" etc. at peaceful, memorial rallies being held across Libya. Here is a whole gallery on Imgur of more people.

This picture brought on the tears. 

That's basically what I tell my children.

"I didn't want to assign a nationality to who these particular terrorists were. We have lived in the Middle East for most of my children's cognitive memory. They see Arabs differently than most people do. And that is one thing that makes me so grateful for the oppotunity we've been afforded in living overseas." 
                          ~ Me on 9/11/09 (Go here --> "In Remembrance" for the full story)

I feel fragmented in thought. With a sinking feeling in my stomach that I've felt before, I want it to go away. I want to try and forget what has happened, but I don't. These events are still unfolding and have affected embassies throughout the region. And to make matters even worse, most people don't care.

What can I do? I can dash about the house, wringing my hands, making sure the passports & other documents are in my "Go Bag", living from one ten minute segment to the next. 

Or, I do what I usually do in these situations and just try to have a normal day.

Just my opinion . .

On body scanners:

I thought I'd better post something about this subject before it leaves the realm of 'current hot topic'. Or maybe it already has. I haven't seen any grainy, black & white pictures of the pudgy naked man on Drudge lately, so I could have missed the boat. I am also not the best informed person. I try to keep current on my news & such, cramming it in between other important activities such as laundry and corralling children. But here is my opinion on what I know.

When people immediately went on the defensive about these 'body scanners', I was a bit confused. I travel a lot. A. Lot. Believe me, once the 'limited liquid' ban was instituted, it definitely put a cramp in my style. Juice boxes were a staple in my kid's carry-on. It's a lot easier than dealing with that flimsy plastic cup. The stewardesses seem to have a particular fondness for filling the apple juice up to the brim for my 3 year old and then asking if he wants ice. Duh! I have adapted and either bring empty sippy cups or just ask them to leave the can. And don't get me started on how many times they've said 'no'. Seriously? It'll make it a lot easier on all of us if she'd just let me mete the two cans of juice out to my 4 kids.

But I digress, the subject is the body scanner. I really don't see the big deal. To me, these look easier. If it means I don't have to take off my shoes, coat and those of my 4 children (10 shoes, 5 jackets, 4 assorted security loveys and toys) I say bring it on! You wanna look at all my unflattering folds and crevices, go right ahead. If it means less hassle for me, I'll volunteer to go first! I know, I know, people are worried that the pictures would 'leak out'. Whatever. And maybe I'm too lassiez faire about it to be concerned. Yes, I would mind if my naked body with the blurred out face was posted as Google's new logo. But if it gets me through security faster, I will unabashedly surf on Google turned Booble.

You say the shoes, etc. do have to be removed? I have an argument for that, too. The way I see the magic of these machines is that it eliminates physical contact between those TSA people and me. Do you know how much it freaks a kid out to have their mommy patted down by a huge security Frau? The last time it happened, we were in Frankfurt. They let me keep my sandals on (Tevas to be exact) and so we unloaded everything else and walked through the metal detector. I was willing to take them off, but they just waved away my offerings. I set it off and immediately they pounced on me; "Vat is in your pockets? You have to take off everything metal!" I'm not a jewelery person and my watch was already in the 'Verboten' tray. They had me take off the shoes I had volunteered to remove just 15 seconds earlier, put them through the conveyor belt and stand spread eagled, facing away from my children. I was traveling alone with them and all they wanted to do was cling to my leg. The questions from them started spilling out, along with the tears, "Why is that lady touching you, Mommy? Can I have my frog blanket back?" We all escaped, obviously, but not without my children being a little more wary of any security screening we go through. So in my opinion, if these body scanners eliminate hassle and bodily contact, I say go for it.