Suggested song for the article: Smile – Portugal. The Man
There have been many mornings in the last year or so when I woke up to the news of deadly bomb attacks in my hometown Istanbul. The worst part of waking up to these horrendous attacks is the brief period of time in which I don’t know if my family is still okay. My hands often start to shake as I wait for my family to reply saying that they’re all fine. I’m instantly relieved when I hear back from them.
Relieved. But not content. I think of the hundreds of people who have lost a loved one in the attacks. I think of how their lives have been changed by someone else’s will. I think of all the families that will for the rest of their lives try to find a way to mend the scars of being stripped of the person that they perhaps loved the most in the world. I think of all the lost potential of the victims, and what they could have contributed to this world to make it a better place. And I think of all the wounded people, and the challenges they will face as they adapt to a new lifestyle. When I think of all of these, I feel ashamed in the name of humanity.
Many people woke up on Sunday to the news of losing a loved one in what has been identified as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States history. In the early hours of Sunday, Omar Mateen entered a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida and opened fire, leaving at least 50 people dead and 53 wounded. New York Times reported that the attack lasted until 5 a.m. when law enforcement forces entered the club to save the hostages. Mateen has pledges alliance to the Islamic State, and was killed by the law enforcement forces.
In moments like this it’s important to think about all the people who have been affected by such atrocities rather than to shrug the news off because they concern certain communities. This happens more frequently than we believe, and is often perpetuated by the selective coverage of the media. Oppressed communities are the easiest to target, and the minds that dismiss and discriminate feed the incentives of extremists who commit acts of violence that leave hundreds of people in agony.
Following the mass shooting, the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted: “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance.” He brought up his famous “ban” policy once again. In his statement on terrorism, immigration and national security, he delivered a speech full of hatred, targeting specific communities.The sad part is that this occasion will probably help mobilize certain groups to vote for him in the upcoming election. Using hatred and divisive tactics as a voter mobilization strategy is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but unfortunately it still works.
My heart and thoughts go out to the LGBTQ community and the family and friends of the victims. It was supposed to be their night to celebrate a month of love and acceptance. My heart feels heavy for all those people who will once again feel it safer to hide who they really are because they’ve been forced to feel afraid. I also feel sad for the people who will be targeted and bullied as a consequence of actions of a radical. However, the most impressive people are those who can use the anger triggered by tragedies such as this to give back to their communities. I encourage the family and friends of the victims to find a way to turn this abhorrent event into something productive instead of giving in to hatred.
