Living Abroad

Colorado shooting, another tragedy

In my young life, I have watched so many tragedies on television — vivid pictures of natural and man-made cataclysms. I can’t help but be bothered by what I see and hear sometimes. I was only 7 years old when the Twin Towers collapsed and I have this vivid memory of billowing white powder grabbing for people who were trying to run away from it. I was 13 years old when the big tsunami hit Thailand— reminding me of a story of a mother who had to let go of one child so she stood a chance of saving at least one of them.

Several hours after the recent horrific shooting in Colorado at the premier night of the Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, my e-mail contained a call for prayer for the victims and the speedy recovery of a Filipino-American victim, Ryan Lumba, who is only 17 years old. He is not the only young person affected by this horrific act, whether directly or indirectly.

Ryan, according to the message from my NaFFAA family, is in stable condition at the University Hospital but needed to undergo a second surgery. I do not know what to think or say in times when shocking events like this occur, except to hope and pray for his speedy recovery — to hope and pray for all the victims and their families — to hope and pray for all those that responded to the event who will be personally touched by the conditions that unfolded before their eyes — that out of this tragedy, they find new meaning, that all their sorrows become the building blocks for discovering new strength and energy. I hope and pray that they be blessed with a richer, more meaningful life and be rewarded by a wealth of love in the future.

And I hope and pray that we all learn from the tragedies of the past.

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More from this Blog:

• Citizen of the World Part IV: Very Harry Christmas
• Citizen of the World Part 3: Dream come true
• Building solidarity between generations
• Colorado shooting, another tragedy
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Tags: Colorado shooting , Features , Global Nation