Lorry runs into a Christmas Market in Tiergarten, Berlin.
9 people injured.
Usually, I would read that, feel bad, watch a Youtube video, feel better, then go on with my day.The only time I would think of the news again, is when I would express sympathy when the news was brought up by a friend or colleague. I never thought that "news" continues. I never considered the effects of an event after I'd watch the news. I never connected names to the people effected after "news" ends. News to me was always something transcient and distant. But it's so different when "news" is a tram ride away, 20 minutes from your apartment.
Last night, I read the news and I was in shock. I was in that area just last week. I needed to close everyone off and stay off Facebook for a while. I could not call this news. This was a catastrophe.
I find that if it does not effect me, I can call it news. 9/11, though tragic, was news to me because I had no connection to New York. I had no emotions nor names connected to the city. I saw the towers fall and people dying and thought, "This is absolutely terrible". But I never thought, "Well, what happens next?" or "What does this mean for ...?" because I could turn off the news, and just like that, the "news" was off, the tragedy was over, and my day continued.
Last night when I read the news, I saw a catastrophe. I was forced to confront the questions, "What happens next?" and "What does this mean for ...?"
So, what happens next? Does this mean that there will be more PEGIDA demontrations? Will people start to move more towards the political far right because they promise safety from these "dangerous foreigners"? Does this mean that more mosques will be vandalised or burned down as retaliation? Does this mean that there will be acts of terrorism committed against the Muslim people in my neighbourhood? Will the xenophobic tension in my neighborhood rise?
What does this mean for my Muslim friend who works in the Kebab shop I visit most nights after work? How will the Germans react to foreigners now? How will I be treated as a black man often confused for a refugee? Will I have another experience where a drunk German shouts "nigger" and waves his umbrella at me?
Last night showed me how naive I am. I rarely watched the news, and the times when I did, I never really let it effect me. But news is not news when it happens so close to home. What is news for some, becomes for you a catastrophic event that you have to make sense of.
The optimist in me hopes that people will think this through and not just have a knee-jerk reaction. However, I am learning to be more realistic. I only have control of how I react to this, and I must prepare myself for those who react to this catastrophe fearfully and angrily.
Live with intent.
- K.S. Fort
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