It seems to me more than just a little insensitive to continue blogging about my semester abroad without acknowledging the events of two weekends ago. However, to address it in the immediate aftermath would give only a perspective clouded by fear and sympathy.
A few semesters ago, in a classroom at Rollins, my peers and I discussed the phenomenon of ‘flashbulb’ or ‘snapshot’ memories – highly vivid, detailed recollections of a traumatic moment in our lives. Though the veracity of these is debatable, their presence in our heads shapes our worldview and interpretation of any events succeeding it. For previous generations, this collective, unifying memory might be the moment they first heard of JFK’s assassination. Or possibly, where they were when the Challenger crashed. For our generation, the so-called ‘millennials’, it is undoubtedly the memory of 9/11.
In Paris and Beirut, that weekend of terror and bloodshed created a trauma that will not easily be forgotten. Even though none of our immediate acquaintances were in either of the cities during the attacks, we have talked to others with friends or family who were affected by the events. At the office, where the majority of my co-workers are from the continent, there were anxious whispers about my French and Belgian colleagues. Though they reassured us they were fine, the air around them still seems a bit heavy.
Being at the epicentre of the aftermath, London seems to function as always on the very surface, while the news and everyday conversation indicate the opposite. It seems that the media’s 24/7 approach to documenting the ensuing events, coupled with a penchant for sensationalism, has created the perfect atmosphere for rumour-mongering. I have sat through some of the most outlandish speculations, whether on the Tube or on Facebook, and essentially witnessed the attack do what was intended: to distress and divide.
It is heart-breaking to watch a country close not only its borders, but its heart to those who seek refuge from the same terror that plagued Paris and Beirut. It is upsetting to hear suspicious whispers that are based on super-market gossip rather than factual evidence or any kind of experience shape the mind-set of a population. And, more than anything, it is infuriating to read some of the hateful speech that is indiscriminately posted on social media.
When I chose to study abroad in London, I could have never predicted this tragedy. Which is essentially the point – no one could have. Not any of my co-workers currently pouring over the news, not any of the soccer moms I hear gossiping at Waitrose, and certainly not the people who consider themselves heralds of Western ideals on social media. Obsessive behaviours do so much more harm than good.
The tragedies of Paris and Beirut (and many more countries that do not have the benefit of constant CNN coverage to arouse such an outpouring of support) are a reminder that fear cannot be what shapes your life. I, and many other Rollins students, will remain in London – unafraid to keep exploring new places, regardless of where they are, and meeting new people, regardless of who they are.
For more information on flashbulb memories: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/09/memories.aspx