Jagged Edges; Shards of Souls
From time to time we feature other blogs. This is done to draw attention to particular blogs that impact us, challenge our thinking and force us to open our eyes. On this day, in this Season, I find it important that we focus on issues which draw us outside our own secure realms and into issues in parts of the world that have jagged edges. These jagged edges have produced shards of souls lost due to our lack of collective consciousness.
A Passion to Understand is written by Emm. She is a blogger who lives in the UK, but whose heart exposes us to issues of Genocide, AIDS and Human Rights in countries which include Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur/Sudan, Cambodia and Zimbabwe. Emm writes, “In this blog I’ll update about the various conflicts in the world but I’ll also post snippets from the news that I find interesting or disturbing. It is called “A Passion to Understand” because I have a passionate desire to understand how things like genocide can happen in our modern world and I need to know about these things.”
In response to a comment she received from a blogger regarding objectivity, Emm stated, “It is really interesting what you say about objectivity and passion. I don’t know if I want to be objective any longer. Our study of the world was so clinical in university. I think it is time to be more passionate.”
I admire her courage, her commitment and her depth of feeling as she pursues wrenching stories of inhumanity. She brings verbal images to her accounts of these plights, which make me feel at once horrified and guilty. Guilty because I have shown too little regard for the havoc heaped upon helpless individuals. In this Season of redemption and celebration, I would ask that you visit Emm’s blog for the awareness it brings and for the voice she gives to those who cannot speak for themselves.
This quote from Emm’s blog is indicative of her passion:
“First they came for the Jews
…and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
…and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
…and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
…and there was no one left to speak out for me”
- Martin Niemöller
Please visit Emm’s blog, then count your blessings.
—cher
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I agree that we are beyond objectivity, or should be. The book and documentary Shake Hands with the Devil about General Romeo Dallaire (Canadian with the UN) in Rwanda really opened my eyes.
It is nearly impossible to believe that such things happen, and heartwrenching to know that they do.
ChrisJ,
I have just put your book recommendation on my list for this week. And you’re right; it is heart-wrenching to know that such things happen. We in America often have very little peripheral vision.
Cher… thank you. Thank you so much. Your review has just about moved me to tears because you are so kind but most importantly, it makes me realize I am not alone. There are others who are just as interested in these things as I am and it keeps me going.
Emm,
You are a model of unselfishness in a self-centered world. Your efforts are valiant as you raise awareness in your readers. Be of good courage, dear Emm, as you sew the seeds of raising our level of caring about our global brothers, sisters and children. We are hearing you….
We must pray for one another in that we are all children of God. Faith is so important today as people lose their homes, jobs and hope. We need hope if at all anything. Christ Jesus is indeed the answer. Great Post.
Dr. James A. Lee,
Thank you for reminding us of the spiritual element requisite in our awareness of all suffering people. So good to hear from you.
Just stopped by again for more great reading.
Always wonderful to hear from you, Sandman!