Explosion

This morning, there was explosion. It shook the house and then there was silence. I switched on my mobile. I needed to make contact with others at six in the morning without obviously intruding, after all the explosion was more than enough of an intrusion. Speculation spread like a forest fire…was it a bomb, a plane crash or an earthquake? My husband and I sat with our nine month old daughter watching the news whilst on the home phone and mobile to family and friends who were concerned. The first ten minutes were filled with fear, uncertainty and feeling utterly dependant on the media reports for explanation. Later, we could see a thick dark cloud and fire balls - three miles away from our home an oil depot had exploded. Buildings nearby had windows blown out and cars were burned. After the drama had unfolded, we returned home and went about our day. This is not regular enough to concern us, we have a roof over our head, and we hope that this accident would not happen again. But many less fortunate than us live in war zones, in make shift shelters and do not have a mobile or a television. How do they sleep at night, under the same sky?

Acceptance Speeches

Not much seems to differ between award ceremonies, there is usually a platform or stage, a panel of judges, a prize and not forgetting a winner. More often than not, the winner gives an acceptance speech that recognises people who have supported or chosen them. In his acceptance speech earlier this week for his Nobel prize, Harold Pinter talked about his disgust at the US and UK's presence in Iraq. His speech was not littered with gushing thanks, instead he referred to himself as a citizen and a writer, both on a quest for truth. This speech questioned the current state of humanity, with a heartfelt recognition that we are in this together. Generally the winner acknowledges their peers, agents, family and friends, all providing very different relationships. However when we examine community and our relationship within, we can sometimes feel lost, yet there is a need in us to be a part of something outside ourselves. Imagine you have just received a call that you have been nominated for an award in your field. The feelings of pride, joy, recognition and privilege flood your being, then you pause and think about those who have inspired you, supported you and even those didn’t believe you come to mind. Here is your community, be it small, global, detached, or intense, you are a part of something outside yourself. How you choose to view community is down to you, but let's do it with conviction. With the words of Harold Pinter, As a citizen I must ask: What is true? What is false?