Friday, February 29, 2008

AN ITALIAN TRAGEDY

You have probably read this story on your own news networks, but, in case you haven't, I do want to say that, like everyone in Italy, I have been shocked and upset by it this week: The bodies of two brothers who had been missing since June 2006 were found in the disused rainwater cistern of an abandoned building in Gravina [Puglia] on Monday. It was first thought that the boys, aged 13 and 11 , had been thrown into the well, but tonight it is suspected that they may have fallen from the second floor of the building. In either case, they died a horrible death from cold and hunger and one cannot imagine what they went through, or the pain that their mother is enduring now.

Italians, I suspect because of their faith, are deeply saddened though philosophical about such events. I, on the other hand, would wish for someone to explain to me why, if there is a loving god, he allows them to happen. And yes, I am aware that children die terrible deaths all over the world every minute, often due to western policy. But as Camus asked, "Mais qu'est-ce que cent millions de morts?" meaning that the scale becomes so great in war, plague or natural disaster that our minds cease being able to envisage it, whereas the thought of what happened to those two little souls closer to home haunts me hourly.

18 comments:

Chelsea + Shiloh said...

It is incredibly tragic Welshcakes. We had a boy drown in our town this month. The men searched high and low for him, we all held hope, but in the end he was found...as tragic as it was, it would of been far greater if he had never been returned to her...

as a mother I think the pain of not knowing would be all consuming...to loose two little boys, so young is beyond my comprehension...

for me its not about God, we make our own decisions and I have seen the faith in God, hold women when I felt no one could cope with what they were going through...Yes bad things do happen to good people...my prayers are with this mum...

CherryPie said...

I hadn't heard about it before, but this is so very sad.

Sean Jeating said...

Not judging, just stating:
Most of us would read 10 lines about a little girl being killed in an accident 'somewere', then turn the page and with great interest read the big exclusive story featuring the surprising resignation of the national Rugby team's coach.
The intensity of reaction will change the closer it happens - in your area, in your town, in your neighbourhood, in your family.

There is a Chinese saying: Callousness is the mildest form of intolerance.

But perhaps it is similar to a surgeon's / a nurse's 'mechanism of self-protection': You could not do your job when feeling deep pity with every appendix.
Analogue we could live not one happy second.

- In case the lines above are irritating, please forgive me. Sometimes, when I feeling a great sadness, I am thinking too much. :)

Indigo-Daisy said...

How very sad. I use to morn for days when I heard a story like this, but lately I am not affected by them like like I use to be. I started thinking maybe I had become somewhat callous. Then it dawned on me that it wasn't that I was callous, I am just more comfortable in my spiritual journey. Now when I hear a sad story, I quietly send my love to the person or situation, I bless them, and then I move on.

I send my love and blessings to all who have felt the pain from losing these two young souls and that includes you my dear.
~Deborah

jmb said...

How awful that this happened to them. It doesn't bear thinking about. The only good thing is that the mother will have a resolution to the boys' disappearance.

James Higham said...

I understand the chagrin, Welshcakes and deeply sympathize but the question: "Why, if there is a loving god, he allows them to happen?"

If you accept there is a G-d, then he either predestines or else he allows free will. If all is predestined, then we are robots, controlled in our movements, which the other side is currently trying to foist on us.

If you accept Free Will, then the question loses its logical sense. He doesn't "allow". He acts as a parent would act. When something happens to his son on a bicycle, should all parents lock their sons up in a room for the rest of their lives so they'll never have a bicycle accident?

Also, would you say to that parent - you are negligent?

Ellee Seymour said...

I was truly saddened to read this story in our press. I cannot imagine their father could have perpetrated such a unimaginable and cruel death for them. They looked such dear little boys.

tooth fairy said...

What a sad thing. I, too, question a "loving" God at times. But it sounds like "derelict" buildings should be fenced off so that children cannot get in.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

What an awful tragedy in your toen, too, Abbey. Yes, I think not knowing would be terrible. And I agree with you about faith. We try to take away the faith of another at our peril, for who knows what else could sustain them? Hi, cheerypie. Yes, very sad. Hi, Sean. I agree with all that you say. Hi, Deborah. Thank you for your kind words. I think you have deveoped a good philosophy there and of course it is not callous at all. Hi, jmb. Yes, at least she now knows. One wonders how she has got through the past months. Hi, James. Well argued and I do see. I hadn't thought of it that way. Hi, Ellee. Well, we still don't know what happened.. Yes, it was heartbreaking to see their photos.

Leslie: said...

I did see this in our newspaper and read it with horror and sadness. Like you, I wonder about seemingly senseless deaths like this. How terrible for their family! And as sean says, sometimes we have to protect ourselves (our emotions) by simply not feeling them - sad but true.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Leslie. Yes, so horrifying and sad. But I agree with both you and Sean on "self-protective mechanisms". For without them, how would we get through this life?

Crushed said...

Sean is right, I'm afraid. I'm certainly guilty of that.
I actually read the sports news first, then skip to the politics section. I often don't read the headlines.

As to your question on what God allows, we have to accept that God created a world that is flawed. WE are flawed. We have choices to make, to choose BETWEEN good and evil.

This makes the world a complex tapestry of good and evil, but if we accept that a man had to be tortured and nailed to a cross for good to triumph, then we can accept that bad things happen for greater good to happen that we can't always see.

RobW said...

It's always difficult to know how one should feel.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, TF. Good point about the safety issue. Hi, Crushed. I take your point but I still find it hard to accept these tragedies. Hi, tbrrob. Yes, always very difficult.

Whispering Walls said...

That is awful. I shan't ask you how they were discovered (hope it wasn't via the water quality)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, WW. The police were looking for another missing boy, who was found injured but alive.

Unknown said...

how sad, my thoughts are with everyone affected, we are after all connected in this global village whether we practice self care by withdrawing a little or not. it's hard to not be affected when tragedies happen in your own backyard so to speak. i do think there is a flood of this info through the WWW that past generations have not had to contemplate, it does wear you down, but I would hate to not care or be affected by other's tragedies. I think Deborah had a fantastic strategy xo

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Kyles , I agree with all that you say and thank you x

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