mourn for your people

Monday is Youth Day - a national holiday that commemorates the day the Turkish war for independence started.  Later, when Ataturk became the prime minister, he dedicated the day to Turkey's youth - the future.  The day is usually celebrated with ceremonies commemorating Ataturk and aspects of Turkish culture and its youth.

Holidays in Turkey are somewhat fluid.  I never know until the week of an extended holiday whether the government will grant an extra day off, or a half day, or a whole week.  I can't figure out how people plan for holidays either because bus, train, and plane tickets are hard to get during these times, not to mention hotels.

This holiday on Monday has been cancelled.

Two days ago there was an explosion in a mine that trapped hundreds of workers in Soma, Turkey.  Many were able to get out, but they are still trying to rescue trapped workers.  Some were killed with the blast, but more were killed from the ensuing lack of oxygen and smoldering fumes.  There is little hope of rescuing anyone else.  The incident has sparked anger built up at the poor working conditions in Turkey, issues of health and safety, and has simply refueled the discontent against the prime minister and parliament.

The government has called the nation into morning for the 280+ workers that died in the accident.  Many students and teachers today came to school dressed all in black.  It made the sadness of the incident more present.  More tangible.  This wasn't something just on TV - this was our country, our people, or brothers and sisters suffering.  And we were mourning with them.

I think so often we walk around in shock, and we talk about the incident with wide eyes and wonder and anger.  Sometimes we are moved enough to want to do something about it - but how often do we stop and mourn?  Those near the disaster create shrines of flowers, photos and candles - but those far from the disaster share the loss too.  Some write letters, some send money, and some create drives in their community.

But what if we all just stopped, and first gathered mourn?

Imagine if America called it's nation into mourning after such incidents.  Floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, oil spills, shootings, bombings . . . Take these images out the TVs, out of the newspapers and internet, and make it personal.  Don't just lower your flag.  Where black.  These are our people, our nation.  This is our Earth.  The suffering and loss is something to mourn.  Not just t-shirts to where, articles to write, interviews to be had, photos to post - but it is my loss and your loss.  It is not the other side of the world.  It is my neighbor.  It is forcing us to mourn because it is our suffering.  It is letting us mourn.