On a lovely Sunday afternoon with friends in an East Bay cafe, for a few hours the news of the world seemed far away. Children and dogs ran about, groups chatted happily the way friends do, waiters carried plates of sandwiches and chicken wings to tables, while the three of us caught up and talked about our future plans.
One of my friends used a phrase — “traumatized by the news” — that I think characterizes the past week for me pretty succinctly.
Hurricane Ian appears to have utterly destroyed a place that I love — Sanibel Island — bringing the abstract notion of climate change home in a deeply personal way. I’ve been writing stories about global environmental decline for nearly 60 years, hoping that might have an impact.
In point of fact, those stories have indeed led to some reforms, policy changes and certainly greater awareness.
But ultimately I am powerless in the face of a super storm.
Friday’s massacre in Kabul, only the latest in a long series at girls’ schools attended by Hazaras, had a similar traumatizing effect on both my Afghan friend and me. In the 43 conversations between us we have published, we have tried to detail the roots of slowly unfolding genocide against the Hazara people conducted by the Taliban.
Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? These are legitimate questions for us to raise.
We can write about these things the best that we can in the hope that the worst outcomes will be avoided. But when these outrageous killings continue to occur in plain view, all that is left is to grieve.
And, of course, to keep trying to write.
LINKS:
Death toll rises to 67 in Florida after Hurricane Ian left some communities ‘unrecognizable’ (CNN)
VIDEO: Hurricane Ian Leaves Boats Wedged Between Buildings (Reuters)
Pine Island residents recount horror, fear as Ian bore down (AP)
How Afghan women took on the Taliban, as told through their text messages (WP)
US supreme court to decide cases with ‘monumental’ impact on democracy (Guardian)
A shaken Supreme Court returns to chambers (Politico)
Defying pre-election polls, a divided Brazil heads to a presidential runoff (NPR)
National Archives still missing some Trump administration records (ABC)
Ukraine claims full control of key logistics hub, eyes further gains (Reuters)
Americans captured by Russia detail months of beatings, interrogation (WP)
Ukraine Forces Retake Lyman, a Strategic City, as Russians Retreat (NYT)
As Russian Troops Flee Lyman, Ukrainians Rejoice—and Help Themselves to Russian Supplies (WSJ)
Putin has his back to the wall with the clock ticking ever louder (CNN)
In Washington, Putin’s Nuclear Threats Stir Growing Alarm (NYT)
A Whole Generation Revolts Against the Iranian Regime (Atlantic)
Once sprawling, congressional battle maps are shrinking to key races (WP)
The hidden faces of hunger in America (NPR)
Morbidly Obese Pumpkin Wins Contest (The Onion)
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