posted
Rushing around today doing some last minute travel shopping Justine and I were in line at one of our big Aussie department stores (Myer) getting our travel pillows and wound up talking to another shopper while we waited. She was also heading off to London like us and so we chatted amiably for a while.
When we'd finished our transaction we were saying our goodbyes we both said "Have a good trip!" - and then she added:
"Be safe."
This statement, so heartfelt in its sincerity resonated so strongly within me that I went weak at the knees before returning the sentiment.
I guess I didn't realise how strongly the whole terrorism thing has actually affected me. While the US has definitely had the largest, most visible attack, it was on US home turf.
Australians have been targeted and continue to be targeted overseas. The two Bali bombings in particular were aimed squarely at us and other attacks have occured against our embassies. Recent documents have surfaced that outline how best to specifically attack Australian tourists.
Up until that point, I had barely even considered our safety overseas from that perspective, and her statement certainly didn't make me worry.
However it made me realise to what extent these events have had exactly the opposite effect that the terrorists intended. It's widened our community. This woman fevently wished for my well-being and safety. It seemed as if it was almost as important to her as if we were part of her own family. And I realised that I feel the same for all other Australians who will be travelling this Christmas. In some ways its brought us as a nation closer together.
We are not afraid.
And this woman's well-wishing had a power to it that felt like an invocation, a warding. As she said it, I got goosebumps, my knees went weak. I felt protected.
Posts: 2245 | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Well, Australia is very close to Indonesia, which has a very serious terrorist problem. And Australia's government is considered "Western" and friendly to the USA.
I'm glad you had that experience, Troubador Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Some of the most impressive people I have ever met have been Aussies. that whole "mate" thing in parliament really got me chortling.
Posts: 1156 | Registered: Jan 2004
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