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Do You Even Care

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Two days ago, two suicide bombers blew themselves up and killed over 40 people and injured more than 200 in Beirut. This is in a place that is 30 minutes away from where I live, depending on traffic. Now.....Paris. Do you care? ONE souper, who isn't even very active on the site of late, sent me a note on FB asking if I was OK (thanks Elly W), and another sent me in email message. I thought at least some of you would ask to see if I'm dead or alive, knowing my background and how my family members were injured in a bomb blast in the past. Have we become so desensitized to the news of death and dying that comes from the Middle East that it no longer moves us? This is what hurts. Something like this happens in the West and there is such an outpouring of grief and solidarity. Do you place different values on human life? Are the lives of the people from this part of the world somehow less important? I THOUGHT I belonged to a COMMUNITY. Charmaine....thank you, darling. You know why. Eileen http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Nov-12/322792-two-blasts-heard-in-south-beirut-suburb-of-burj-al-barajneh-witnesses.ashx In case your media doesn't cover these insignificant events. KINDLY VISIT MY BLOG BY THE SAME TITLE. I HAVE MORE INFORMATION POSTED THERE.

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Mama Bear

Date: 11/17/2015 6:26:00 PM

You are indeed right. Our problems in the west are that we do not realize how the east is impacted The do not see do not notice syndrome and must apologize as i do not associate where you live with the bombings You know my heart is with you dear friend May God love and protect you and yours Blessings Edith

David Meade

Date: 11/16/2015 6:28:00 PM

LO, I had no idea!! I will read your blog. Love, prayers and hugs

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 11/14/2015 4:00:00 PM

Hi Eileen, I was unaware that a bomb happened close to your home. How devastating, I'm glad you are okay. Here in Canada everything on the news is about Paris. I feel so bad for those people and their families. Prayers and hugs your way. Be gentle as I know there are others like me who care but have a limited understanding of Geograpy in your part of the world.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/15/2015 3:29:00 AM

Yes, forgive me dear. I should have known better. I have had plenty of evidence of the way western media works. I'm sorry. I let my hurt get the better of me. I hope you are ok. It isn't so lose, but the thing is.....you never know where it could be next. That's the fearful part. Thanks for caring, Richard. Hugs

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 11/14/2015 9:20:00 AM

- Oh... I do care very much, dear friend Eileen - Best wishes - Peace and Love // Anne-Lise :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/14/2015 11:46:00 AM

Thanks, my sweet Sunshine. I have a blog up about this where I have given some updates. I will into go into detail here. Thanks for the love. Hugs

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 11/14/2015 1:52:00 AM

My dearest I reacted right away and asked about your well-being when I heard the terrible news so more than two people cared for you. However, people put more emphasis on their daily routine than caring about the rest of the world. This to some degree is understandable when they have their personal problems. What is not understandable is to constantly being oblivious to the suffering of their fellow humans. I always write about peace. Take good care and keep being the consciousness of care!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/14/2015 2:38:00 AM

My dear poet....you were the other I mentioned though did not share your name. Yes, you have always asked when trouble has been upon me. You don't know how much it means to me. Bless you....for your kind heart. You feel for others deeply. You will receive your reward from the Lord. Filakia kai agape...

Kp Nunez

Date: 11/14/2015 12:51:00 AM

Hi Eileen. I am sorry that on top of the horrific tragedy against your people, you have to suffer from a feeling of abandonment by the Soup community. Not really true, Eileen. I wasn't even aware of this news. I guess in my case at least, attention was riveted to the upcoming APEC world leaders summit starting next week, which has disrupted businesses and resulted on horrendous traffic in Metro Manila. Sorry, I just wanted to explain about the Filipinos' silence. (next msge pls.)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/14/2015 1:10:00 AM

Kim....thanks, dear. I know I haven't always been concerned about other people's pain. I know that hurricanes have hit your country now and again and if something weren't posted on PS...I didn't ask either. So...I'm to blame as well. Still....it hurts because my family HAS been injured in the past. Anyway....thanks for your kind post, dear. It does mean a great deal to me. Hugs....

Lin Lane

Date: 11/13/2015 11:28:00 PM

Eileen, I haven't been on this site very long so I had no idea where you live, but I'm sorry you are in such a dangerous area. The entire world is now such a place. I've only known you for a few weeks, but I know you're a kind and generous person.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/13/2015 11:38:00 PM

Thanks, Lin. Yes, dear. I know that you wouldn't have a clue. I haven't even listed the country in my profile. My brother and sister-in-law still carry scars on their faces from the car blas that killed the Prime Minister, Rafik Harriri. His car blew up from explosives, and my brother and his wife were sitting at a restaurant very close to the blast. The glass window imploded and their faces were peppered with glass. You can see the photos...I have it posted on one of my poems. http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/scars_of_love__a_true_valentine_story_635303. This was taken a while after the blast, so it isn't as gruesome as those very first photos. I've lived in bomb shelters, Lin. Bombs have landed on the campus where I work. I hope these recent events don't let to an escalation. I'm tired of war. Thanks for the care. Hugs

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/13/2015 11:08:00 PM

Hugs!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/13/2015 11:17:00 PM

I needed that, Arthur. Thank you. The situation here is worrisome. All classes in schools and universities were canceled yesterday. Hugs to you, dear.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/13/2015 11:07:00 PM

I might add, and I am truly sorry for this, how many times do we think of others, and remain silent, you have given me a wake up call, never be shy to say you care! By the way I read the Lebanon Daily Star and News almost every day. So sad all the needless killing!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/13/2015 11:16:00 PM

I could give you a hug. Thank you, Arthur. I thought at least my friends here would care to check up on me. You have comforted my heart.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/13/2015 11:04:00 PM

I am so sorry Eileen, yes I do care very much, when I saw the area, I just assumed not a place you would be, but never the less, whenever I read the news there and I follow it, I do think of you as well as my other friends there!!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 11/13/2015 11:15:00 PM

Thanks, sweetie. It hurts. It isn't just this one time, but in general. If anything happens in other parts of the world (US, Europe, Israel), the media goes into a frenzy. I'll never forget something that someone posted after the 9/11 tragedy. Your 9/11 is our 24/7. Am I saying that wasn't horrific? YES...it was....but think of the atrocities that are happening here daily. Thanks for the love, Arthur. Read Ilene Bauer's poem on the Paris tragedy. Did you write one too? Paris 13? Will get to it. Hugs