"Right now, I’m simply heartbroken for the the dead and injured, for their families, for the people of Manchester, and for the performers and technicians creating the music last night." (Image Credit: Instagram/manchestertribute)
I've spent most of today trying not to confront the news that a terrorist instigated an explosion outside a concert by Ariana Grande last night. I’m trying hard not to know that 22 people have died and dozens more were injured. I’m trying not to realize that most of the people who attend such concerts are girls, young girls, and the parents who love them.
I’m trying not to understand all of this because I am a mother of two children under ten and they love to go out to events. They love movies and music and plays and sporting games. They love to experience these things with their friends and their family. I love to give them access to the things they love, to see their faces when the lights come up and the show — whatever kind of show it is — starts.
I don’t want to know that I live in a world where taking my children to a concert could be lethal.
I don’t want to know this. But all the same, I must bear witness to the crushing truth that this terrible tragedy occurred last night.
Maybe later it will matter to me who is taking responsibility for the attack. Maybe I will care about the global political implications of a terrorist assault on young people as they go listen to music. Maybe I’ll care about that later.
But right now, I’m simply heartbroken for the the dead and injured, for their families, for the people of Manchester, and for the performers and technicians creating the music last night.
I think I speak for all of us at Ravishly when I offer my hopes and prayers to you all today. May you find peace after the tragedy.
